topic Re: WINDSWEPT RUINED CASTLE in Community Chat

WINDSWEPT RUINED CASTLE

Oznell — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 14:15:38 GMT

I'm always susceptible to medieval ruins, of all kinds, but Dunluce Castle on its sea cliff in Antrim, Northern Ireland, is one of my favorites. Part of my family was from very near by in Antrim.

The castle dates to the 1500's. It was the seat of Clan McDonnell. It started to gradually fall apart after 1690.

Isn't it dramatic? It's fun to see to see a virtual reconstruction of it, as it could have looked if it were whole:

Another, more sympathetic and romantic imaginary reconstruction:

But the ruins themselves do have a magic all their own:

Re: WINDSWEPT RUINED CASTLE

twinsister — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 14:30:04 GMT

@Oznell - It is sad to see it in ruins, but I think it is beautiful in its' setting. I like the virtual reconstruction. Have you been to Ireland to see where your ancestors lived?

Re: WINDSWEPT RUINED CASTLE

phoenixbrd — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 14:36:31 GMT

That first photo is magical...as if `the castle is an organic structure integrated with the earth. I can't imagine the hardships of living on top of the hills...just the simple logistics of accessibility` like food and the every day basics of physical comforts. It is very romantic and evocative off a time long ago.

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manny2 — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 14:39:49 GMT

I find eerily beautiful. What secrets those battered walls must hold.

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SharkE — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 14:49:23 GMT

Bet that place was cold ! Really cold, near that water. Drafty

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LindaSal — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 15:38:02 GMT

Beautiful! I've stayed at Ballycastle to the right on the map. It was one of the locations for filming Game of Thrones. That's one of our favortie things to do is visit old castles. Ireland and Scotland are fabulous for doing just that. The scenery is breathtaking.

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lovescats — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 16:46:24 GMT

reminds me of the movie Leap Year

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skatting44 — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 16:56:54 GMT

For some reason it looks familiar to me . Was it used in a film such as Hilander ? Or I may have seen it showcased on Skyview episode of the mysteries of castrles in Britain & Ireland .

Re: WINDSWEPT RUINED CASTLE

Oznell — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 17:47:33 GMT

@twinsister, I've been to other parts of Ireland where other ancestors were scattered, and to the town in Devonshire in England where there were other ancestors, but not to Antrim. Would love to go!

@skatting44, I think Dunluce has also been in "Game of Thrones" that @LindaSal mentioned in connection with Ballycastle, as well as a number of other productions over time. It's easy to see why filmmakers would be drawn to these great piles of stone....

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BlueFinch — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 18:00:33 GMT

This castle ignites my mind into fantasies of its history and clan. From the good to the challenged life, it, and they, must have had. What stories it has hidden in those crumbling rock walls.

In that landscape, it must have been difficult to build. That would be a story in itself.

Re: WINDSWEPT RUINED CASTLE

Oznell — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 18:03:21 GMT

Oh, another fun folktale I forgot to tell about it, is, that at one point in time the castle's kitchen fell into the sea! Hope not with the cook in it!

Edited to add-- Oh, agreed, @BlueFinch -- can't imagine the difficulties of building it, perched as it is on its basalt cliff on the sea....

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grandma r — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 19:10:11 GMT

@Oznell. The setting is breathtaking. The virtual reconstruction is beautiful. It always amazes me to see what is still standing after all of this time.

Thanks for sharing.

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Kalli — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 19:45:16 GMT

My fil built many houses to supplement his regular income and feed his family. He used to say if you build your house on the top of a hill, you'll love the view but you'll hate the wind. Looking at this castle makes me think of that.

My family has the McDonald name in our ancestry. I wonder if McDonald and McDonnell were once one and the same family?

Lovely picture, btw.

Re: WINDSWEPT RUINED CASTLE

Oznell — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 21:08:56 GMT

Kalli, good question, the names share the same root, but over time, the Irish form came to be more likely "McDonnell", and the Scottish, "MacDonald". Yet, there's cross-pollination, and you can find both names, in both countries.

Since both names go back, in the mists of time, to the same root, you could very well claim a connection to the castle!

Re: WINDSWEPT RUINED CASTLE

MoJoV — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 22:34:06 GMT

@Oznell When I saw the title of the thread, before I saw the author's name I thought...I bet that's an Oznell thread. Bingo!! Always something great from you. Lovely.

Re: WINDSWEPT RUINED CASTLE

Kalli — Sun, 30 Jan 2022 01:23:09 GMT

@Oznell funny you should say that. My grandfather would roll over in his grave if he heard that there was a possibility his last name originated in Scotland instead of Ireland! I'm laughing just thinking of seeing his reaction! He was a bit opinionated and fiercely loyal to Ireland. When Grandpa first met my dad, he told my dad that he (my dad) wasn't really Irish because my dad's last name started with Mac instead of Mc. Grandpa was proud of the "Mc" in his name. Our roots are from Ireland and Grandpa never viewed the Scots as being friends of the Irish.

Oh, well, great memory of my grandfather! And thanks for all the info. I had forgotten all about that story my dad told of meeting his soon to be fil for the first time. To hear my dad tell it, Grandpa was NOT impressed at all especially due to this Mac/Mc thing. Grandpa did not want his daughter dating some dude with relatives in Scotland! haha!

Obviously my dad won Mom's heart, married her and they did name one of my brothers after Grandpa, which softened him up a bit. But of course, for a long time Grandpa viewed my dad as the one who stole away his only daughter. I sure miss my parents and grandparents. But this was always such a funny family story. Everytime my dad told it we'd all laugh, including my mom.

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on the bay — Sun, 30 Jan 2022 01:39:41 GMT

@Kalli,

I just read your post and this is funny to me too because my grandmother was just the opposite of your grandfather! She never wanted to think of herself as having anything to do with any Irish anything; (her husband was Irish) but she came from a Scottish background. She didn't like the Irish probably because she didn't like her husband lol! Anyway, it's funny isn't it?

Re: WINDSWEPT RUINED CASTLE

Oznell — Sun, 30 Jan 2022 03:24:48 GMT

What a kind thing to say, @MoJoV -- thank you.

Oh, yes, @Kalli , and @on the bay , thank you, great points! Feelings can "run high" over there. Love your family stories.

The traditional rivalries between Scot and Irish, Ulster and the Republic, Protestant and Catholic, certainly are part of the historical mix.

I find all the Celtic lands-- Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and little corners like Cornwall, the Isle of Man, and Brittany in France-- all so interesting.

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Duckncover — Sun, 30 Jan 2022 03:30:23 GMT

The first picture is wonderful...it has haunting presence. Somehow, the other renderings lose the history and mahpgic of the original photo, showing the castle in its actual state.

Re: WINDSWEPT RUINED CASTLE

Kalli — Sun, 30 Jan 2022 03:31:43 GMT

@on the bay wrote:
@Kalli,
I just read your post and this is funny to me too because my grandmother was just the opposite of your grandfather! She never wanted to think of herself as having anything to do with any Irish anything; (her husband was Irish) but she came from a Scottish background. She didn't like the Irish probably because she didn't like her husband lol! Anyway, it's funny isn't it?

@on the bay , that IS funny! It's also interesting that many of our ancestors were still so connected to and proud of their nationalities.

My family finally found out why my dad's very Irish name started with "Mac" instead of "Mc". Turns out it was originally Mc and my Dad's father changed it because one of his siblings had a bad reputation and he decided to separate himself from any connection to that person. There's more to this story but I'll leave it at that.