This cross commemorates the death, of Shane O’Neill near Castle Carra in Cushendun in 1567. Originally an old ruined church stood on this site and Shane’s body was reputed to have been brought there, wrapped in a soldier’s old shirt.
Shane O’ Neill, chieftain of the O’Neill’s of Tyrone was the most important man in Ulster. He waged a series of battles for supremacy in North Antrim. He burned Red Bay Castle and then routed the McDonnells near Ballycastle in 1565 capturing James McDonnell, the clan leader, and his brother Sorley Boy. Two years later the McDonnells got their revenge.
Shane had lost battles with the English in 1566 and a Donegal clan the O’Donnells, in 1567 and then he made the disastrous mistake of trying to make peace and ally himself with the McDonnells again. The McDonnells having landed in Cushendun invited Shane to talk terms at Castle Carra. He and a small band of followers arrived but things turned ugly. A fight ensued, some say it was deliberately engineered, and in the melee Shane and most of his party were killed.
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.
