Carrickfergus Castle overlooks Belfast Lough in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It was built by the Norman conqueror John de Courcy in the late 1180s.http://www.irelandseye.com/aarticles/travel/attractions/castles/carrick.shtm7 Due to its strategic location, the castle has been besieged over the centuries by armies from four different countrieshttp://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/lets_explore_carrick_castle-3.pdf. It has served as a prison, an armory, and most recently an air-raid shelter.http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/article.aspx?art_id=928 The last military action the castle saw was in World War II.http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Carrickfergus-Castle-Carrickfergus-P28149

Carrickfergus Castle is preserved by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and is open daily to visitors for both guided tours and self-guided tours. http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/events/events-ehod/events-ehod-antrim.htm?&id=35683 In the summer of 2009, a two-day outdoor rock concert was held on the castle grounds, featuring performances by Jools Holland and Status Quo. http://www.carrickfergus.org/news/item/33/carrickfergus-castle-gigs-a-success/11 A traditional Irish song called "Carrickfergus" has been recorded by over 40 different artists, including Charlotte Church and Celtic Woman. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=carrickfergus12

De Courcy built the oldest part of the castle, which includes the great hall, a high defensive wall, and a 90-foot-tall tower called the keep. The keep has four stories and an entrance on the second story.http://www.irelandseye.com/aarticles/travel/attractions/castles/carrick.shtm The second stage of building is thought to have taken place in the early 1200s after de Courcy was ousted from the castle by Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath. De Lacy added two portcullises and a vault. http://www.castlesinireland.net/carrickfergus-castle.html In 1210, King John of England claimed Carrickfergus Castle as the seat of the English government in the region.http://www.castles.org/castles/Europe/Western_Europe/Ireland/Carrikfergus/index.htm In the 1300s, it was besieged by the Scots under the command of Edward Bruce. http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/carrick_castle_info_for_teachers-6.pdf The crown had possession of the castle from the 14th through the 17th centuries; it fell to General Schomberg in 1690, and then to the French in 1760, who used it as a jail.http://www.carrickfergus.org/leisure-and-culture/museum/1500s-and-beyond The castle was used as a military garrison and armory from the 1800s until 1928, when the Ministry of Finance took it over as a monument. http://www.irelandseye.com/aarticles/travel/attractions/castles/carrick.shtm The final military action the castle saw was during World War II, when its basements were used as air raid shelters. http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/article.aspx?art_id=928

The castle offers various tours for school groups of all ages. Each tour focuses on elements of the castle's history that match the students' curricula.

Hours:

10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Easter through September

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., October through Easter

Doors close 30 minutes before closing time.

Admission:

Adults - £3.00

Children / Senior Citizens - £1.50

Family of four - £8.00

There are special rates available for pre-booked groups of ten or more.http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/carrick.htm

Guided and self-guided tours include the keep, a banquet hall (available for party rentals), a medieval clothing display, an oversized chess set, cannons, and murder holes. The castle also has a gift shop and café.http://www.travelmuse.com/pois/GB/R3/attractions/carrickfergus-castle

• The keep includes interactive displays depicting medieval life.http://www.travelmuse.com/pois/GB/R3/attractions/carrickfergus-castle
• Medieval banquets and fairs are held during the summer months.http://www.easytobook.com/en/united-kingdom/county-antrim/belfast/amusement-parks/carrickfergus-castle-hotels/
• The castle is reportedly haunted by the ghost of a soldier from the 16th century named Buttoncap.http://www.medieval-castle.com/haunted_castles_ireland/carrickfergus_castle.htm

Carrickfergus Castle has three areas, called wards. The Inner Ward, built by de Courcy, includes the keep; the Middle Ward, built by King John, includes the ruined defensive towers; the Outer Ward, built by de Lacy, includes the gunports and cannons.http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/lets_explore_carrick_castle-3.pdf

The castle's facilities include a theater which shows films about the castle, a banquet hall, and a games room. The games room contains educational materials for children and historical activities for adults. Guide books are available at the visitors' center. The castle also has a gift shop and refreshments.http://www.designjunkie.com/conti/days/view/carrickfergus-castle-two-for-the-price-of-one26 There is free public parking within walking distance.http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/carrick_castle_info_for_teachers-6.pdf27

The castle is not easily wheelchair-accessible.http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/carrick_castle_info_for_teachers-6.pdf28

Carrickfergus is approximately ten miles from Belfast on the M5. The castle parking lot is immediately after the roundabout by the co-operative market.

Carrickfergus and Downshire stations are a ten-minute walk away. Trains for Carrickfergus leave from Larne and Belfast.http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/carrick_castle_info_for_teachers-6.pdf