Kinbane Castle: Fun Things to Know About this Ancient Irish Structure

Kinbane Castle Ruins in County Antrim is one important stop on any Irish Castle tour.  To get there from Dublin Airport by car, be prepared for a journey of about three hours. 

Irish Expressions - Kinbane Castle Ruins.

The route begins along the M1 heading north, crossing the border into Northern Ireland and then taking the M2 heading west once you've reached Belfast.  The A26 and the A44 bring you to the area, and signposts mark the rest of the route to the Castle.     

Things to Know About Kinbane Castle

Here are some fun facts about this amazing Irish landmark.  Hopefully they will entice you to pay a visit in person!

But if that is not possible, you can always use them to impress your friends with your knowledge of one of the most-visited attractions in Ireland.

  • In Country Antrim, Northern Island, Kinbane Castle stands at the very tip of a narrow limestone outcropping over the water.
  • Although very little of the castle remains today, it was once a stunning 16th century two-story structure.
  • Unfortunately, it was destroyed and rebuilt twice in first 40 years of its existence, and restoration today would be nearly impossible, not to mention expensive.
  • However, admiring the views and touring the ruins is well worth your time if you're in the area.
  • The Irish word Kinbane translates into English as White Head. The name refers to the white limestone on which the castle stands.
  • The Castle is situated on a long outcropping that projects right into the sea. This made it a more defensible castle in centuries past, and it adds to the site's beauty today.
  • In 1547, the first Castle was constructed by Colla MacDonnell. Since this early castle was made from wood, it was badly damaged by cannon fire in a 1555 siege by English forces.
  • After the siege, Kinbane Castle was rebuilt. This time, the castle was built using stone, which is what you'll see if you visit the castle today.
  • The Castle was inhabited until the early 18th century. The last documented resident of the castle was a Mrs. MacAlister, of the family that inherited the castle from the MacDonnells. 
  • Kinbane is closely associated with the story called Lag na Sassenach, or Hollow of the English. Legend says that during a battle in the 16th century, fires were lit in the hollow to call for support, and a legion of English soldiers were massacred at the site.
  • While exact proof of that event is hard to come by, it is an oft-repeated legend in this part of Ireland.
  • Today, Kinbane Castle is a single tower. That tower stands in ruin, and the site is no longer inhabitable.
  • If you're a history or architecture fan, a steep cliff walk can offer spectacular views of the castle. 
  • Keep in mind that there is currently no access to the castle. It is private property, but you're welcome to admire it from the exterior or take photos from the cliffside path.

For more information about this Irish landmark, visit this site.

Want More Irish Castles?

It is probably obvious - at Irish Expressions, we love Irish castles!  The Emerald Isle is dotted with hundreds of these incredible structures.  Sharing pictures and stories about them gives us a deeper sense of connection with Ireland, wherever in the world we happen to be!

Knowledge of Irish castles and their fascinating stories will also help you enjoy the many downloadable, share-able Irish games, puzzles, recipes, songbooks, quizzes, and many other resources that we have collected for you over the years.

Want them right now?  Keep reading to learn about "Your Irish Expressions Playbook."

More Fun With Irish Expressions

Congratulations on learning more about the Emerald Isle and discovering what we like to call your "Irish Side."  You may be thinking "I'd love to actually VISIT Ireland but that's really not in the cards right now.  What am I supposed to do with the stuff I just learned?"

Well never fear!  Since 2009 we have collected all of the best printable, shareable resources we could find, to help you put your new knowledge of Ireland to good use.  We've put them all together in a single download we call "Your Irish Expressions Playbook," which contains over 50 pages of games, puzzles, recipes, songbooks, quizzes, travel guides and much, much more.

Purchase them ALL for one small price, print as many copies as you like and share them with your friends - with no limitations!   But order soon - we are already adding to the Playbook for future editions and this price will not last long. 

Oh, want one more reason to order right away?  If you buy YOUR copy of the Playbook now, you will be allowed to upgrade to any new future edition for FREE.

Playbook Cover

ORDER YOUR IRISH EXPRESSIONS PLAYBOOK HERE

ENJOYING IRISH EXPRESSIONS?  PLEASE SHARE US WITH OTHERS!