Medieval Britain - British Castles, Towns and Weapons
Medieval Britain

Discover Britain’s Castles, Kings, and Chronicles

Medieval Castles of Northern Ireland

Medieval castles were fortified homes built by the nobility or royalty and by military orders in order to control the surrounding land. In this section, you will find a list including some of the best medieval castles of Northern Ireland.

Other locations:

England – Scotland – Wales

Castles of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland’s castles reflect the region’s turbulent history, from ancient Gaelic kingdoms to the Norman invasion and later English and Scottish plantation settlements. These castles served as defensive structures and symbols of power during periods of conflict.

Located near Belfast, Carrickfergus Castle was built by the Normans in 1177 and is one of the best-preserved medieval structures in Northern Ireland. It played a key role in the region’s defense and was used by English forces for centuries. And serving as the official residence of the British monarch in Northern Ireland, Hillsborough Castle is more of a Georgian mansion than a traditional medieval fortress. It plays a key ceremonial role in Northern Irish political life.