The castle which is in fact a tower house is situated a few hundred yards from the sea in the townland of Castlepark on the north side of Cushendun.
Indications are that it was a fortification erected by the Bysset or McDonnell families. There is a tradition in the Glens that this was the site around which the McDonnells were encamped when Shane O’Neill came looking for refuge after his defeat by the McDonnells. A dispute between the rival followers broke out and, in the ensuing fracas, Shane was stabbed to death. Shane’s head was cut off and sent to Dublin so that the McDonnells could claim the reward which was due. His body is reputed to be buried in the nearby graveyard at Cros Scrine.
A recent excavation of the site of Castle Carra revealed that it had, in more recent times, been the site of a burial place for unbaptized children. The remains of fifteen infants were found. There is nothing sinister about this discovery as such burial places or ‘cillins’ were common all over Ireland.
This post is part of the What’s That? Project. Funded by The Community Arts, Culture and Heritage Fund & The Community Foundation for NI. The aim of the project is to highlight local historical sites and give people a short history of what is there. Photos by John Healy.
