Castle Carra, County Antrim
Photo © Anne Burgess, 7 June 2007
Castle Carra, County Antrim
Photo © Anne Burgess, 7
June 2007
Castle Carra is a 13th century square tower house with a bawn built over a Mesolithic flint working site. It is located on the shores of Lough Carra near Cushendun, County Antrim. It was built originally by the Staunton family and in 1565 the castle was owned by the self-proclaimed Earl of Ulster Shane O'Neill. In 1585, Donnell Gorm MacDonnell was besieged by the English in the tower. In 1567, two years after being defeated by Shane O'Neill, the McDonnells entertained their former adversary in Castle Carra, providing two days of hunting and feasting. However, on the third day, taking advantage of the confusion of a quarrel, they stabbed O'Neill to death to avenge their earlier defeat. His head was cut off and sent to representatives of Queen Elizabeth in Dublin.
At the end of the medieval period the castle ruins were used as a childrens cemetery.