Dunseverick Castle (6)

[Ptarmigan]

Dunseverick Castle

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 dates to the mid 1500's and was probably built by the MacDonnell clan who had establish a power base along the north coast. 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.

Dunseverick Castle

Dunseverick Castle is situated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, near the small village of Dunseverick and the Giant's Causeway. Dunseverick Castle and earthworks are Scheduled Historic Monuments in the townland of Feigh, in Moyle District Council area, at grid ref: C9871 4467.

Dunseverick Castle ~ Wikipedia

Dunseverick castle stands on an isolated rock nearly surrounded by the sea in a small bay about one mile and a half east of the Giant's Causeway. It had been the family residence of an old Irish sept called O'Cahan, a branch of the Kinel Owen, from a very early date. This family held it until the rebellion of 1641, when its chief, Gilladuff O'Cahan, was taken by General Munro and hanged at Carrickfergus some years after the rebellion was ended. Munro destroyed all the castles around the coast except Dunluce, which he garrisoned with English soldiers. Dunseverick was all thrown down except a piece of wall at the entrance six feet thick, which his men were not able to remove.

Dunseverick Castle ~ Books of Ulster

Saint Patrick is reputedly said to have visited here. Dunseverick was the pride of the Route Ó Catháin family, and indeed was of such importance that the ancient fifth road from Tara ends here. The Ó Catháin family held it from circa 1000 AD to circa 1320 AD... then regained it in the mid 1500s, when the MacDonnells and Ó Catháin clan ousted the McQuillians, from that time onward it was held by the Dunseverick Ó Catháin family. Last one to have the castle was Giolla Dubh Ó Catháin, who left it in 1657 to settle in the Craig/Lisbellanagroagh area. Post 1660 they use the anglicised name McCain/McKane.

Dunseverick Castle ~ (Dun Sobhairce)

On an insulated rock, near the centre of a small bay, three miles east of the Giant's Causeway, stand the ruins of the Castle of Dunseverick, formerly the seat of a branch of the ancient family of O'Cahan, or as they were commonly called by the English and Scottish settlers, O'Kane.

Dunseverick Castle ~ Dublin Penny Journal

This is where "modern" history began, Angus' birthplace at Dunseverick Castle in Northern Ireland.
Angus was one of three brothers who went north to settle Scottland. Aonghais, the Gaelic name, sounds out to be Innes, Mac means those descendants of Angus, thus MacInnes is the family line from Angus.
With history from the time of Moses, intermingled with legends like St. Patrick and St. Columba, Dalriada was first the name for the land in Northern Ireland.
Founded by Cairbre Riadia who settled in this area, and later, the name was applied to the Scottish area where Angus, Lorne and Fergus settled.
Angus was the seafaring brother, having Jura and Islay as his lands.
The name MacInnes (mac Aonghais) is one the oldest name to remain from these times.

Dunseverick Castle ~ Irish Dalriada