Carrickfergus Castle, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland

Carrickfergus Castle Co. Antrim
Carrickfergus Castle is a Norman castle in Northern Ireland, situated in the town of Carrickfergus in County Antrim, on the northern shore of Belfast Lough. Besieged in turn by the Scots, Irish, English and French, the castle played an important military role until 1928 and remains one of the best preserved medieval structures in Ireland.
For more than 800 years, Carrickfergus Castle has been an imposing monument on the Northern Ireland landscape whether approached by land, sea or air. The castle now houses historical displays as well as cannons from the 17th to the 19th centuries.
There is limited disabled access for wheelchair users. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
No dogs allowed except guide dogs and assistance dogs.
Opening times
Open all year including Bank Holidays (except Christmas & New Year)
Monday - Thursday
Castle Grounds only 08:30 - 09:30
Castle Grounds & Buildings 09:30 - 17:00
(Last Admission at 16:30)
Friday & Saturday
Castle Grounds only 08:30 - 09:30
Castle Grounds & Buildings 09:30 - 16:30
Castle Grounds only 16:30 - 20:00
(Last Admission at 19:30)
Sunday
Castle Grounds & Buildings 09:30 - 16:30
Castle Grounds only 16:30 - 20:00
(Last Admission at 19:30)
Price list
Adult - £5.00, Child (age 4 - 16) - £3.00
Senior Citizen - £3.00
Student and Benefit Claimants (ID required) - £3.00
Child under 4 - Free
Family (up to 5 members) - £13.00
Group rate(10 plus, must be pre-booked) - £3 per person
The staff at Carrickfergus Visitor Information Centre pride themselves in the high level of customer care they offer to all customers who require their services. Whether you are planning a visit to Northern Ireland or simply travelling within the country, Carrickfergus is the place to visit. Professional and friendly staff will provide you with advice and assistance to help you gain the most from your visit.
We offer a full range of services, including free maps and information leaflets, bus and rail timetables, information on events, local attractions and historical trails.
The Visitor Information Centre also has a local Museum with traditional gift shop, offering souvenirs and speciality items, all combining to enhance your visit to Carrickfergus.
Open all year and most Bank Holidays, from 10.00 to 17:00 (Mon to Fri) extending to 18:00 during the months April to September. Open all year Saturday 10.00 to 16:00. For enquiries please phone [phone] or email: [e-mail].
Induction loop system within the Museum, low-level customer counter, wheel-chair access.
Our Local Information Office, based at Carrickfergus Marina, also provides information to visitors and tourists:
The Marina, 3 Quayside, Carrickfergus, BT38 8BJ, Tel: [phone], email: [e-mail]
Carrickfergus Castle (from the Irish Carraig Ḟergus, meaning "cairn of Fergus" the name "Fergus" meaning "strong man") is a Norman Irish castle in Northern Ireland, situated in the town of Carrickfergus in County Antrim, on the northern shore of Belfast Lough. Besieged in turn by the Scottish, Irish, English and French, the castle played an important military role until 1928 and remains one of the best preserved medieval structures in Northern Ireland. It was strategically useful, with 3/4 of the castle perimeter surrounded by water (although in modern times only 1/3 is surrounded by water due to land reclamation). Today it is maintained by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency as a state care historic monument, at grid ref: J4143 8725
Carrickfergus was built by John long man de Courcy in 1177 as his headquarters, after he conquered eastern Ulster in 1177 and ruled as a petty king until 1204, when he was ousted by another Norman adventurer, Hugh de Lacy. Initially de Courcy built the inner ward, a small bailey at the end of the promontory with a high polygonal curtain wall and east gate. It had several buildings, including the great hall. From its strategic position on a rocky promontory, originally almost surrounded by sea, the castle commanded Carrickfergus Bay (later known as Belfast Lough), and the land approaches into the walled town that developed beneath its shadows.
It appears first in the official English records in 1210 when King John laid siege to it and took control of what was then Ulster's premier strategic garrison. Following its capture, constables were appointed to command the castle and the surrounding area. In 1217 the new constable, De Serlane, was assigned one hundred pounds to build a new curtain wall so that the approach along the rock could be protected, as well as the eastern approaches over the sand exposed at low tide. The middle-ward curtain wall was later reduced to ground level in the eighteenth century,
Hugh de Lacey who died in 1248 and did not live to see its completion in around 1250. It was finished by King Henry III.

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beautiful.

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My home town