Carrickfergus Castle is a well-preserved Norman fortress located in County Antrim on the northern shore of Belfast Lough, 11 miles from Belfast, founded by John de Courcy soon after his 1177 invasion of Ulster. The castle endured numerous sieges throughout its 800-year history, including attacks by King John in 1210, Edward Bruce in 1315, and capture by French forces under Thurot in 1760, while serving as an active military garrison until 1928. The imposing monument features historical displays and cannons from the 17th to 19th centuries, making it one of the best-preserved medieval structures in Ireland and a commanding landmark visible from land, sea, and air that has shaped the Northern Ireland landscape for centuries.
