Built between 1178 and 1240 and representing over 800 years of military might, Carrickfergus Castle was besieged by the Scots, Irish, English and the French.  In 1928, 700 years of continuous military occupation ended when the War Department transferred the Castle to the Ministry of Finance for preservation as an ancient monument.
Today the castle is in the care of the Environment & Heritage Service and it remains a most striking and impressive monument to its Anglo Norman builders. It can be enjoyed by visitors wanting to learn more about its history or simply looking for a fun day out.

Carrickfergus Castle, Marine Highway, Carrickfergus BT38 7BG
T: 028 9335 1273   www.ehsni.gov.uk

Carrickfergus Town centre offers a historic walled town environment, and reminders of the town’s tumultuous past are displayed in murals and public art.  Parts of the ancient walls, built between 1608 and 1618, are still in existence. 

Carrickfergus has been in existence since medieval times. Development was in initially centred on the castle and the area within the town walls, where only the English were allowed to live.  As settlers from the rest of the north of Ireland and Scotland came to live in the area, they were forced to live in the west and east of the town, and these areas became known as the Irish Quarter and Scotch Quarter respectively.

In the late sixteenth century Carrickfergus was the headquarters of the armies of Queen Elizabeth I.  The town’s defences were built between 1608-1620 and consisted of stone walls with seven bastions and four gates.

When the town walls were built between 1608-1620, they contained four gates: Irish Gate, North Gate, Quay Gate and Water Gate.  The only remaining gate visible today is the North Gate on North Street.

The mural depicted on High Street is a representation of Thomas Stevenson’s Tower House, which was formerly on the site of the Northern Bank premises in High Street.  The work was commissioned as part of the Carrickfergus Project and carried out by Naomi McBride in the mid 1990s.

The public pillory on High Street is a representation of the type of pillory that criminals were condemned to stand in for several days as part of their punishment.  

The poet, Louis MacNeice, moved to Carrickfergus in 1909, when his father was appointed rector for the Anglican Church of Ireland in the town.  He spent much of his childhood here.  A Blue Plaque marks the site of the MacNeice’s home in North Road.    

Carrickfergus Gasworks operated from 1855-1965. Now fully restored as a visitor and educational attraction, it is the only surviving coal gasworks in Ireland, with all buildings and plants remaining fully intact and it boasts an extensive collection of appliances, publications and records.

The Sheils Houses, situated on the Larne Road, form one of five such complexes built by the philanthropist Charles Shiels to relieve some of the distress caused by the Great Famine. The houses were designed by the renowned Belfast architect, Charles Lanyon, and similar developments were created in Armagh, Killough, Dungannon and Dublin. Today the complex, complete with its distinctive clock tower, houses a community of elderly Carrickfergus citizens.

Andrew Jackson Cottage & US Rangers Centre
The Andrew Jackson Cottage at 2 Boneybefore, Carrickfergus, highlights the strong connection between Carrickfergus, America and Ulster-Scots, as well as telling the story of Andrew Jackson, the 7th president of USA, whose parents emigrated to America from Carrickfergus in 1765.

Located a short distance from the Castle and town centre, the cottage has been restored to its original state and is furbished with furniture and equipment of the period. The cottage has a display depicting the life and career of the President Andrew Jackson.

In the grounds of the Andrew Jackson Cottage is an exhibition dedicated to the US Rangers, the elite American army regiment. Formed in 1942, the US Rangers were based in Carrickfergus during World War II. The exhibition has a wide collection of uniforms, photographs, documents and other material relating to the war.

All materials on display in the exhibition have been donated by Members of the original Ranger units stationed in Carrickfergus.  Contact the Tourist Information Centre for further details.

St. Nicholas’ Church was established on this site in 1182 by the Anglo Norman, John de Courcy. Symbolism and history are interwoven in the church’s fabric, as illustrated by the famed crooked aisle. This ‘skew’, as it is known, was quite deliberately created to represent the head of Christ on the Cross falling to the right. There are many most impressive stained glass windows, notably the 16th century Flemish “John the Baptist” window, the unique style and colouring of which makes it a constant focus for visitors.  The Donegal/Chichester aisle is dominated by the finest Jacobean Memorial Monument in Ireland, made on site by Italian craftsmen in alabaster and marble in 1625. It depicts Sir Arthur Chichester, his wife Lady Lettice Perrot, the casket of their baby son and a smaller statue of Sir John Chichester. The bell tower was erected by parishioners in memory of the men of Carrickfergus who gave their lives in the First World War.
For further information, contact:
Church Office, Mon to Fri 9.00am-noon.
T: 028 9336 0061

The County Antrim War Memorial located on the Great Knockagh is dedicated to the fallen of World War I & II and is situated on the hills overlooking Greenisland & Carrickfergus.  On a clear day the view stretches to the Mourne Mountains, the Copeland Islands and the Isle of Man.