Carrickfergus’ history
The town’s long heritage links into British, European and American history.
Eight centuries of urban history make Carrickfergus one of Northern Ireland’s oldest towns, exemplified by its castle and its remaining old town walls. John de Courcy fortified the site in 1177 and went on to build one of Europe’s finest Norman keeps. The parish church of St Nicholas was founded in 1182 as the surrounding settlement expanded.
Its name, though, was already well established. A Celtic prince, Fergus, was shipwrecked on the castle’s rock during the 6th century. He had been travelling back from Scotland to seek treatment for leprosy.
For many centuries, Carrickfergus was larger than Belfast and formed the centre for English influence in Ulster. It changed hands many times between different knights and kings and the castle was itself garrisoned until 1928. Scottish and Irish raiders destroyed much of the town in the 15th and 16th centuries.
The Duke of Schomberg captured the castle from Jacobite forces in 1688 and King William III made his famous landing two years later. In 1760, the fortress was briefly taken by a French fleet which was then pursued and defeated by the Royal Navy off the Isle of Man. John Paul Jones, the founder of the US Navy, sailed to Carrickfergus in his ship ‘Ranger’ to ambush HMS Drake in April 1778. Jones retreated but continued to raid British ports in the Irish Sea, an ambitious strategy for an emerging naval commander.
The presidency of Andrew Jackson and the arrival of the US Rangers in 1942 created more welcome links with the USA. The Titanic briefly stopped offshore on its voyage. Rothmans, Courtaulds and ICI were major manufacturers after the Second World War but have since closed, with their sites now taken up by local indigenous businesses.
Hugh de Lacy, an early owner of the castle, assumed the title of Earl of Ulster which was taken up by the royal family in 1461. It is currently held by Alexander Windsor, the son of the Duke of Gloucester. Local people were delighted that Prince William became Baron Carrickfergus on his wedding day in April 2011 and hope that he and his family will make a visit to the town in future.
