Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Dunluce Castle, Northen Ireland






A castle of myth and legend perched above the White Rocks
Dunluce Castle crowns the majestic limestone cliffs of the White Rocks. Joined to the mainland by an arched walkway, it is thought that Dunluce was constructed by Richard de Burgh or one of his vassals during Ireland's Anglo Norman period. Wrapped in myth and legend, the castle has seen many additions over the centuries, but suffered decline from the late 1600s. On clearer days you can see from the castle to Donegal and round to Islay.
Dunluce Castle was lay siege to on several occasions during its long history, three examples follow:- 1584 - Queen Elizabeth dispatched Sir John Perrott (the Lord Deputy of Ireland) from Dublin with an English army to arrest Sorley Boy MacDonnell -he lay siege to Dunluce on September 14th 1584 and on the third day the castle surrendered - Sorley had flown the nest before his arrival and evaded arrest. The castle was held by Perrott for one year, Sorley re-took it on his departure. 1641 - It was unsuccessfully besieged by an Irish army - the village of Dunluce was destroyed but the castle held out under the command of a Captain Digby and was relieved by the Earl of Antrim in April of that year. 1642 - in July General Munro arrived with a thousand foot soldiers, two troops of cavalry and field guns, acting under the orders of the Marquis of Argyll (an enemy of the Earl) he arrested and imprisoned the Earl in Carrickfergus, he also ransacked Dunluce and other castles belonging to the Earl.

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