# Dunseverick Castle

- **Country:** Ireland
- **Coordinates:** 55.231000, -6.395000
- **Notes:** This coastal site was blessed by Saint Patrick and raided by Vikings in the 9th century. By 1560 the castle was held by Sorley Boy MacDonnell, but was taken from him by Shane O'Neill that same year. It was held by the O'Cahans in the 17th century, but was destroyed by a Scottish army under General Munro during the Rebellion of 1641. Only the ruins of the gatehouse remain standing.
- **Year Built:** 9th century
- **Castle Type:** Ruins
- **Location Text:** Dunseverick

Dunseverick Castle is a historic ruin located in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, situated near the small village of Dunseverick and the famous Giant's Causeway. Constructed primarily from basalt, the site sits on a dramatic peninsula and is currently managed by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. Although the exact year of its initial construction is not recorded in surviving documents, the location has been significant since the Iron Age, originally serving as a promontory fort. Today, the castle exists only as ruins, specifically the remnants of a gate lodge, but it remains open to the public and forms part of the scenic Causeway Cliff Path.

The site holds profound historical significance, believed to be the northern terminus of one of the five great roads of ancient Ireland. Legend and history intertwine here, with records stating that Saint Patrick visited in the 5th century to baptize Olcán, who later became a bishop. It also served as the seat of Fergus Mor MacEirc, King of Dalriada, in the 6th century and was reportedly the departure point for the Lia Fail coronation stone. Over the centuries, the fortress evolved from a stone fort attacked by Vikings in 870 AD into a manorial center for the Earls of Ulster and a stronghold for the O'Cahans and McDonnells.

The castle's military utility ended violently in the 17th century when it was captured and destroyed by General Robert Munro and Cromwellian troops between 1642 and the 1650s. Following centuries of decay, the peninsula and its ruins were gifted to the National Trust in 1962 by local farmer Jack McCurdy. Now designated as a Scheduled Historic Monument, Dunseverick Castle stands as a testament to the region's turbulent past, offering visitors a glimpse into early Christian history, royal coronations, and medieval warfare amidst the rugged coastal landscape.

![Photo of Dunseverick Castle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Dunseverick_Castle_-_geograph.org.uk_-_742675.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunseverick_Castle (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)