Glenarm Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glenarm Castle |
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| Glenarm, County Antrim, Northern Ireland | |
Glenarm Castle
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 Glenarm Castle
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| Coordinates | 54°57′58″N 5°57′22″W / 54.966°N 5.956°W |
| Type | Country estate |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Randal, Viscount Dunluce |
| Controlled by | Northern Irish Environment Agency |
| Open to the public |
yes |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1636 |
Glenarm Castle is a historic building in Glenarm, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is the traditional home of the Earls of Antrim family.
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History of Glenarm Castle
There has been a castle in Glenarm since the 13th century. It stands at the heart of one of Northern Ireland's oldest family estates. John Bisset owned the land in the 1200s. He made Glenarm his main base.
By 1260, a castle stood where the village is now. It had a kitchen garden, an orchard, and a mill. The old village courthouse still has parts of the original castle walls. The Bisset family owned the castle for many years.
In 1495, another group, the O'Donnells, took over the castle. They were led by Con O'Donnell. The last Bisset chieftain was killed in 1522. After this, the MacDonnells took control of the lands. They lived in the old Bisset castle for a time.
Building the Present Castle
The castle you see today was built in 1636. It was built by Sir Randal MacDonnell. He was the 1st Earl of Antrim. The castle has stayed in the same family ever since.
Today, it belongs to Randal, Viscount Dunluce. He is the son of Alexander McDonnell, 9th Earl of Antrim. The MacDonnell family has been in Glenarm for almost 600 years. The estate has been owned by the family for 400 years.
Events at Glenarm Castle
The Walled Garden at Glenarm Castle is open to visitors. You can visit it between May and September. Many fun events are held in the castle grounds.
Annual Festivals
Every July, the castle hosts a world-class Highland Games. This event celebrates Scottish and Irish culture. The Dalriada Festival is also held here. It features sports, music, and great food from Scotland and Ireland. The castle also holds traditional Ulster Scots cultural events.
Outdoor Concerts
Glenarm Castle has become a place for big outdoor concerts. Since 2012, many famous artists have performed here. These include Ronan Keating, Sharon Corr, and Duke Special.
Summer Madness Festival
Summer Madness is Ireland's largest Christian festival. It moved to Glenarm Castle in 2012. Before that, it was held in Belfast. This festival is expected to return to Glenarm every year.
Glenarm Castle as a Film Location
Glenarm Castle has been used in movies. It was a main filming location for the movie Five Minutes of Heaven.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Glenarm para niños
