Carrickfergus Castle is a Norman castle built by John de Courcy in 1177. Besieged in turn by the Scottish, Irish, English and French, the castle played an important military role until 1928 and remains one of the best preserved medieval structures in Northern Ireland. Today it is maintained by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency as a state care historic monument.

 

The castle is reputedly haunted by the ghost of an 18th century soldier named Timothy Lavery, who is said to frequent the area of the well.

 

Pictured left is Carrickfergus Castle Keep courtesy of Mkooiman.

The Norman knight Reginald D’Aubin was gifted some land in the shadow of the castle which his master Sir Hugh de Lacy had completed in 1200 and the tower house he built there became the Dobbins Inn Hotel.

 

The hotel is reputedly haunted by the invisible presence of 17th century Elizabeth Dobbin, but she is often referred to as "Maud".

 

Pictured left is the Dobbins Inn Hotel courtesy of Kenneth Allen.