Dunseverick Castle

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Dunseverick Castle
Dunseverick Castle

Dunseverick Castle is situated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, near the small village of Dunseverick and the Giant's Causeway. Dunseverick Castle and earthworks are Scheduled Historic Monuments in the townland of Feigh, in Moyle District Council area, at grid ref: C9871 4467.[1]

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.

[edit] History

Saint Patrick is recorded as having visited Dunseverick castle in the 5th century AD, where he baptized a local man who later became a Bishop of Ireland.[2]. The original stone fort that occupied the position was attacked by Viking raiders in 870 AD.

The castle was occupied by various Irish chief's and lord's until its capture and destruction by General Robert Munro[3] and his 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.

The O'Cahan family held it 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.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Dunseverick. Environment and Heritage Service NI - Scheduled Historic Monuments. Retrieved on 2007-12-03.
  2. ^ {{cite web | title=North Antrim | work=North Antrim website | url=http://www.northantrim.com/dunseverick.htm
  3. ^ {{cite web | title General Robert Munrohttp://www.northantrim.com/GeneralMunro.htm