County Antrim’s Tintagel
The windswept ruin of Dunseverick Castle has a history stretching all the way back to Ireland’s patron saint
Located near the famous Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, Dunseverick Castle is situated among rugged coastal landscapes. The site has been fortified since the 5th century, and legend has it that Saint Patrick visited the nearby village where he baptised a future bishop of Ireland called Olcán. Later a part of the Gaelic kingdom of Dalriada, Dunseverick became the seat of one of its legendary kings, Fergus Mór.
Vikings attacked the area in 870 and destroyed the original fort, but Dunseverick’s history was not just confined to the Dark Ages. The castle was the home of the O’cahan family for centuries and it was captured and largely demolished by Scottish Covenanter forces commanded by Colonel Robert Munro during the British Civil Wars. Such was the destruction during the 17th century that only ruins of the gate lodge still exist. Another small tower did survive but it eventually collapsed into the sea in 1978. What remains of the architecture dates from approximately the 16th century, and is similar to other Ulster fortresses, including nearby Dunluce Castle.
Dunseverick is located off the B147 on ‘Causeway Road’ where there is a sign-posted small car park. It’s free to explore and intrepid visitors can even walk from the castle to the Giant’s Causeway itself.