Dunluce Castle
In Dunluce Castle ( Irish : Caisleán Dhun Libhse ) is one of the largest ruins of a medieval castle in Ireland. It is located on a basalt rock on the rugged north coast of the island, between the villages of Portballintrae and Portrush in County Antrim in Northern Ireland .
The origins of the castle go back a long way, and a pre-Christian ring fort is said to have been located on the basalt rock. It is documented that it was in the hands of the McQuillian family in 1513. The castle was often besieged and taken over by the MacDonnells in 1584. On October 26, 1588, a treasure ship of the Spanish Armada ran aground near Dunluce Castle ; this was looted and the proceeds used to beautify the castle.
In the middle of the 17th century the castle was abandoned, according to legend, because the roar of the sea had become too loud for the owners. According to another version, the abandonment of the castle is said to be related to the fact that in 1639 the newly built kitchen and its staff slipped into the sea. The timing of this event is a matter of dispute, however, as the castle is still completely preserved in pictures from the early 19th century. The demolition of the rock edge would therefore have taken place later.
In 1857, not far from Dunluce Castle, the Exmouth , an emigrant ship en route to Québec, sank - 240 people lost their lives in this tragedy.
Extensive stabilization work is currently being carried out on the rock.
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Coordinates: 55 ° 12 ′ 38 " N , 6 ° 34 ′ 52" W.