Dunaneeny Castle
| Dunaneeny Castle | ||
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| place | Ballycastle | |
| Coordinates | 55 ° 12 ′ 41 ″ N , 6 ° 15 ′ 1 ″ W | |
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Dunaneeny Castle (also Dunineny Castle , Irish Dún an Aonaigh , "fortress of the assembly") was a castle on the outskirts of Ballycastle . It was the residence of the MacDonald of Dunnyveg clan and later the MacDonnell of Antrim clan .
History and architecture
The first construction of the castle is attributed to the Ó Cearbhaill (O'Carrol) family. It was right on the cliff not far from Ballycastle. The castle was surrounded by water on three sides. In the south it was protected by a moat about 73 meters long . The castle expanded to about 2,000 square meters. Somhairle Buí Mac Domhnaill (Sorley Boy MacDonnell) was born at the castle in 1505 and fought his battles against the English from here and died at the castle in 1590. Today only a 3.80 meter high outer wall remains of the castle.