Dunseverick
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Dunseverick (Irish: Dun Sobairche) is a hamlet located near the Giant's Causeway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
[edit] History
Dunseverick Castle and the peninsula on which it stands were given to the National Trust in 1962 by local farmer Jack McCurdy. The Causeway Cliff Path also runs past on its way to Dunseverick Harbour to the east and to the Giant's Causeway to the west.
The castle was occupied until its capture and destruction by Cromwellian troops in the 1650s, and today only the ruins of the gatelodge remain. A small residential tower survived until 1978 when it eventually surrendered to the sea below.
It was a 'key' ancient site in Ireland. One of the royal roads from Tara, seat of the Kings of Ireland ended at Dunseverick castle. This ancient road was known as Slige Midluachra or High Kings Road.
The castle had a well that existed on the north side, about three yards from the edge of the cliff, which is over one hundred feet above the sea. The well was called Tubber Phadrick, or St. Patrick's Well. It is reputed to be one of the 'holy' wells of Ireland. St. Patrick, apparently, visited Dunseverick on several occasions on his travels through the North.
The O'Cahan family held Dunseverick from circa 1000 AD to circa 1320 AD, then regained it in the mid 1500s. Last one to have the castle was Giolla Dubh Ó Catháin, who left it in 1657 to settle in the Craig/Lisbellanagroagh area. Post 1660 they use the anglicised name McCain/O'Kane.
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