Carra Castle

Carra Castle, also known as Castle Carra, is a ruined medieval fortress situated just north of Cushendun in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Dating back to the early 14th century, the structure stands in a field near the coast and the local harbour. While its specific architectural style is not detailed in surviving records, the site holds a unique and somber distinction, having previously served as a children's cemetery during medieval times. The origin of its name remains a subject of historical debate, with suggestions that it may be a corruption of Carey or that it was once referred to as Goban Saer's Castle.

The castle possesses significant historical importance due to its involvement in the turbulent power struggles of 16th-century Ulster. It was once occupied by the Irish king Shane O'Neill and served as the prison for Sorley Boy McDonnell in 1565. In a dramatic turn of events in 1567, the McDonnells hosted O'Neill at the castle for days of hunting and feasting following his defeat, only to murder him during a quarrel on the third day. His head was subsequently sent to Queen Elizabeth I's representatives in Dublin. Later history saw the castle besieged by English forces in 1585 before being relieved by Sorley Boy, and it was recorded as occupied by the Lynch family around 1730.

Today, Carra Castle exists as a ruin, heavily overgrown with ivy and left to the elements. Although it no longer serves any residential or defensive function, the site remains a tangible link to the violent and complex history of the MacDonnell clan and their rivals in the region. Its location near the scenic Glens of Antrim continues to mark it as a point of interest for those exploring the ancient coastal landscape of Northern Ireland.