Places to Visit Along Northern Irelands Antrim Close, Its History and Its Legends

Any one visiting Northern Ireland cannot go there with out visiting the famous Antrim coast. It is known for it's out standing beauty, breath taking scenery and extensive ruins. A few places of historic interest and out standing beauty there are:

DUNLUCE CASTLE
The white rocks beneath are majestically crowned by Dunluce castle. It is joined to the mainland by an arched walkway and underneath the dazzling white rocks lies the mermaids cave. Dunluce Castle (Dun Lios) in Irish, is translated as the Fairy fort. It is the most breathtaking and most extensive Castle ruin in Northern Ireland. As you approach the ruin, you nearly need to pinch yourself, as on first seeing it, it looks like something from a fantasy story scene. You are just waiting for the fairies and leprechauns to appear. It is believed to have been built on top of a medieval fort, where it's history can be traced back to the early Christians and Vikings. Around the 13th century, the Earl of Ulster Richard De burgh first built Dunluce castle on top of the ruins of the old fort. Records are not precise, but the Castle was lived in over many years by the McQuillen family. It was taken by force from them by a man named Sorley bay Mac Donnel in 1565.

In 1584, Sorley bay Mac Donnel, discovered treasures from the shipwrecked boat 'Girona' from the Spanish Armada. The treasures where washed up a few miles away just off the Giants causeway. He used these riches to modernize his Castle. Years later in the early 1600,s the Earl and Countess of Antrim, took up residence at Dunluce Castle. They further decorated the Castle with Gifts from the Queen and put up breathtaking paintings of the zodiac. Soon Dunluce Castle was one of the finest, most beautiful Castles in all medieval Europe.