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Part of a tower is all that remains of Dunseverick Castle which was destroyed by a Scottish army sent here in 1642 under the command of General Munro to combat the rebellion by Rory O'More, Lord Maquire and Sir Pheilim O' Neill which started in 1641.
The ruin you see today was probably built by the MacDonnell clan who had establish a power base along the north coast during the 1500s, this control stretched from Red Bay to Dunluce Castle. Surrounded by the ocean on three sides,Dunseverick was a key ancient site in Ireland, one of the royal roads from Tara, seat of the Kings of Ireland ended here. The site was originally founded by Sobairce, one of the Kings who built a fortress here in 1525BC to rule the ancient Kingdom of Dariada, the location is named after him - Dunsobairce (Fortress of Sobairce) now Dunseverick. Many heroes of Irish legends such as Cuchulain, Queen Maeve and Turlough are associated with the area. Another interesting fact for anyone who walks up to the castle and takes in the breathtaking view to Portmoon - if you do, then you can rest safe in the knowledge that you have walked in the footsteps of Saint Patrick as it is known he visited Dunseverick on several occasions and on one of these occasions he baptized a local man called Olcan, who became Bishop of Armoy and later a Bishop of Ireland, Olcan died in 480AD. A well which existed a few feet from the cliff edge is named after St. Patrick and reputed to be be one of the 'holy' wells of Ireland, though sadly, the christening stone and the seat he used still lie unfound in the waters below, having been tumbled there during a time of upheaval. |