Ballylough Castle facts for kids
Ballylough Castle is an old, ruined castle in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Long ago, it was a strong fortress for important families like the MacQuillans and the MacDonnells. Even though it's mostly ruins now, it tells a story of knights, battles, and hidden treasures!
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Where is Ballylough Castle?
Ballylough Castle is found in a place called Billy parish. This area was once split into smaller parts named Ballylough, Ballyloughmore, and Ballyloughbeg. Today, you can still see parts of the old castle behind Ballylough House. It's a bit like finding a secret piece of history in someone's backyard!
The Missing Lake
The name "Ballylough" means "town of the lake." But guess what? The lake (or lough) that was once there has now disappeared! It's interesting to think about how much the land can change over hundreds of years.
Close to the Giant's Causeway
Ballylough Castle is also very close to the famous Giant's Causeway. This amazing natural wonder is made of thousands of interlocking basalt columns. Imagine living in a castle near such a cool place!
History of Ballylough Castle
Ballylough Castle was a very important place for powerful families. It was a key stronghold for both the MacQuillans and later the MacDonnells. These families were very influential in Northern Ireland's history.
Battles and Sieges
The castle is even mentioned in old Irish history books called the Annals of the Four Masters. In 1544, they wrote about Ballylough, calling it Baile-an-locha. During this time, the O'Donnells, another strong family, captured the castle. They took many valuable things, including weapons, armor, and food supplies. This shows how important and well-stocked the castle must have been!
New Owners and Old Treasures
Later, in 1624, the Earl of Antrim, a very important person, gave parts of the Ballylough land to different people. This was a common way for powerful lords to manage their lands back then.
Spanish Armada Chests
One of the most exciting stories about Ballylough Castle involves the Spanish Armada! The Armada was a huge fleet of Spanish ships that tried to invade England in 1588. Some of these ships were wrecked off the coast of Ireland. It's said that two chests from a Spanish Armada ship were kept at Ballylough Castle by the Antrim family. Imagine the stories those chests could tell! Around 1740, these treasures were moved to another castle called Glenarm castle.
