Carra Castle Ruins, Cushendun, United Kingdom

Carra Castle dates to around the early 14th century. The castle lies in a field near the coast and the harbour of Cushendun, known as Murlough Bay. The site had once been used during medieval times as a children's cemetery.

The castle was once occupied by Irish king Shane O'Neill, and Sorley Boy McDonnell was held as a prisoner here in 1565. In 1567, two years after being defeated by O'Neill, the McDonnells entertained him in Castle Carra during two days of hunting and feasting. However, on the third day, 2 June, during a quarrel, they stabbed O'Neill to death to avenge their earlier defeat and sent his head to the English representatives of Queen Elizabeth in Dublin Castle.

In 1585, Donnell Gorm MacDonnell was besieged by the English,; his father, Sorley Boy landed near the castle and drove off the besiegers. Around 1730, it was known to have been occupied by the Lynch family. Today the castle is in ruins and overgrown with ivy.

The house has the characteristics of a hall house, but its outside dimensions are that of a tower house. What remains are the ruins of a 16th-century square tower house built over a Mesolithic flint working site.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Alan Wallder (2 years ago)
No entrance plus pregnant sheep in the field. Just a few walls and I didn't see any information board. I didn't enter due to the sheep. Will call back later in the year.

Martin Campbell (3 years ago)
Amazing historic site. Scene of one of Sorley Boy MacDonnell's last battles where he stormed ashore with a large army in January 1585 at 80 years of age to successfully support his son who was besieged in the castle by the English.

John Aicken (3 years ago)
It's a very nice place to go visit.

Helen Gill (5 years ago)
Shame it seems to be on private property and you can only view it from the road.

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