Dunluce Castle
Opposite from the Northern Ireland Antrim coast lies Scotland. This castle was occupied by descendants of the Scottish clan MacDonald and were known as the MacDonnells during the 16th and 17th centuries. It is thought to have been constructed during the 13th century. In the 16th century, the MacDonnells fought for and against their neighbors and against English raids. The castle was granted by Queen Elizabeth I to the MacDonnells in 1586. In 1588, the Spanish ship, Girona, was wrecked on nearby rocks. Cannons were salvaged from the Spanish ship and mounted on the castle walls. James I was gifted one of the Girona guns on his trip to Dunluce Castle in 1597.
A member of the MacDonnell clan, Randal Arranagh MacDonnell, accompanied Hugh O'Neill to Kinsale in December 1601 to back up the Spanish; after the Irish defeat, he surrendered to the English at Carrickfergus and agreed to be loyal to the British crown. The grant of these lands was reconfirmed by James I in 1602 and the MacDonnells were confirmed as loyal subjects. Randal A. MacDonnell added on to Dunluce Castle and contributed to his own private Plantation of the Antrim coast with members from his Scottish clan.
Randal's son, also named Randal Arranagh MacDonnell, inherited the castle. He married Katherine Manners, the wealthy widow of the Duke of Buckingham who had been recently assassinated. It is said she hated the sound of the sea. According to legend, in 1639, a portion of the castle containing the kitchen, plunged into the sea taking with it several servants; the only survivor was a kitchen boy who was sitting in a chair in the far edge of the kitchen. It is said that Katherine Manners left the castle, salvaging what possessions she could. The castle remained unoccupied and fell into ruins.
For my fellow Led Zeppelin fans, the photograph on the inner sleeve of the album Houses of the Holy released in 1973, is of Dunluce Castle.
A member of the MacDonnell clan, Randal Arranagh MacDonnell, accompanied Hugh O'Neill to Kinsale in December 1601 to back up the Spanish; after the Irish defeat, he surrendered to the English at Carrickfergus and agreed to be loyal to the British crown. The grant of these lands was reconfirmed by James I in 1602 and the MacDonnells were confirmed as loyal subjects. Randal A. MacDonnell added on to Dunluce Castle and contributed to his own private Plantation of the Antrim coast with members from his Scottish clan.
Randal's son, also named Randal Arranagh MacDonnell, inherited the castle. He married Katherine Manners, the wealthy widow of the Duke of Buckingham who had been recently assassinated. It is said she hated the sound of the sea. According to legend, in 1639, a portion of the castle containing the kitchen, plunged into the sea taking with it several servants; the only survivor was a kitchen boy who was sitting in a chair in the far edge of the kitchen. It is said that Katherine Manners left the castle, salvaging what possessions she could. The castle remained unoccupied and fell into ruins.
For my fellow Led Zeppelin fans, the photograph on the inner sleeve of the album Houses of the Holy released in 1973, is of Dunluce Castle.
Dunluce Castle Slide Show
Giant's Causeway
Another note of interest for my fellow Led Zeppelin fans -- this is where the album cover on Houses of the Holy was photographed.
The Giant's Causeway was formed during ancient volcanic eruptions. These hexagonal stones are quite unusual.
There are a number of legends surrounding this intriguing site, the most famous concerning that of Finn MacCool (who was accorded a status in Celtic legend similar to that of King Arthur). Finn MacCool, for purposes of this legend, was a giant. It seems that there was a giant over in Scotland, Benandonner, who was taunting Finn, so Finn built the causeway to Scotland to settle the score. When he was near Scotland, Finn saw that Benandonner was much much bigger than Finn anticipated so he quickly ran home and told his wife his fears. She told Finn not to worry, she had a plan. Benandonner found the causeway and decided to teach Finn a lesson so he crossed the bridge.
Upon arriving at Finn's home, Finn's wife told Benandonner that Finn was gone but would be back shortly. She invited Benandonner in for a cup of tea and some cake (filled with rocks). Benandonner drank the tea and ate the cake, chipping two of his teeth in the process. Benandonner thought to himself that Finn must be quite large and quite strong if he was able to chew such a crunchy cake. Finn's wife told Benandonner that he would need to be quiet so he would not wake the baby - Benandonner looked over to the crib and noticed a huge baby - he patted the baby's face and the baby bit him with huge teeth. Thinking that if Finn's baby was this huge and able to inflict such a powerful bite, that Finn must be really gigantic and would beat him to a pulp, Benandonner became terrified and ran away, pulling up the causeway behind him - as Finn, still wearing a baby bonnet, and his wife, watched - chuckling all the while.
The Giant's Causeway was formed during ancient volcanic eruptions. These hexagonal stones are quite unusual.
There are a number of legends surrounding this intriguing site, the most famous concerning that of Finn MacCool (who was accorded a status in Celtic legend similar to that of King Arthur). Finn MacCool, for purposes of this legend, was a giant. It seems that there was a giant over in Scotland, Benandonner, who was taunting Finn, so Finn built the causeway to Scotland to settle the score. When he was near Scotland, Finn saw that Benandonner was much much bigger than Finn anticipated so he quickly ran home and told his wife his fears. She told Finn not to worry, she had a plan. Benandonner found the causeway and decided to teach Finn a lesson so he crossed the bridge.
Upon arriving at Finn's home, Finn's wife told Benandonner that Finn was gone but would be back shortly. She invited Benandonner in for a cup of tea and some cake (filled with rocks). Benandonner drank the tea and ate the cake, chipping two of his teeth in the process. Benandonner thought to himself that Finn must be quite large and quite strong if he was able to chew such a crunchy cake. Finn's wife told Benandonner that he would need to be quiet so he would not wake the baby - Benandonner looked over to the crib and noticed a huge baby - he patted the baby's face and the baby bit him with huge teeth. Thinking that if Finn's baby was this huge and able to inflict such a powerful bite, that Finn must be really gigantic and would beat him to a pulp, Benandonner became terrified and ran away, pulling up the causeway behind him - as Finn, still wearing a baby bonnet, and his wife, watched - chuckling all the while.
(Click on the Photo to Enlarge)
Bushmills Distillery
No cameras of any sort are allowed in the oldest Irish Whiskey Distillery for fear of igniting a spark and starting a fire. Bushmills received its official "Grant to Distil" in 1608 but it is believed that whiskey was distilled for 200 years before that date. The word "whiskey" comes from the Gaelic "uisce heatha" meaning water of life. It is believed that distillation was introduced to Ireland by monks from Asia some 1000 years ago. We take the tour - the most glorious part, for me, was smelling the different barrels the whiskey is aged in -- okay, make that the second most glorious part, the first was the whiskey tasting. Slainte!
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
I'm terrified of heights. When I travel, however, I like to challenge myself; to step outside my comfort zone. Carrick-a-Rede Rope bridge was my challenge on this trip.
My travel buddy, Tanny, died two years ago. We had been on many Rick Steves tours together and generally would plan our own travel adventures before and after the tour. We pushed each other to challenge ourselves. Tanny was claustrophobic so I would help her challenge her fears and discover the beauty in tight spaces such as caves. I'm acrophobic and Tanny would help me deal with my fear of heights as we were perched 150 feet above a raging rocky river standing on a bridge with see-through grating and plexiglass sides. Tanny's first Rick Steves trip was to Ireland; mine was to Italy. We met on our second Rick Steves trip in France and became instant life-long friends and travel buddies.
I decided to go on the Ireland trip, in part, to remember her. The weather throughout the trip was such that I would have chickened out and never even tried to cross the bridge if it was raining or in the least bit windy. But on the day we arrived at Carrick-a-Rede Rope bridge, the sun was shining brightly and the wind was extremely mild - I had no excuse not to cross the bridge. With the encouragement of other tour members and the wonderful staff at the bridge - I made the crossing - TWICE! I felt Tanny's presence with me as I made the crossing - she was encouraging me and looking out for me from above.
My travel buddy, Tanny, died two years ago. We had been on many Rick Steves tours together and generally would plan our own travel adventures before and after the tour. We pushed each other to challenge ourselves. Tanny was claustrophobic so I would help her challenge her fears and discover the beauty in tight spaces such as caves. I'm acrophobic and Tanny would help me deal with my fear of heights as we were perched 150 feet above a raging rocky river standing on a bridge with see-through grating and plexiglass sides. Tanny's first Rick Steves trip was to Ireland; mine was to Italy. We met on our second Rick Steves trip in France and became instant life-long friends and travel buddies.
I decided to go on the Ireland trip, in part, to remember her. The weather throughout the trip was such that I would have chickened out and never even tried to cross the bridge if it was raining or in the least bit windy. But on the day we arrived at Carrick-a-Rede Rope bridge, the sun was shining brightly and the wind was extremely mild - I had no excuse not to cross the bridge. With the encouragement of other tour members and the wonderful staff at the bridge - I made the crossing - TWICE! I felt Tanny's presence with me as I made the crossing - she was encouraging me and looking out for me from above.
(Click on Photo to Enlarge)
I DID IT!
I CROSSED THE CARRICK-A-REDE
ROPE BRIDGE!
Adventures in Food in Portrush
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