The remains of the Castle can be visited
RuinCushendall
Red Bay Castle
The ruins of Red Bay Castle, perched on a headland near Cushendall in Northern Ireland, bear witness to a turbulent past. Once a strategically important site, it looks back on a history marked by power shifts and destruction.
History+
The origins of the complex date back to the 13th century, when the Bissett family built a castle on this site. This replaced an older outpost of the Kingdom of Dál Riata. Through the marriage of John Mor MacDonald to Margery Bissett, the castle came into the possession of the MacDonalds, whose descendants, the MacDonnells of Antrim, expanded the structure in the 16th century. In 1565, Red Bay Castle was set on fire by Shane O'Neill of Tyrone. Although Sorley Boy MacDonnell had the castle rebuilt, it subsequently fell into disrepair. A restoration took place in 1604, but in 1652, the complex was finally destroyed by Oliver Cromwell.
Location+
Red Bay Castle is located on a headland near Cushendall in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. The ruin stands approximately 17 meters above sea level.
On site+
Today, visitors can explore the ruins of Red Bay Castle and discover the remains of the once imposing fortress.
Nearby+
- Carra Castle (ruin), approx. 7.3 km away
- Glenarm Castle (castle), approx. 12.9 km away
- Clough Castle (aka Clogh) (ruin), approx. 18.7 km away
- Dunaneeny Castle (ruin), approx. 20.3 km away
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Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
This description draws on the facts documented in the linked Wikipedia article; Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wording and editing: Mobile History.
Location: 55.0673, -6.0552