Aerial View

One of Ireland’s most romantic ruins, Dunluce Castle’s history and archaeology have close connections, both peaceful and bloody, between Ulster and Scotland.

The castle was probably first built at the close of the 15th century.  Originally constructed by the MacQuillan family, it quickly became the centre of lordly power across the north coast of Ulster.

It has been suggested that the MacQuillans were Scottish mercenaries who became embedded in Irish society and reinvented themselves as a Gaelic lordship across the territory of The Route in the later part of the 14th century.  Certainly, MacQuillans were present in western Scotland in the 14th century.

The MacQuillans continued to occupy Dunluce Castle until they were displaced by the MacDonnells who, by the mid-16th century had taken effective control of the north coast.  Tradition records that the castle passed into their hands through the marriage of one of the MacDonnells to the daughter of MacQuillan but this remains unsubstantiated.

The MacDonnells were a branch of the Scottish McDonald clan who took much of the Glens of Antrim from the Bissetts in the 15th century.  They established themselves as a formidable mercenary force and focused much of their efforts in here in north Antrim and Donegal.