June 18: Portrush, Northern Ireland: Giant's Causeway and Dunluce Castle

Portrush is on Raymore Head peninsula. Portrush also has the Royal Portrush Golf Club, a famous golf link course that is site for the British Open next year.

The Giant's Causeway was formed over millions of years of intense volcanic and geological activity. It is 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. Of course the Irish legend is that Gin McColl, a might giant formed it as a bridge to fight a Scottish giant.

We were tendered in through pretty rough North Atlantic waters.


Portrush was first occupied in 4000 BC. In 1306 Robert the Bruce was driven from Scotland by Edward I and took refuge off the Antrim Coast on Rathlin Island. He raised forces and returned to Scotland near here and regained the crown in 1314.  {Brave Heart}


Walking the Trail above the Causeway




Above the Giant's Causeway







Coming down Shepherd Steps toward the Causeway



Allen by the Giant's Causeway


I Climbed up on the Giant's Causeway




Giant's Shoe


Ducks in the Ocean


Leaving the Causeway 


Dunluce Castle (Built by MacQuillan family around 1500 and then seized by the MacDonnell clan in 1550s) 


A small town grew around Dunluce and it was inhabited until the 1641 rebellion when the town was burnt to the ground. Cromwell assumed power in 1650s  and granted land to soldiers who fought during the Irish campaign. The castle was re-occupied by MacDonnells when Charles II came to the throne in 1660, but the family moved to Ballymagarry and the castle was left deserted  Supposedly the kitchen slipped into the sea during a storm.

Lodgings for Guests Outside Main Manor: Series of small rooms



Inner Ward: Lodging and Kitchens


Southeast Tower





View from Castle

Wild Iris



View out from Castle



                                                             From Bridge into Manor


Comments

  1. CharisseSeptember 2, 2019 at 4:54 AM

    Have been to G'sC...I thought that I was at the end of the earth.

    ReplyDelete

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