Carrickfergus Castle facts for kids
Carrickfergus Castle is a very old castle in Northern Ireland. It's a Norman castle, which means it was built by people from Normandy (France) who came to Ireland a long time ago. You can find it in the town of Carrickfergus in County Antrim, right on the northern shore of Belfast Lough.
The castle's name, Carrickfergus, comes from an Irish phrase meaning "Fergus's rock." Fergus was a strong man from ancient times. This castle has been attacked by many different groups, including the Scottish, Irish, English, and French. It was a very important military base until 1928. Today, it's one of the best-preserved medieval buildings in Northern Ireland. It was built in a great spot, with water surrounding most of it, making it hard to attack. Now, less water surrounds it because of land reclamation (when land is made from the sea). The Department for Communities now looks after it as a historic monument.
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Building a Stronghold
Carrickfergus Castle was built in 1177 by a man named John de Courcy. He made it his main base after taking over eastern Ulster. He ruled like a small king until 1204, when another Norman adventurer, Hugh de Lacy, took his place.
At first, de Courcy built the inner part of the castle. This was a small area with strong walls and an east gate. It had several buildings inside, including a large hall. The castle was built on a rocky point that was almost completely surrounded by the sea. This gave it a great view of Carrickfergus Bay (now called Belfast Lough). It also controlled the land routes into the town that grew up around it.
English Takes Control
Carrickfergus Castle became very important to the English rulers. In 1210, King John himself attacked the castle and took control of it. It was then the most important military base in Ulster. After it was captured, special officers called constables were put in charge of the castle and the area around it.
In 1217, a new constable named De Serlane was given money to build a new outer wall. This wall would protect the castle from attacks coming from the land or across the sand at low tide. The middle wall was later taken down in the 1700s, except for the part facing the sea. This part still stands with a small back gate and the east tower. This tower has many cross-bow loops, which are openings for archers to shoot from.
A room on the first floor of the east tower might have been the castle's chapel. It has a beautiful double window in the Romanesque style. The main entrance passage has a strong, arched ceiling, a "murder hole" (a hole to drop things on attackers), and a huge portcullis (a heavy gate that drops down). These parts were added later by Hugh de Lacy, but he died in 1248 before they were finished. King Henry III completed them around 1250.
After the Earldom of Ulster fell apart in 1333, the castle remained the main place for the Crown (the English government) in northern Ireland. During the Nine Years War (1595–1603), when English power in the north was weak, supplies for the English army came through the town's port. In 1597, a big fight called the Battle of Carrickfergus happened nearby.
In the 1500s and 1600s, the castle was updated to use artillery (large guns). They added openings for cannons. But even with these changes, the castle was still attacked and captured many times. In 1689, Marshal Schomberg attacked and took the castle in the Siege of Carrickfergus, which lasted a week. This is also where King William III first landed in Ireland on June 14, 1690.
In 1760, after a fierce battle in the town, French invaders led by Francois Thurot took the castle. They looted the castle and town, then left. But they were soon caught by the Royal Navy.
Later Years
In 1778, a small but important event in the American War of Independence happened near Carrickfergus. John Paul Jones, a famous American naval officer, tricked a British Royal Navy ship into leaving its safe spot near the castle. He then won an hour-long battle against it in the North Channel.
In 1797, the castle, which had sometimes been used to hold prisoners of war, became a prison. It was heavily defended during the Napoleonic Wars. Six guns on the east side are still there from the twenty-two that were used in 1811.
For about 100 years, it was used as a place to store weapons and ammunition. During the First World War, it was a military base and a storage area. In the Second World War, it was even used as an air raid shelter to protect people from bombs.
The castle had soldiers living in it for about 750 years until 1928. Then, the British Army gave it to the new Government of Northern Ireland. They wanted to protect it as an ancient monument. Many parts added after the Norman times were removed to make the castle look more like it did originally. Today, you can visit the castle. The main hall has been fully restored, and there are many exhibits showing what life was like in medieval times.
On his wedding day in 2011, Prince William of Wales was given the title of Baron Carrickfergus. This title is now just for show and has no real connection to the castle itself.
Getting There
The castle is a short walk from Carrickfergus railway station. You can take trains west to Belfast Lanyon Place and Belfast Great Victoria Street. You can also go east to Whitehead and Larne Harbour. These trains are run by Northern Ireland Railways.
Images for kids
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Panoramic view from the castle
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Carrickfergus para niños
