Carrickfergus Castle

Carrickfergus is noted for its excellently preserved Norman castle (military museum) perched on a spur of black basalt originally surrounded by water except on its north side. Intended for the defense of Belfast Lough, the castle was built between 1180 and 1205 by the Norman nobleman John de Courcy and was taken by King John in 1210 after a year long siege. The most notable features are the massive Keep (with a magnificent Norman Great Hall on the third floor and fine views from the top), the Gatehouse flanked by two towers and a number of cannon of the 16th to 19th centuries.