The ship sunk after hitting rocks in Lacada Point, not far from Dunluce Castle. [46][47][48] However, very little of this Inishowen estate was ever run directly by the head of the Chichester family; from the early seventeenth century onwards, almost all of this vast estate was sublet by the Chichesters to several lesser landlords, often described as 'middlemen', on very long-term leases. Passed down by generations, it was later handed over to the northern Irish Government in 1928. Photos via Curated Kitchen & Coffee on Facebook. With its fascinating history and associations, its superb setting and views, and well-deserved reputation for good food, here are the top 10 facts about Belfast Castle; 1. The boat was dashed against the rocks and both were killed. Chichester, as Lord Deputy of Ireland, ensured that the huge Dochartaigh lands in Inishowen were granted to himself. The castle is normally open Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 10pm, Sunday and Monday it is normally opened 9am-5.30pm. With such an ambitious project, a sub-committee estimated that the minimum possible cost would be 160,000 before considering the cost of employing grounds keepers and the cost of restoring the building. It was built in the 1860s and is one of the city's most famous landmarks. Even if you just visit for the views out over the city, the short 20-minute drive from the city centre out to the castle are well worth it. Belfast Castle was passed to the Shaftesburys in October 1883. Archaeologists have uncovered the house of a Scottish merchant that was erected in the first part of the 17th century. We may all come from different walks of life but we have one common passion - learning through travel. Alternatively, head to the Cellar Restaurant which serves Irish and British favourites within the castle building. [107], Having been derelict for almost fifty years,[9][104][108] the chapel was eventually converted into luxury flats, with work being completed in 2020. The castle was originally built in 1500 by the McQuillans, who came from Scotland in the 1200s as hired mercenaries and built the castle around 200 years later. [115], Belfast Castle is located 400 feet (121.92 metres) above sea level on Cave Hill, overlooking Belfast in County Antrim in the east of Ulster. In the years after it was given to the city, there was some debate about what Belfast Castle should be used for. Edinburgh Castle was built atop an extinct volcano. find opening hours for the castle at the moment. This original medieval castle was located on the southern bank of the River Farset and was probably used to guard the important ford across the River Lagan. Lord Belfast had died in Naples, aged 25, from scarlatina in February 1853. Call Belfast Castle Estate & Cave Hill Visitor Centre, Email Belfast Castle Estate & Cave Hill Visitor Centre, Visit the website for Belfast Castle Estate & Cave Hill Visitor Centre. The new Belfast Castle was built on what had been the Donegall family's deerpark on the slopes of Cave Hill,[1][7] a location which was, at that time, on the northern outskirts of Belfast, just off the Antrim Road. Alskea: Donegall Park Gardens, Antrim Road, Belfast. [80] He decided to build what has been described as a new 'princely mansion'[1] for himself in the 1860s on what was then the northern edge of Belfast,[1][77] just over a decade after the Great Famine had ended. [91], As in the twentieth-century, many of the rooms have been turned into public tea rooms or are available to be reserved for private functions. You can also take a bus from Duncairn Yorkgate Station to Carrickfergus 14-22 Larne Road and walk for 8 minutes to reach the castle. Homepage, Eat & Drink Titanic. We create informative articles about castles and famous historical figures such as kings and queens. The first Belfast Castle was built by the Normans in the late 12th Century. He had only succeeded his famous father in the earldom in October 1885. [37] After three days and nights of feasting and celebrations inside Belfast Castle, the English soldiers accompanying Lord Essex suddenly set upon and murdered most of the family and retainers of Sir Brian inside the castle. Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex Wikipedia. A report by the plantation commissioners in 1611 gives [81][82] This new residence was called Belfast Castle, in a nod to family history, even though it was built on a completely different site, and in a completely different area, from the original castle site, which had been located right in the centre of Belfast. The earliest castle was built by the Normans in the late 12th century. It is situated in Cumbria,. For local insights and insiders travel tips that you wont find anywhere else, search any keywords in the top right-hand toolbar on this page. [80][103] It seems that this small chapel was converted in 1891 into being a family chapel for regular worship, while also remaining as a family mausoleum. [74], Lord Donegall sold off Donegall House in the centre of Belfast in the early 1820s, establishing his main residence at Ormeau House thereafter. About Belfast You have to go down 115 steps to reach the cave. Dunluce Castle is in the care of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. In the aftermath of the Second World War, the chapel and the lands surrounding it were detached from the Belfast Castle Demesne. From ghostly inhabitants to its Cold War past, here are 10 facts you may not have known about this famous fortress. [1][89][90] He also served as: Lord Lieutenant of Belfast from 1904 to 1911; Lord Lieutenant of Antrim from 1911 to 1916; and Chancellor of The Queen's University of Belfast from 1909 to 1923. Belfast Castle was completed in 1870 but ran well over the intended 11,000 budget so the Marquis son-in-law (later 8th Earl of Shaftesbury) baled him out. Some quick need-to-knows before visiting Belfast Castle 1. This castle was never rebuilt. [91], The vast country estates of the Donegall family, which had been inherited by the Shaftesbury family in October 1883, were largely broken up and sold off under The 9th Earl of Shaftesbury during the 1890s and during the first decade of the twentieth century. The 3rd Marquess of Donegall (1797-1883), in stark contrast to his father, did not spend much of his adult life living in Belfast or anywhere else in Ireland. In August 1603, Sir Arthur Chichester received a Kings letter which officially put him in charge of Belfast Castle and its surrounding lands. It was called Belfast Castle, in a nod to family history, even though it was built on a completely different site from the original castle site, which had been located right in the centre of Belfast. The first Belfast Castle is believed to have been erected at Bal Feirste, Belfast, by the 1220s. As a young man, Lord Shaftesbury spent much of his time at Belfast Castle, often living there when he was not in London. Lord Kildare seized the castle and sacked Belfast in 1503 and again in 1512. Maguire, 'Lords and landlords - the Donegall Family' in, Culture Northern Ireland: The Buildings of the Belfast Castle Estate -, Culture Northern Ireland: A History of Carrickfergus -. Dunluce Castle is an important historical marker perched high on a cliff along the causeway coast of County Antrim. This castle has a long and tumultuous history, well worth exploring. Its location provides unobstructed views over the City of Belfast and Belfast Lough. Currently, it is under the possession of the Belfast City Council and open to the public for occasional arrangements or simply a visit! It appears that it has been closed for much of 2021. Happy travels! [1][7] However, there is some debate over who in the firm actually designed the new Belfast Castle. Homepage, Plan Discover Walks contributors speak from all corners of the world - from Prague to Bangkok, Barcelona to Nairobi. But the locals say they can still hear the screams of the kitchen staff over the sound of the sea waves. Free to visit, it has four rooms of exhibits and an 8-minute film about Cave Hill and Belfast Castle. Belfast Castle is famously used to hold weddings, it is a popular avenue to hold business meetings, tea parties, and occasional dinner meet-ups! Have you heard it? Belfast Castle stairs, by Alicia Fagerving, is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0Belfast Castle Turret, by Etrusia UK, is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0Coat of Arms, Belfast Castle, by Ross, is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0Gates, Belfast Castle, by Albert Bridge, is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0PICT0090, by Abel Pardo Lpez, is licensed under CC BY 2.0. You might be able to see the castle in the second and sixth seasons of the show. Back at the castle youll find one of our favourite spots for coffee in Belfast. In a patent dated 5 November 1603, the Crown granted to Sir Arthur Chichester 'The Castle of Bealfaste or Belfast, with the Appurtenants and Hereditaments, Spiritual and Temporal, situate in the Lower Clandeboye, late in the possession or custody of Sir Ralph Lane Knt., deceased'. [36], In October 1574, during the Enterprise of Ulster, The 1st Earl of Essex and his retinue were invited to a feast at Belfast Castle by Sir Brian mac Feidhlimidh Nill (Sir Brian McPhelim O'Neill), Lord of Lower Clandeboye. If you have a question that we havent tackled, ask away in the comments section below. Curiously, it was only when he no longer owned Belfast that Lord Donegall became interested in actually living there. Excavations have revealed the evidence of coins from the times of Charles I and Elizabeth I. More than 1,200 men died in the wreck, and 9 survived, helped by Sorley Boy MacDonnell, chief of the clan MacDonnell and owner of Dunluce Castle at the time. 24 No-one knows what the original name means. [26] His son and heir, The 9th Earl of Kildare (often known as Gearid g), also seized the castle in 1523. [63] This 'Plantation' castle had almost certainly been built on, or very near, the site of the 'Norman' Belfast Castle, which was the original medieval castle. WebThe first 'Belfast Castle' was built by the Normans in the late 12th century. The castle was designed and built in the Victorian version of the Scots Baronial style. History. The original Belfast Castle, built in the late 12th century by the Normans, was located in the town itself, flanked by the modern day High Street, Castle Place and Donegall Place in what is now Belfast city centre. This was the home of The 1st Baron Chichester (better known as Sir Arthur Chichester ), but was burned down in 1708, Rebuilding of the castle began in the early 1610s. The castle and its surrounding demesne were eventually gifted to the City of Belfast by Lord Shaftesbury in January 1934. After that, head outside to admire the impressive exterior and the stunning Lough Belfast views. Another way is to take a taxi from Belfast to Belfast Castle, hire a cab or simply walk. According to legend, Belfast Castle is safe as long as there is a (preferably white) cat residing there. He also experiences financial difficulties managing the estate, especially after the various Land Acts passed by the British Parliament during the 1880s, 1890s and early twentieth-century. find opening hours for the castle at the moment. The new castle was built of stone and timber on the same site as the previous castle. Belfast Interesting facts about Belfast | Just Fun Facts Instead, Sir Brian, along with his wife and his brother, were arrested by Lord Essex and, later in 1574, all three were executed in Dublin. While the town of Belfast had been sold off by The 3rd Marquess of Donegall back in the 1850s,[62][69][79] the Donegall family continued to own a large estate in County Antrim and large parts of Inishowen until these passed to the Shaftesburys in October 1883. The stairs are quite steep and might be slippery during the rainy season. Scots Baronial style was an architectural style that originally developed out of French-inspired Gothic styles during the Renaissance in Scotland in the sixteenth-century. [6][10][11] Originally, a castle had been erected at Bal Feirste (Belfast) by the 1220s, probably to guard the important ford across the River Lagan. This is regarded as one of the more challenging walks in Belfast for good reason. For a century it remained a magazine and armoury. It was rediscovered in 2011, having been razed to the ground in 1641 and archaeological discoveries suggest a sophisticated piece of town planning around a grid system, as well as evidence of indoor toilets, which were extremely rare at the time. Archaeological evidence suggests humans have been living on Castle Rock since 850 BC. Belfast Castle - Wikipedia Not only was it important in the past, but its also still a popular location to visit for Irish folks, visitors to Northern Ireland, and historians alike. LocationVaduz, Liechtenstein (Google Map Location)Owner of Vaduz CastlePrincely family of LiechtensteinVisitors AllowedNo Vaduz Castle is, Inverallochy Castle is a lovely ruin situated near the village of Inverallochy in the Buchan, Rose Castle is a stunning 16,244 square feet (1,509.1m2)fortified house. [6] However, when in Ulster, Lord Chichester, as he later became, usually resided at Joymount House in nearby Carrickfergus rather than at the 'Plantation-era' Belfast Castle. 1858- The castle is rebuilt by its original owners 1921- The building, as well as the surrounding 235 acres (95 ha) of adjoining land, is purchased by the newly established Government of Northern Ireland for only 15,000 1921 to 1972- Stormont Castle serves as the official residence of the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland [9][77][101][103][105] This Church of Ireland chapel was originally designed and built as a mortuary chapel and new mausoleum for the Donegall family, specifically being built as a memorial to Frederick Richard, Earl of Belfast (1827-1853), the son and heir apparent of The 3rd Marquess of Donegall. Martina O'Donnell, 'Settlement and Society in the Barony of East Inishowen. Hot food is served until 3pm. Since 1945, the castle has been a popular venue for weddings, afternoon teas, and other such events.[60]. The castle is flanked on all sides by extremely steep waterfalls, which may have attracted early Christians and Vikings to the area. The last service in the chapel was held in 1972, after which the building was closed. [6] By 1802, these original castle sites had partially been built upon with other buildings. The castle was briefly taken in 1476 by inri mac Eoghain Nill (known in English as Henry O'Neill), R na Tr Eoghain (King of Tyrone), usually known during his lifetime as 'the Great O'Neill', when he 'attacked the castle of Belfast which he took and demolished'. One of the beauties of visiting Belfast Castle is that its a short spin away from many of the best things to do in Belfast. But thats not the only exciting thing about this 16th-century structure. The castle underwent another round of refurbishment in May 2003. [6][11][16] Although originally built in either the late twelfth-century or the early thirteenth-century, this castle was 'rebuilt' on several occasions between the 1220s and the 1550s, possibly being 'rebuilt' on the same site or on an adjacent site. This construction in the mid-twentieth-century left both the Chapel of the Resurrection and the former Main Gate Lodge marooned in the middle of housing estates, no longer being part of the castle's demesne. [37][38][42], By 1603, Belfast Castle, which was probably a Gaelic towerhouse by this time, was in ruins, largely as a result of the Nine Years' War. "}}]}, The Giants Causeway Legend And The Now-Famous Finn McCool Story, What To See And Do In The Magnificent Ballyhoura Region. The Ability Caf at the Castle Tavern is now open 9am to 4pm every day. Yes, there is no admission fee for visiting the castle. [103] Following its closure, the chapel suffered extensive vandalism throughout the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and first two decades of the twenty-first-century, with all of the glass in the building's windows either being removed or destroyed. WE read of the Castle of Belfast as occupying a very important part in the old history of the town. Natural Stone Database: Buildings - Belfast Castle, Antrim Road, Belfast. The building of these housing estates greatly reduced the castle's demesne in size. Visitors can explore the public rooms on the ground and first floor. Gerard MacAtasney and Christine Kenealy, 'The Great Hunger in Belfast' in John Crowley, William J. Smyth, and Mike Murphy (Editors). Below Dunluce Castle, there is a massive cave, named Mermaids Cave. You can even see the oven and entryway fireplace. [10] This medieval castle may have been built by the Normans, who invaded East Ulster in the late twelfth century. Especially under the of 1903, the huge country estates in Ireland, including those of the Shaftesbury family in Ulster, were broken up and sold off, mainly being sold to the tenant farmers who actually lived on and farmed the land. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"We can't (and we've tried!) Belfast Castle stands 120 m (400 ft) above sea level on the slopes of Cavehill Country Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The head of the Donegall family would not live in Belfast again for almost a century, until The 2nd Marquess of Donegall (1769-1844) settled in Belfast in 1802, establishing his main residence there. Built in the 12th century by the Normans, Belfast Castleis established in a prominent position ofThe Cave Hill County Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Cavehill Country park contains numerous archaeological and historical features, including Napoleons Nose, which is believed to have been the inspiration for Jonathan Swifts novel Gullivers Travels. Designed and built in the Victorian version of theScots Baronial Styleand constructed withpink Scrabo sandstone, the castle is a dream come true. One of its most iconic features is thegreyish-brown winding stone staircase on the garden faade, which is a present photo booth for newlyweds! One ghost seen in the castle is that of Maeve Roe, the daughter of Lord McQuillan, she was the only girl and her father had chosen her husband to be Rory Og, a relative of the family. You can take a Line 2 Train from Belfast Lanyon Palace to Downshire and walk for approximately 9 minutes to reach the castle. The Belfast Castle occupies a prominent position on the slopes of Cave Hill, some 120 metres (400 feet) above sea level. The Chichester castle features prominently to the top right of Thomas Phillips' map of Belfast in 1685. Image by MorningbirdPhoto from Pixabay, S. Lewis is said to have been inspired by the castle in his portrayal of Cair Paravel, the royal castle of Narnia in his famous book series The Chronicles Of Narnia.. Its quite challenging underfoot and steep in places but very rewarding. 16 Things Belfast is Known and Famous For - Hey Explorer Stay on for the 10 amazing facts about Dunluce Castle. This is the location that Lewis states as his inspiration for Cair Paravel in Narnia. Practical Advice For Students Who Dream Of Traveling. This new residence was located on what was then the northern edge of Belfast. WebFacts about Belfast. [115] The grand, octagonal stone carriageway piers that once stood to one side of the Gate Lodge were demolished in the mid-twentieth century, as was the attached wall surrounding the demesne. 'Belfast: The hidden castles under the city's shops' (, W.A. Come amaze yourself with your creativity and bring home. Homepage, See & Do Spring Spectacular at Hillsborough Castle. {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Is Belfast Castle worth visiting?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes! It was The 3rd Marquess of Donegall who finally sold off almost all of his family's Belfast estate in the 1850s. 20 interesting facts about Belfast Placenamesni.org: Aldfreck, County Antrim. Belfast Castle Its location provides unobstructed views over the City of Belfast and Belfast Lough. Following the closure of the chapel in 1972, the sculpture was moved to the foyer of Belfast City Hall, where it remains in situ.[103][106]. Surrounded by well-maintained gardens and woodland, the estate offers dramatic views across the Belfast Lough. The park is named after the five caves located on the side of the cliffs. This current grand turreted castle was built in 1862 by the 3rd Marquis of Donegall, a descendant of the Chichester family.The Scottish Baronial architectural style was designed by architect John Lanyon, whose father Charles designed the Palm House in Belfasts Botanic Gardens. The original main entrance into the current demesne was formerly on the Antrim Road itself, where Strathmore Park now meets the Antrim Road. A formative ruin located on an island overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. By 1603, Belfast Castle was in ruins, largely as a result of the Nine Years War. It was situated in Belfast city centre on Castle Place. 8 Facts About Edinburgh Castle | Mental Floss In a battle fought in November 1597 against the MacDonnells at Altfrackyn (also known as Aldfreck), a townland just north of Ballycarry, the English were defeated, with 180 of their soldiers being killed. The castle was then seized by Essex and his English forces. The English Crown finally seized Belfast Castle from the U Nill of Clandeboye during the Nine Years' War in the 1590s, when the castle was occupied by English troops.