Dunluce Castle Co. Antrim
Coast
| The ruins of Dunluce Castle, located on the North Antrim coast, stand on a 100ft high basalt stack with a sea cave underneath. The cave is acecessable both by land and sea as it runs underneath the castle. . The ruins as seen today are breathtaking, even roofless the remains portray the air of strength this site commanded and before the advent of gunpowder would have been almost impossible to conquer. | ||
| The castle as seen today dates largely from the 16th and 17th centuries by the MacDonnells, however the outer walls with round towers are attributed to being built in the 14th century by the MacQuillans. The Castle can only be reached over a bridge which now replaces the original rocky connection. The bridge leads to the "New" Scottish style gatehouse built after the original was destroyed by cannon in 1584 by the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Sir John Perrot. The two openings in the old gatehouse wall were for cannon that Sorely Boy MacDonnell salvaged from the wrecked Spanish Armada Galleon ship the Girona which sank nearby due to storms in 1588. |  Present day bridge access |
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 View from a hole in the N.E. wall looking out towards the sea. |
The Castle remains include a Manor House Built in the
1630s This had a Great Hall with two fireplaces and three bow windows
The Kitchen Court complex, part of which fell into the sea in 1639
during a dinner killing many of the kitchen staff, also contained a
workshop on the ground floor with accommodation above. In the north east Tower, one of the two defensive Towers in the outer wall, lies the entrance to a concealed tunnel offering escape to the beach. On the "Mainland" area of the Castle complex can be found the remains of the earl's garden laid out in three terraces, documented evidence stated that these gardens included a bowling green. This area also included the Lodgings for the many visitors who graced the Castle in the 17th century. Also in this area can be found the stables with the remains of a corn drying kiln in one. The visitor to Duncluce can take advantage of a new Audio Visual presentation on the Castle. The castle is open Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 6pm Sundays 12am - 6pm closed Mondays (except Bank Holidays) |