Dunluce Castle, from medieval history to modern day myth

Built between the 15th and 17th centuries upon basalt cliffs along the dramatic north Antrim coast of Ireland, this was a former stronghold of the famed Clan MacDonnell, a sept of the Scottish Clan Donald. Dunluce Castle was first built by their rivals the MacQuillan family circa 1500 (on the site of an earlier Norman settlement), before the MacDonnells seized it around 50 years later. Sorley Boy MacDonnell (Scottish Gaelic Somhairle Buidhe MacDonnell) effectively established the Clan MacDonnell as powerful rulers in Antrim; his father having been lord of Islay and Kintyre just across the sea (so close that the isle of Islay is visible from Dunluce). After defeating the MacQuillans in 1558, Sorley Boy's next great rival was to be the Gaelic chieftain Shane O'Neill, who took him captive in 1565 before he himself was murdered by MacDonnells in 1568. 

At various times the MacDonnells were in conflict with English forces, and Sorley Boy's wife and children were among the hundreds massacred on Rathlin Island by forces of the Earl of Essex in 1575 (the assault was partly led by Sir Francis Drake). However the family's preeminence also made them important to the English as allies and they agreed a truce in 1587. Sorley Boy's fourth son Randal MacDonnell was made the first Earl of Antrim in 1620 and died at Dunluce in 1636. 


Notable archaeological discoveries in the area made recently include the discovery of the former Dunluce town, which was destroyed by Irish rebels during the 1641 rebellion (the MacDonnells had been on the side of the Royalists). The oft-beseiged castle was finally abandoned in the 1690s following the Battle of the Boyne (the MacDonnells had taken the side of James II). An early Irish souterrain has also been found under the Norman settlement, suggesting a long history of settlement at the site. The castle itself is built over a very large cave, possibly used as a landing point for ships and supplies.

Like many sites along the beautiful north coast of Northern Ireland, Dunluce features as a location in the TV series Game of Thrones, doubling as the stronghold of House Greyjoy of the Iron Islands. It is also thought to be the inspiration for Cair Paravel, seats of the Kings and Queens in the Chronicles of Narnia, written by Belfast-born author C S Lewis. When the Giro d'Italia visited Northern Ireland in 2014, the first full road stage of the iconic race took in the Causeway Coastal Route, sweeping past Dunluce Castle along the way. The castle itself is now a popular tourist attraction and well worth a visit.


Beautiful coastal views seen from Dunluce Castle



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