Built in the 13th century, Dunluce Castle in Ireland has amazed historians and travelers who visit the place for its scenic beauty and historical significance.It is a medieval castle surrounded by steep cliffs on three sides, which provide a truly breathtaking image from above. It overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and is the subject of many myths and folklores.Some people say that the ghosts of the people who died in the castle loom inside Dunluce Castle even today. The position of the castle made it easier to prevent attacks from enemies, but this occurred with only a handful of successes. The castle was besieged a number of times by enemy soldiers, and was buried for more than 300 years.Winston Churchill had a part of the ownership of the castle passed down by generations, and it was later handed over to the northern Irish Government in the ’20s. The place rose to fame as a result of the resounding success of the television show ‘Game Of Thrones’. Jack Clarke was the first person to breed Dunluce potatoes, taking inspiration from the castle located in County Antrim.Location Of Dunluce CastleDunluce Castle was abandoned by the people after a part of the castle fell into the sea leading to the death of several people. The scenic location of the place was marred by the tragic incident and it was only recently that it was uncovered by archaeologists.The medieval castle was constructed on the basalt cliffs of County Antrim, located in northern Ireland, by the Earl of Ulster.It is a dilapidated structure on the Causeway Coast in Ireland at the edge of the Sea of Moyle. Many legends can be traced to the castle going back hundreds of years.Dunluce Castle is close to Bushmills and you can take a train from Belfast to reach the place. It is about 3 mi (5 km) outside of Portrush. You can travel via a rented car to reach the destination. The taxi or car fare will cost you about £15 one way.If you travel by train from Belfast, it will take about two hours to reach Portrush, and you can even walk for about an hour through the beautiful scenic landscapes of northern Ireland.The walk will take you through East Strand Beach and the huge dunes going up to the Royal Portrush Golf Club. The Whiterocks Beach will fall on the way that is so named because of the presence of magnificent limestone cliffs. You will reach the A2 Causeway Coastal Route and take the footpath from there. Dunluce Castle is only a short walk from this spot.The History Of Dunluce CastleDunluce Castle, in northern Ireland, was built in medieval times and has been the subject of supernatural stories. The history of the castle is very important and must be a subject of study for all. We have listed some of the major historical milestones of the castle below:Richard de Burgh was the second Earl of Ulster who built the first castle at this site in Ireland in the 13th century. The ruins that are found today, however, belong to the 16th century. Richard is also credited with building Northburgh Castle located in Greencastle.The town of Dunluce was the seat of Clan MacDonell after they overthrew their rivals, namely the MacQuillan. The latter were Lords of Route.Dunluce town was built right next to the castle in 1608 by the first Earl of Antrim, Randal MacDonnell. The town was rediscovered in 2011 after it was razed to the ground sometime around 1641.The earliest recorded documents show that during 1513, Dunluce Castle belonged to the family of MacQuillan. The MacDonnell’s are still the owners of the castle, although the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) looks after it.Richard was seemingly the most powerful among the Earls of Ulster, and he was a close companion of King Edward I of England. Eleanor, Richard’s daughter, became the second wife of the Scottish King, Robert the Bruce. But, since Richard was King Edward’s friend, he helped the king by lending his army in Edward’s invasion of Scotland.Richard was driven away from Ulster after Robert’s brother Edward attacked Ireland. His daughter, however, was to nurture a son who became the Scottish king, David II.After he was driven away, Richard gathered his army from Connaught and was successful in driving out the Scots, winning back Ulster for the Irish people. Richard passed away on July 29, 1326, in a place called Athassel Priory in County Tipperary.After Richard’s death, the MacQuillan family inherited Dunluce Castle. Dunluce was their seat of power while the chief came to be called ‘Lord of the Route’ or ‘The MacQuillan of the Route.’ The route in question was the path between Ireland and Scotland.The lands of Ulster, in Ireland, were being confiscated by the Anglo-Scottish by the 1560s. The MacQuillans were no longer supported by anybody and the MacDonnells soon rose to power.James MacDonnell had established his power in the Glens in 1550. The Glens had been ruled by the MacQuillans since 1400. After the MacQuillans lost against the MacDonnells in 1580, all of their lands were confiscated by the latter, which also included Dunluce Castle.The Plantation of Ulster was begun by the English in 1603 and Randal MacDonnell became the Earl of Antrim due to his allegiance to Queen Elizabeth I of England. Randal died in 1636 and his body was buried in Ballycastle at Bonamargy Friary. His son, who was also named Randal, inherited the town of Dunluce and the castle, relocating to Ireland with his wife.Randal did not have any children, so his younger brother Alexander, the inheritor of the Barony of Glenarm, became the heir to Dunluce Castle.Eventually, the Marchioness of Londonderry became the heir and gave the castle to Winston Churchill, as well as the Estate of Carnlough.The Architecture Of Dunluce CastleThe structure of the royal castle of Dunluce, in northern Ireland, is in shambles today. The splendid architecture of the once magnificent castle is a bitter image of its former self.Hundred-foot cliffs surround the castle on three sides. A land bridge is in place for accessing the fort while an escape tunnel is located under the castle that can take you to the sea.Within a short distance from the castle, the Giant’s Causeway and the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge are popular tourist attractions.A town near the castle was uncovered by archaeologists in 2011 that is also known as Dunluce. The town was built to rival Coleraine. Irish rebels who wanted to capture Dunluce Castle in 1642 lost in their attempt and in their rage, burned the town by setting fire to it.A cobbled street going across the town towards Dunluce Castle has also been discovered. A blacksmith’s forge was also found.Excavations have revealed the evidence of coins from the times of Charles I and Elizabeth I. Other items that have been uncovered are gaming pieces, bone combs, a bronze tuning pin, dress fastenings, and wine glass stems.Archaeologists have uncovered the house of a Scottish merchant that was erected in the first part of the 17th century. It had its front on the cobbled streets. The house has its walls still intact with a fireplace and internal privy. The town also had a dungeon and a courthouse.The Mermaid’s Cave is located just below Dunluce Castle which is, in reality, a large cavern. It is about 82 ft (25 m) below the castle. You have to go down 115 steps to reach the cave. The stairs are quite steep and might be slippery during the rainy season. You will get gorgeous views of the sea once you make your way to the Mermaid’s Cave.Battles Fought At Dunluce CastleA number of battles have been fought at Dunluce Castle, in northern Ireland. Although the record of all of them is not available, we do know details about some of these.A battle between the MacQuillans and MacDonnells in 1583 transferred the castle from the former to the latter house. The MacDonnells were led by Sorley Boy MacDonnell in the battle known as the Battle of Slieve-na-Aura. Rory MacQuillan, Hugh MacPhelim O’Neil, and Captain Thomas Chatterton died fighting in the battle.The glens were known very well by Sorley Boy, who made his way during the night through Glendun. He ordered his army to stay on the firm ground, which was surrounded by bogland. The bogland was covered with rushes in which the horses and foot soldiers ended up, becoming easy victims to the MacDonnells.In 1690, the Battle of Boyne had repercussions for Dunluce Castle as the MacDonnells had supported King James II. The castle was abandoned, and the nearby located Ballymagarry House became the new residence of the Earl. A barn is still in place that has huge oak beams coming from Dunluce Castle. A fire destroyed Ballymagarry in 1645, and Glenarm Castle thereafter became the main seat of the Earl of Antrim, along with the MacDonnell clan.Did you know…The legend of the kitchen of Dunluce Castle falling into the sea when a violent storm was raging is not believed by historians. Paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries depict the castle as completely intact with the kitchens in place. You can even see the oven and entryway fireplace. This shows that the kitchen did not fall. But the locals say they can still hear the screams of the kitchen staff over the sound of the sea waves.The daughter of Lord MacQuillan, Maeve Roe, was imprisoned in the prison tower when she refused to be married to Rory. She escaped on a stormy night to the Mermaid’s Cave, accompanied by Reginald O’Cahan, her true love. Their attempt to escape by a rowboat was a failure when the boat drowned after it was smashed into the cliffs. The ghost of Maeve is believed to be looking for her lost love even today, and she is known as the Banshee of Dunluce Castle.St. Cuthbert’s graveyard in Dunluce is said to be the burial ground of the victims of Girona, the Spanish Armada ship after it sank. The ship became filled with water from the Giant’s Causeway. Cannons from the Girona were retrieved by Sorley Boy MacDonnell and used in the castle.People in the 1550s claimed to see a woman wearing a white dress walk down the seashore near the castle in northern Ireland. Legend said that the beach was haunted until a MacQuillan family member came down to the beach in an attempt to talk to the ghost. No one saw the woman ever again.Fans of ‘Game Of Thrones’ can instantly recognize Dunluce Castle as the seat of the ‘House of Greyjoy’. It was used as the external part of the Iron Island stronghold. You might be able to see the castle in the second and sixth seasons of the show. The popularity of the show has brought hundreds of visitors to the castle in Ireland.C. S. Lewis is said to have been inspired by the castle in his portrayal of Cair Paravel, the royal castle of Narnia in his famous book series ‘The Chronicles Of Narnia.’A potato species has been named after Dunluce, which was first bred in 1976 by Jack Clarke. Dunluce potatoes have white skin and shallow eyes.
Built in the 13th century, Dunluce Castle in Ireland has amazed historians and travelers who visit the place for its scenic beauty and historical significance.
