Located on the Antrim coast of Northern Ireland, not far from the Giants Causeway, are the ruins of Dunluce Castle. | |||
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Sorley Boy Mac Donnell was a Scottish chieftain, who from Dunluce, controlled the northeastern coast of Ireland. Apparently, the English were none too happy with this particular Scottish incursion in to northern Ireland as in 1584 Queen Elizabeth orders Sir John Perrott to take the castle. After intensive battle the castle falls, and Sorley Boy flees. In a little bit of irony, Perrott appoints (unknown to him) a confederate of Sorley Boy to select troops to garrison the castle. As soon as Perrott leaves, Sorley Boy retakes the castle with ease. In the end, Sorley Boy bows to Elizabeth and swears his allegiance to the English Kingdom. |
![]() Photo above: The ruins on the main land date primarily from the 1600’s AD, after the part of the castle falls in to the ocean. |
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Eventually, Sorley Boys’ son Randal inherits the castle from his father and becomes the Earl of Antrin.
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The Fable (or is it?): Many years ago, I recall reading of a castle on the north coast of Ireland with a tragic tale. A wedding party gathered for celebration in the keep of an old castle. Outside the thick walls of the castle, raged a mighty storm. Then suddenly, part of the castle falls in to the ocean taking with it the kitchen and some of the wedding guests. In 1639, during the time of Randal McDonald, the kitchen of Dunluce castle did fall in to the sea taking with it the cooking staff. The rest of the above story I cannot find a reference to; or perhaps the story was embellished to entertain the tourist. |
Prior to 1641, as demonstrated by the number of gravestones at the churchyard, there was a prosperous village around the castle. Primarily composed of Scottish, the village member quickly fled back to Scotland on the arrival of an Irish army. The army laid waste to the village but the castle stood firm. It was not until a year later (1642) when General Munro arrested the Earl during a ‘friendly’ visit, did the castle actually fall.