Carrickfergus Castle is a Norman castle in Northern Ireland, situated in the town of Carrickfergus in County Antrim, on the shore of Belfast Lough. For other buildings in Normandy see Architecture of Normandy. A castle is a defensive structure seen as one of the main symbols of the Middle Ages. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of Carrickfergus ( is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. County Antrim ( Contae Aontroma or simply Aontroim in Irish) is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, and one of nine counties Belfast Lough ( Loch Lao or Loch Laoigh in Irish) is a large natural intertidal sea lough situated at the mouth of the River Lagan on the Besieged in turn by the Scots, Irish, English and French, the castle played an important military role until 1928 and remains one of the best preserved medieval structures in the whole of Ireland. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world It was useful as 3/4 of the perimeter is covered by water. Today it is maintained by the Environment and Heritage Service as a State Care Historic Monument, at grid ref: J4143 8725. The Environment and Heritage Service is a Northern Ireland Executive conservation agency within the Department of the Environment. ^[1]

Contents 1 Origins 2 English control 3 Later use 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

Origins

Carrickfergus Castle was built by John de Courcy in 1177 as his headquarters, after he conquered eastern Ulster in 1177 and ruled as a petty king until 1204, when he was ousted by another Norman adventurer, Hugh de Lacy. John de Courcy (1160 &ndash 1219 was a Norman knight who arrived in Ireland in 1177 Headquarters (HQ denotes the location where most if not all of the important functions of an organization are concentrated Ulster ( Ulaidh ˈkwɪɟɪ ˈʌlˠu / ˈʌlˠi is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in addition to Connacht, Munster and Leinster The Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. For the historical Irish figure see Hugh de Lacy Lord of Meath Hugh de Lacy (1020-1049 was the founder of a Norman 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. John de Courcy (1160 &ndash 1219 was a Norman knight who arrived in Ireland in 1177 nA motte-and-bailey is a form of Castle. Many were built in Britain, Ireland and France in the 11th and 12th centuries favored as a relatively It had a number of buildings, including the great hall. A great hall was the main room of a royal Palace, a Nobleman 's Castle or a large Manor house in the Middle Ages, and From its strategic position on a rocky promontory, originally almost surrounded by sea, the castle commanded Belfast Lough, and the land approaches into the walled town that developed beneath its shadows. Belfast Lough ( Loch Lao or Loch Laoigh in Irish) is a large natural intertidal sea lough situated at the mouth of the River Lagan on the

English control

It 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. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland John (24 December 1167 &ndash 19 October 1216 reigned as a King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death Ulster ( Ulaidh ˈkwɪɟɪ ˈʌlˠu / ˈʌlˠi is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in addition to Connacht, Munster and Leinster Following its capture, constables were appointed to command the castle and the surrounding area. 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. 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. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system A crossbow is a Weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles often called bolts

A 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. A chapel is a holy place or area of Worship for Christians, which may be attached to an institution such as a large church, a College, a The ribbed vault over the entrance passage, the murder hole and the massive portcullis at either end of the gatehouse are later insertions, probably part of the remodelling that followed Edward Bruce's long and bitter siege of 1315-1316. A murder-hole is a hole in the Ceiling of a Gateway or passageway in a Fortification through which the defenders can fire throw or pour dangerous or noxious A portcullis is a latticed Grille or Gate made of wood metal or a combination of the two A gatehouse is a feature of European Castles Manor houses and Mansions Originally a gatehouse was a fortified structure built over the gateway Edward Bruce ( medieval Gaelic: Edubard a Briuis; Modern Scottish Gaelic: Eideard Bruis / Iomhair Bruis) (c

After 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 title of Earl of Ulster has been created several times in the Peerages of Ireland and the United Kingdom. Throughout the Commonwealth realms The Crown is an abstract metonymic concept which represents the legal authority for the existence of any government Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world During the early stages of the Nine Years War (1595-1603), when English influence in the north became tenuous, crown forces were supplied and maintained through the town's port. The Nine Years War (Cogadh na Naoi mBliana in Ireland took place from 1594 to 1603 and is also known as Tyrone's Rebellion. And in 1597, the surrounding country was the scene for the Battle of Carrickfergus. The Battle of Carrickfergus took place in November 1597 in the Province of Ulster in what is now County Antrim, Northern Ireland, during the

During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries a number of improvements were made to accommodate artillery, notably externally splayed gunports and embrasures for cannon, though these improvements did not prevent the castle from being attacked and captured on many occasions during this time. Artillery (from French artillerie) is a military Combat Arm which employs any apparātus machine | NOTE Throughout this article "cannon" is used as BOTH the || singular and plural General Schomberg besieged and took the castle in 1690. This is also the place where Schomberg's leader, King William III first set foot in Ireland on 14 June 1690. William III or William of Orange (14 November 1650 &ndash 8 March 1702 He is informally known in Northern Ireland and Scotland as "King Billy" Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the

In 1760, after fierce fighting in the town, it was surrendered to French invaders under the command of Francois Thurot. Year 1760 ( MDCCLX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap François Thurot (22 July 1727 at Nuits-Saint-Georges near Dijon in eastern France – 28 February 1760 off the Isle of Man) was a French They looted the castle and town and then left, only to be caught by the British Navy. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service)

Later use

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 British Royal Navy vessel from its moorings into the North Channel, and won an hour-long battle. Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" John Paul Jones ( &ndash) was America's first well-known naval hero in the American Revolutionary War. The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800 The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) The North Channel (known in Irish and Scottish Gaelic as Sruth na Maoile, and alternatively in English as the Straits of Moyle Background Even before the official entry of other nations the American Revolutionary War was by no means confined to American soil naval operations by both the Continental 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. Year 1797 ( MDCCXCVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common A prison, penitentiary, or correctional facility is a place in which individuals are physically confined or interned and usually deprived of a range of The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815 involved Napoleon's French Empire and a shifting set of European allies and opposing coalitions Year 1811 ( MDCCCXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year

For a century it remained a magazine and armory. An armory (Armoury is a Military depot used for the storage of Weapons and Ammunition. 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. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Garrison (various spellings (from the French garnison, itself from the verb garnir, "to equip" is the collective term for a body of Troops World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including For the general article about fortified structures see Bunker.

It was garrisoned continuously for about 750 years until 1928, when its ownership was transferred to the government for preservation as an ancient monument and it is open to the public. Year 1928 ( MCMXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Her Majesty's Government, or when the monarch is male His Majesty's Government, is the title used by the Government of the United Kingdom, based at A monument is a structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of past The banqueting hall has been fully restored and there are many exhibits to show what life was like in medieval times.

See also

• Castles in Northern Ireland

References

External links

• Environment and Heritage Service - Carrickfergus Castle
• Carrickfergus Castle

Coordinates: 54°42′48″N 5°48′23″W / 54.713314, -5.806446

A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system.

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