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DUNDRUN |
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Although it's not officially in the Lecale region, whose inland
ending is at Clough, DUNDRUM , just a few miles down the Newcastle road,
has some quite spectacular ruins of a large Norman castle (April-Sept
Tues-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 2-6pm; Oct-March Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 2-4pm; 75p).
The town lies beside a hammer-headed tidal bay, with the ruins sitting
dramatically above, a steep fifteen-minute walk uphill from the village.
The castle has a central circular donjon (with a fine spiral stairway in
its walls), a fortified gateway and drum towers, all set upon a motte
and bailey. In its time it was described as the most impenetrable
fortress in the land, yet it was captured on several occasions and
partly dismantled by Cromwell's soldiers in 1652. Some say it was a de
Courcy fortress, designed for the Knights Templar, but the circular keep,
a rarity in Ireland, is unlike the other fortresses de Courcy built to
defend the stretch of coast from Carlingford right up to Carrickfergus.
De Courcy's successor, de Lacy, is a more likely candidate - his Welsh
connections tie in with the castle's similarity to the one at Pembroke
in west Wales.
Dundrum's B&B is Mourne View House , 16 Main St (tel 028/4475 1457;
£26-33). Both the Buck's Head and the Murlough Tavern serve good meals
and snacks.
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