Dunseverick Castle

Dunseverick Castle and the peninsula on which it stands were given to the National Trust in 1962 by local farmer Jack McCurdy.

The castle was occupied until its capture and destruction by Cromwellian troops in the 1650s, and today only the ruins of the gatelodge remain. A small residential tower survived until 1978 when it eventually surrendered to the sea below.

Part of a tower is all that remains of Dunseverick Castle which was destroyed by a Scottish army sent here in 1642 under the command of General Munro to combat the rebellion by Rory O’More, Lord Maquire and Sir Pheilim O’ Neill which started in 1641.

The ruin you see today was probably built by the MacDonnell clan who had establish a power base along the north coast during the 1500s, this control stretched from Red Bay to Dunluce Castle.

Surrounded by the ocean on three sides,Dunseverick was a key ancient site in Ireland, one of the royal roads from Tara, seat of the Kings of Ireland ended here. The site was originally founded by Sobairce, one of the Kings who built a fortress here in 1525BC to rule the ancient Kingdom of Dariada, the location is named after him – Dunsobairce (Fortress of Sobairce) now Dunseverick. Many heroes of Irish legends such as Cuchulain, Queen Maeve and Turlough are associated with the area. A story given to me by the late Bertie McKay, a local historian and fisherman from Portbraddon, explores more of the adventures of  Turlough.

Another interesting fact for anyone who walks up to the castle and takes in the breathtaking view to Portmoon – if you do, then you can rest safe in the knowledge that you have walked in the footsteps of Patricius (Saint Patrick) as it is known he visited Dunseverick on several occasions for baptisms and on one of these occasions he baptized a local man called Olcan, who became Bishop of Armoy and later a Bishop of Ireland, Olcan died in 480AD. He may well have baptised Gobain here to.

A well which existed a few feet from the cliff edge is named after St. Patrick and reputed to be be one of the ‘holy’ wells of Ireland, though sadly, the christening stone and the seat he used still lie unfound in the waters below, having been tumbled there during a time of upheaval.

How to get there

• Train: Service from Belfast or Londonderry to Coleraine
• Bus: Causeway Rambler (Ulsterbus no 376) Bushmills to Carrick-a-Rede; or Ulsterbus no 252 is a circular route via the Antrim Glens from Belfast. Both stop at Dunseverick Castle if requested.
• Car: on B146, 5ml from Bushmills, 9ml from Ballycastle. Drive time: Belfast 1.15 hrs, Giant’s Causeway 4mins
• Cycle: NCN route 93 runs past Dunseverick Castle.

Attractions antrim, castle, dunseverick, ruins