Exploring The Town Of Carrickfergus - Northern Ireland - Carrickfergus Attractions / Castle & Town
Are you trying to explore Northern Ireland and visit most of its towns to see the beauty of it? Let's take you through a small tour this time where you could know more about Carrickfergus and the things you could do there.
Carrickfergus is a large town in county Antrim, Northern Ireland that is sometimes also referred to as Carrick and it is actually the oldest town in county Antrim and one of the oldest when it comes to Northern Ireland as a whole. Carrickfergus sits on the north shore of Belfast Lough and it is a town land of 65 acre, a civil parish and a barony.
From where did the name Carrickfergus actually come? It is believed that the name of this town in Northern Ireland comes from Fergus Mor (Fergus the Great), the legendary king of Dál Riata. Back in time, Carrickfergus actually predated Belfast which is now the capital of Northern Ireland and it was even considered larger than the nearby city. The interesting thing is that back in time, Carrickfergus and the surrounding area was actually treated as a separate county back in the old days. (
One of the top landmarks of Carrickfergus town is Carrickfergus Castle, which was built back by John de Courcy, the Anglo-Norman knight who invaded Ulster and established his headquarters. This castle is built on the rock of Fergus and it is known as one of the best preserved Norman castles in Ireland. (
Carrickfergus Castle is considered the most famous when it comes to the attractions and landmarks of this town, but there are a couple of things to be kept in mind for those visiting it in order not to leave without checking them. The castle will stand on top of the list, but there is also Belfast Lough and sitting just by it, there is Ulster Folk and Transport Museum ( there is also Flame Gasworks and Shaftesbury Park.
Walking through the streets of the town could get you introduced to some other important attractions found there, such as Carrickfergus Marina, The Knights statue, U.S. Rangers Centre and Carrickfergus Town Walls.
Being a famous big town found in Northern Ireland and having different landmarks that call out for the visitors to go to and check, we have to mention that Carrickfergus has also left its mark on a song that was also named Carrickfergus. Carrickfergus song was released in 1965 and was first recorded under the name The Kerry Boatman by Dominic Behan on an LP called The Irish Rover. This song was recorded one more time afterwards by the Clancy brothers.
The meaning of the name Carrickfergus is rock of Fergus and this goes back to King Fergus who was the one to find Carrickfergus and who was shipwrecked off the coast at a strategic position on a rocky spur above the harbour, and that is exactly where Carrickfergus Castle is actually located now, the castle that played a great role in the history of Northern Ireland.
This is one of the different suggested ideas that we are offering for those coming to Northern Ireland and want to make a different plan and visit different towns, not just the capital city Belfast ( From the other suggested places that we would like to offer and recommend, there is Armagh City ( there is Lisburn City ( there is Bushmills Town ( there is Portadown Town ( there is also Carnlough fishing village ( there is Letterkenny which is also known as the Cathedral Town ( and lots of other towns and cities which are scattered all around Northern Ireland and which every single one of them is calling out for visitors in its own way and with its different attractions.
Every single country you are travelling to has its towns and cities which are attracting the tourists and visitors to them and that is exactly the same reason why planning for a trip and digging deep behind the places that might not be that famous is considered one important thing to do and always keep in mind.
On our channel, you will find lots of recommended places that one could go to in Northern Ireland to make a trip more significant. These places include cities, towns, landmarks, festivals and every other thing that might be considered part of Northern Ireland.
Have you ever been to Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland before? Did you know about Carrickfergus song or have you ever been to Carrickfergus Castle? Let us know more about your stories in this old town. If its your first time to know all this information, then put it in your plan.
Exploring The Town Of Carrickfergus - Northern Ireland - Carrickfergus Attractions / Castle & Town
Carrickfergus ancient Town Wall
I'm in Carrickfergus and I have to admit that I must have driven past this wall many a time not giving it a second thought! Ooops!
But here it is tall, thick and strong after so many centuries.
The town was first protected by earth ditches in the medieval period to defend the growing settlement surrounding the Castle. The defensive earth ditch and bank walls were partially replaced in
stone in the late 1500's. Queen Elizabeth I had promised that the earthen walls would be replaced in stone and this work was started in 1608 under the direction of Sir Arthur Chichester. 100 men began work that summer and continued each summer until the walls were complete in 1615. The method of working was to first encircle the town with a low wall up to three metres thick on very strong foundations and then build higher each year resulting in the 'banded' effect now visible, especially at Joymount.
he completed stone walls were 1159 metres long and over six metres high with four gates, Irish Gate and North Gate - both of which had moats and drawbridges, Quay Gate and the smaller Water Gate. In addition to the gates, seven protective bastions were strategically positioned along the length of the walls. The walls not only provided protection but also allowed for strict control of tolls and taxes on goods within the town and enabled curfews on those entering or living in the town to be more easily managed. During the 1641 rebellion the security afforded by the walls meant that Carrickfergus was one of the few Ulster towns to escape attack, consequently it was one of the chief places of refuge in the North of Ireland.
Places to see in ( Carrickfergus - UK )
Places to see in ( Carrickfergus - UK )
Carrickfergus, colloquially known as Carrick, is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Carrickfergus sits on the north shore of Belfast Lough, 11 miles from Belfast.
Carrickfergus is County Antrim's oldest town and one of the oldest towns in Ireland as a whole. Carrickfergus was the administrative centre for Carrickfergus Borough Council, before this was amalgamated into the Mid and East Antrim District Council in 2015, and forms part of the Belfast Metropolitan Area. Carrickfergus is also a townland of 65 acres, a civil parish and a barony.
The town is the subject of the classic Irish folk song Carrickfergus, a 19th-century translation of an Irish-language song (Do Bhí Bean Uasal) from Munster, which begins with the words, I wish I was in Carrickfergus. The British peerage title of Baron Carrickfergus, which had become extinct in 1883, was bestowed upon Prince William on his wedding day in 2011.
Carrickfergus railway station opened on 1 October 1862. In addition, the northwest of the town is served by Clipperstown railway station, and the east by Downshire railway station. All three stations have regular commuter services to Belfast and Larne. Three historic stations in Carrickfergus, Barn, Eden and Mount, closed in the 1970s.
( Carrickfergus - UK ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting the city of Carrickfergus . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Carrickfergus - UK
Join us for more :
Carrickfergus Floods
Irish Sea at high tide flooding Carrickfergus on the Antrim coast.
Featured on BBC Newsline on 03/01/2014.
1 CARRICKFERGUS CASTLE from the OUTSIDE
This is the amazing Carrickfergus Castle. A remarkable hidden tourist and history treasure. A Norman castle found 10 miles from Belfast in Northern Ireland and situated in the town of Carrickfergus in County Antrim, on the northern shore of Belfast Lough. Besieged in turn by the Scottish, Irish, English and French. It has a long and 'colourful' history.
Carrickfergus Castle is the best preserved medieval Norman castle in the whole island of Ireland. It was built in 1177 by Sir Knight, fighting adventurer and land grabber, John De Courcy. The castle was his headquarters, after he conquered eastern Ulster in 1177. He ruled as a petty king until 1204, when he was ousted by another Norman adventurer, Hugh de Lacy. Initially de Courcy built the inner ward, a small bailey at the end of the promontory with a high polygonal curtain wall and east gate. It had a number of buildings, including the great hall. From its strategic position on a rocky promontory, originally almost surrounded by sea, the castle commanded Carrickfergus Bay (later known as Belfast Lough), and the land approaches into the walled town that developed beneath its shadows. The castle was occupied by a garrison of soldiers. Numbers of such might have been around 300-500 men but this is only a rough estimate.
In 1778, a small but significant event in the American War of Independence began at Carrickfergus, when John Paul Jones, in the face of reluctance by his crew to approach too close to the Castle, lured a Royal Navy vessel from its moorings into the North Channel, and won an hour-long battle. In 1797 the Castle, which had on various occasions been used to house prisoners of war, became a prison and it was heavily defended during the Napoleonic Wars; six guns on the east battery remain of the twenty-two that were used in 1811.
For a century it remained a magazine and armoury. During the First World War it was used as a garrison and ordnance store and during the Second World War as an air raid shelter.
It was garrisoned continuously for about 750 years until 1928, when its ownership was transferred from the British Army to the new Government of Northern Ireland for preservation as an ancient monument. Many of its post-Norman and Victorian additions were then removed to restore the castle's original Norman appearance. It remains open to the public. The banqueting hall has been fully restored and there are many exhibits to show what life was like in medieval times. It was built and re-built three times, and still stands today.
The castle is a must see for anyone visiting Ireland and for anyone interested in history. Today the castle is maintained by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the entrance charge is a mere £5 for this fanatstic look into the past.
Carrickfergus YMCA 2012
This is a project I did with the young people of the Carrickfergus YMCA in early 2012. It was a wonderful experience to work with such a creative and fun group of teens! The concept for this piece was based on their input and they did a great deal of the work as you'll see from the movie!
facebook.com/jimmelinart
Noel Williams of Carrickfergus Town Partnership
The development plans for key areas
A WALK AROUND CARRICKFERGUS CASTLE
Hi all,
I was up in Belfast last Thursday and thought I would head over to Carrickfergus to do some filming. I think you'll agree that this is the most perfect Anglo-Norman castle! It was a very changeable day so I had to film quickly before the weather came in.
If you'd like to let me know what you think, or have any questions about Carrickfergus Castle, you can catch me @ruadhbutler and on facebook.com/ruadhbutler.
LINKS
Music by Van Morrison and The Chieftains: Irish Heartbeat
Novel about Siege of 1315: THE WASTE LAND by Tim Hodkinson
Novel about Norman invasion 1169: SWORDLAND by Ruadh Butler
Novel about Norman invasion 1170: LORD OF THE SEA CASTLE by Ruadh Butler
RESEARCH - De Courcy: Anglo-Normans in Ireland, England and France in the eleventh and twelfth centuries
RESEARCH - Anglo-Norman Ulster by TE McNeill
RESEARCH - John de Courcy: Prince of Ulster by Steve Flanders
VISIT NORTHERN IRELAND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
discovernorthernireland.com/Carrickfergus-Castle-Carrickfergus-P2814
discovernorthernireland.com/Inch-Abbey-Downpatrick-P2876
discovernorthernireland.com/things-to-do/attractions/game-of-thrones/game-of-thrones/
discovernorthernireland.com/Titanic-Belfast-Belfast-P27157
And if you do make it this far, give me a shout and I might be about for a beer!
Best,
Ruadh
Re-enactment of the seige of Carrickfergus Castle 13/7/12
A Re-enactment group attack Carrickfergus Castle With cannon and musket fire which is returned by Musket fire from the walls. 13/7/12
US Rangers WW2 Birthplace Carrickfergus N. Ireland
'Rangers Lead the Way.'
I'm at Boneybefore village just a mile north of Carrickfergus Co Antrim Northern Ireland. I'm here to visit the US Rangers Exhibition Centre. This Centre was opened in 1994 to commemorate the birthing/formation/activation/inauguration of the American US Rangers. The actual site where this happened is just 3 miles away at Sunnylands Camp Carrickfergus. It was here that the US Rangers were born. US Army Captain William Orlando Darby was chosen as officer commanding of the new unit. Company A was constituted on the 27th of May 1942. The US Rangers remain the only US military unit ever founded on foreign soil!
US Rangers Centre, Carrickfergus
The collection contains uniforms, photographs, documents and other material relating to this famed combat unit.
The museum was first opened in 1994, following a 50th anniversary event when visiting US Ranger veterans generously gave their photographs and memorabilia to create a permanent exhibition.
Today the museum contains visually striking displays, never seen before artefacts and photographs, as well as compelling film footage. The museum aims to be a fitting tribute to the men who volunteered their services to the elite fighting force the US Rangers, in Carrickfergus and beyond.
Contact Carrickfergus Museum T: 028 9335 8241 or Email: carrickfergusmuseums@midandeastantrim.gov.uk
US Rangers Background
When the United States entered the World War 2 after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. US troops arrived in Belfast on the 26th of January 1942. They were distributed in camps all over Northern Ireland. Over 300,000 troops were posted to Northern Ireland, many of whom ended up in Ballycastle, Ballymena and of course Carrickfergus.
The US Army units posted in Carrick were based in Sunnylands Camp, just north of the railway line. The camp was fairly large – about 4 hectares in total. The camp featured a multitude of Nissen huts which housed the troops, and a large training and exercise ground.
The 1st Ranger Battalion, which was dissolved and re-formed several times since WWII, is active today and based at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia.
P S Check out this channel
bill50312
This guy has managed to find old film about the American forces stationed in Ireland.
Yanks in Ireland
and
Darby's Rangers part1
I believe that author and film maker Mary Pat Kelly made these historical films.
ARMED FORCES DAY Carrickfergus Co.Antrim 30th June 2012
Armed Forces Day 30th June 2012 Carrickfergus, CoAntrim, Northern Ireland
Upwards of 46000 visitors attended todays massive ever Forces Day..
Helicopters, Jets (quick), Armed srvices of all descriptions, Vehicles, Robots, Tanks, Boats, Displays, Re-enactments, Parachutists, Museum Pieces, Absailing, Wall Climbing and so much much more..
A good day to show Pride in our forces..
Remember that its politics that people dont agree with, our forces do as they are told as that is what they signed up to do, sadly some give the Ultimate sacrifice..
Trolls get kicked, theres no place here for you to embarass yourself..
MY WEE CARRICKFERGUS CASTLE RANT
Carrickfergus Castle a very well preserved large Norman castle dating from 1177! This castle is outstanding. It has to be one of the top castles in Ireland!
It's history relates to the likes of Robert the Bruce, the first shots fired at the outbreak of the American War the English, various invasions and seiges and finally the Engish take over of the north of Ireland.
Remarkably Carrickfergus Castle is not mentioned anywhere on the internet when looking for famous Irish castles! This is because we are in Northern Ireland and the Southern tourist board do not see the need to promote anything in the north -and why should they?
Unfortunately the Northern Ireland Tourist Board is very poor at giving Carrickfergus Castle the platform it deserves! they would have our tourists believe that all we have is Titanic and the Giant's Causeway!
NI's Greatest Haunts, Series 2, Episode 4, What links Dobbins Inn with Carrickfergus Castle
This is a preview of the 4th episode of Northern Irelands Greatest Haunts
Back to Dobbins
Claire at Dobbins Inn
Belfast Castle
The Belfast Castle located on the slopes of the Cavehill opened in 1870. Today the castle provides an ideal setting for wedding receptions or just somewhere to stop on the way up to the top of the Cavehill
Secrets Of Caernarfon Castle Documentary
Dan heads to Gwynedd to explore the history of Caernarfon Castle, the building of which began in 1283 on the orders of Edward I. He demonstrates how the castle's vast stone walls and strategically designed towers repelled all enemies, even the Welsh national hero Owain Glyndwr, earning itself a truly forbidding reputation, but its military importance faded at the end of the 15th century when Henry Tudor - a Welshman - made his way on to the English throne.
Secrets of Great British Castles Series 1: Carrickfergus Dan Jones explores the history of Carrickfergus Castle in Co Antrim, one of the most ancient castles in Northern Ireland and a stronghold key to understanding the tempestuous relationship between Britain and Ireland. Dan travels to Rathlin Island, where he reveals how hundreds of women and children were massacred in the name of Elizabeth I, and visits the tomb of former governor Arthur Chichester, who began a new colonisation strategy using scorched earth tactics and laid waste to much of the land surrounding the town.
Secrets of Great British Castles: Series 1 Episode 4
Abandoned Medieval Village!! !
Abandoned Medieval Village - You have to see this amazing place once in your life, even if it is through the computer screen. Enjoy!
Walking here, you get a sense that past and present are closely interleaved. You will be captivated by the fascinating remains of an Anglo-Norman castle and walled town. Built in 1227 by King Henry III of England, it was populated by up to 1000 people in its heyday. It was destroyed, ruined and forgotten in less than 150 years, but in recent times one of the most important medieval town sites in Ireland has recently found a new lease of life.
Six hundred and fifty years after it was destroyed and forgotten, St. John’s Parish Heritage Group has facilitated the conservation of the medieval town walls and the parish church. Situated on Lough Ree about 10 miles by boat or car from Athlone it lies near the village of Lecarrow in St. John's Parish in South Roscommon.
From a few dozen academic visitors a year in 2007 to 6,500 visitors in the year 2011, Rindoon is a national cultural tourism treasure, just waiting to be explored!
Access to this land is due to the kind permission of the landowners. Please follow the directional signage for this trail and please respect the environment by following the principles of Leave No Trace.
Unwind - Ep3 - Carrickfergus Castle
Tour around Carrickfergus Castle and the surrounding area | Music - bensound.com
Sinéad O'Connor & The Chieftains - The Foggy Dew