![]() It was finished by King Henry III.Īfter the collapse of the Earldom of Ulster in 1333, the castle remained the Crown's principal residential and administrative centre in the north of Ireland. The ribbed vault over the entrance passage, the murder hole and the massive portcullis at either end of the gatehouse are later insertions started by Hugh de Lacey who died in 1248 and did not live to see its completion in around 1250 A.D. The middle-ward curtain wall was later reduced to ground level in the eighteenth century, save along the seaward side, where it survives with a postern gate and the east tower, notable for a fine array of cross-bow loops at basement level.Ī chamber on the first floor of the east tower is believed to have been the castle's chapel on account of its fine Romanesque-style double window surround, though the original chapel must have been in the inner ward. 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. Following its capture, constables were appointed to command the castle and the surrounding area. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring this castle and were delighted by the life-size models of various inhabitants and the wonderfully restored rooms in the keep.The castle 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. The castle survived over 750 years of continuous military occupation and in 1928 ownership was transferred to the state for preservation as an ancient monument. It even served as a garrison and ordnance store during the First World War and an air raid shelter during the Second World War. There have been many additions and subtractions over the years as the castle was attacked and captured numerous times and used for many purposes including a prison by the French (the six guns on the east batter remain of 22 that were used in 1811 as it was heavily defended during the Napoleonic Wars), and a magazine and armoury by the British. The ribbed vault over the entrance passage, the murder hole and the portcullises are later insertions started by de Lacey. It is further defended by a machicolation outside the gateway and two massive portcullises at either end of the gatehouse with a murder hole between them. The gatehouse is flanked by two circular towers with arrowslits and is believed to have been approached by a moveable bridge over a pit. De Lacy enclosed the rest of the promontory to form an outer ward, doubling the area of the castle. ![]() De Courcy was ousted in 1204 by another Norman adventurer, Hugh de Lacy, who is credited with building the first castle in Carlow and the Black Castlle at Leighlinbridge. John de Courcy is credited with building the inner ward with several buildings including a massive 4-storey keep, a small bailey at the end of the promontory with a high polygonal curtain wall, and the east gate. As was typical of the time, this castle was built by a Norman conqueror in 1177. The castle, one of the best preserved medieval structures in all Ireland, rises from a rocky outcrop and clearly fulfilled it's role as defense for Belfast Lough. I can hardly describe the excitement I was feeling as we approached Carrickfergus Castle - a combination of awe, wonder and delight.
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