The Knights: Sculpture Honouring Carrickfergus' History

Anglo-Norman and Scottish Bruces: May 1315-October 1318

'Carrickfergus has been in existence since medieval times. its original name was Dun-so-barky, meaning ‘strong rock or hill’.   

In 1169, Richard de Clare, Earl of Pembroke, was dispatched by Henry II to aid the king of Leinster, and the Norman settlement of Ireland began. Eight years later, the Anglo-Norman knight John de Courcy invaded Ulster and established his castle on a volcanic dyke at Carrickfergus in 1180. 

Between 1203 and 1205, De Courcy was ousted from Ulster by another Anglo-Norman knight, Hugh De Lacy. De Lacy finished the construction of the castle, building the gatehouse, drum towers and outer ward. He also established St Nicholas’s church and endowed Woodburn priory. 

In 1210 King John arrived at Carrickfergus, expelled De Lacy and took the castle into royal authority. De Lacy recovered the earldom of Ulster and the castle in 1227 and endowed the Franciscan friary, where he is said to be buried.

In May 1315 Edward Bruce, brother of the legendary Scottish king Robert, landed at Olderfleet near Larne and besieged the castle for over a year. Three years later, the English army defeated Bruce at the Battle of Foghart near Dundalk, Co Louth. In retreat the Scottish soldiers laid waste to the town and countryside of Carrickfergus. The town was again razed in 1386 and 1402, destroying much of the original settlement.' 

https://www.culturenorthernireland.org/features/heritage/history-carrickfergus