A Day Trip to Carrickfergus, the Castle Ruins (and Town) in Ireland, UK

· by · in Ireland, Road Trip. ·

September 20, afternoon.

Morning in Belfast at Crumlin Road Gaol—A day trip to Carrickfergus Castle ruins—Swift Pool Hall for a half—Central Bar for steak and ale pie—Back to Belfast—A musical evening in Kelly’s Cellar Bar

The ruins of the medieval castle of Carrickfergus are just a short distance from Belfast north along the Coastal Causeway Route of Ireland, UK.

Life size bronze statue of King William III outside Carrickfergus Castle.
A sculpture outside the medieval castle of Carrickfergus along the Coastal Causeway Route of Ireland, UK A guard dressed in medieval costume prepares to call out, “Who goes there?”A guard at the medieval castle of Carrickfergus along the Coastal Causeway Route of Ireland, UKThe brochure from Carrickfergus Castle showing the floor plan of the castle proper.
Carrickfergus Castle Brochure The king on the loo.
The king sits on the 'loo' at the medieval castle of Carrickfergus along the Coastal Causeway Route of Ireland, UK A view of the harbour and ramparts of the castle.
A view of the harbour from the medieval castle of Carrickfergus along the Coastal Causeway Route of Ireland, UK A window looking out to the sea.A window looking out to the sea in the medieval castle of Carrickfergus along the Coastal Causeway Route of Ireland, UKPlaced around the castle are signs showing the castle at various stages of being.
A drawing of Carrickfergus, a medieval castle on the Coastal Causeway route in Northern Ireland, UKThe canon is a rare example of an early 17th century weapon and has the Tudor Rose motif imprinted on it. (The most famous Tudors were Henry the VIII – he of the many wives, and Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen.)
 The canon of Carrickfergus, a castle on the Coastal Causeway route in Northern Ireland, UKThe museum in the castle had this old wax seal…
The wax seal in the museum at the medieval castle of Carrickfergus along the Coastal Causeway Route of Ireland, UK and a medieval board game.A game in the museum at the medieval castle of Carrickfergus along the Coastal Causeway Route of Ireland, UKNearby the castle was the Central Bar of the town of Carrickfergus, with an interesting selection of beer.
Pouring a Hilden beer at the Central Bar in Carrickfergus, a town on the Coastal Causeway Route of Ireland, UKWe both had the Steak & Ale Pie with Chips, Gravy and Garden Peas. 
Steak & Ale Pie at the Central Bar in Carrickfergus, a town on the Coastal Causeway Route of Ireland, UKAfter that it was back to Belfast, following up on a recommendation from a bunch of old guys in Bittles Bar, who told us that Kelly’s Cellar Bar was the oldest licensed pub in Belfast with Irish music most every night. A lit-up line led us straight there.A Lit Line Leads Us Straight to Kelly's Cellar Pub in Belfast Ireland Kelly's Cellar Pub in Belfast, Ireland, UK Not your typical tourist spot.
Musicians gather for a 'trad session' at Kelly's Cellar Pub in Belfast, Ireland, UKMore on our 2015 trip to Ireland.

4 responses to “A Day Trip to Carrickfergus, the Castle Ruins (and Town) in Ireland, UK”

  1. Pingback: Up to Ballycastle along Coastal Causeway Route of Ireland | Albatz Travel Adventures·

  2. Nice post, Carrickfergus is my home although I now live in Japan. It was nice to read a little bit of home, I hope you enjoyed your trip. I just have to say that Carrick castle is far from a set of ‘ruins’ it’s the best preserved example of its kind, now Dunluce castle that’s in bits and definitely deserves the title of ruins.

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