EDITED EXTRACTS FROM THE TOPOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF IRELAND, 1837
The most remarkable of the cairns is on Colin mountain, about three miles north of Lisburn; there is also one on Slieve True, to the west of Carrickfergus, and two on Collinward.
Near Carngraney [or Carn Greine], to the north-east of the old road from Belfast to Templepatrick, is the cromlech most worthy of especial notice: it has several table stones resting on numerous upright ones; and near it isa large mount; also several fortified posts different from all others in the county.
There is likewise a large cromlech at Mount Druid, near Ballintoy; another at the northern extremity of Islandmagee; and the Holestone, to the east of the road from Antrim to Glenavy, appears to be a relic of the Druids.
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| Mount Druid dolmen, near Ballintoy (Welch Collection/NMNI) |
Of mountains, forts, and entrenchments, there is every variety which exists in Ireland; and so numerous are they, that the parishes of Killead and Muckamore alone contain 230, defended by one or more ramparts; and Donalds Carn is a fine specimen of this kind of earthwork.
Among the most remarkable of the rest are, one at Donegore, one at Kilconway, one at the Doagh water, one at Dunethery [Dunadry?], the last of which is planted with trees; one with a square outwork at Dunmakelter, in the parish of Culfeightrin; Dunmaul Fort; one at Cushendall, having a castle within its defences, and probably a Danish relic; one at Drumfane, on the Braid; one at Camlent Old-Church; and another in a bog near Ballykennedy; one near Connor has outworks exactly resembling that at Dromore, and in another near Carrickfergus have been found several Danish trumpets.
Stone hatchets or celts of various sizes have been discovered in several places, but in the greatest numbers near Ballintoy; arrowheads of flint, spearheads of brass, and numerous miscellaneous relics have been found.
There have also been discovered a Roman torc, a coin of Valentinian, fibulae, and other Roman antiquities, supposed to be relics of the spoil obtained by the Irish Scots in their plunder of South Britain, in alliance with the Picts.
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| Armoy round tower (Welch Collection/NMNI) |
Of the singular round towers, the original purpose has been a fertile source of almost innumerable conjectures, there are at present four in this county; viz., one at Antrim, one on Ram's Island in Lough Neagh, a fragment of one near the old church at Trummery (between Lisburn and Moira), and one in the churchyard of Armoy.
Mervyn Archdall enumerates 48 religious establishments as having existed in this county, but adds that 20 of them are now unknown, and scarcely can the existence of half the entire number be now established by positive evidence.
OF ancient fortresses, that of Carrickfergus, which has always been the strongest and most important, is the only one in complete preservation: there are interesting ruins of Greencastle; Olderfleet Castle; Castle Chichester; Red Bay Castle; Court Martin, near Cushendall.
Near the northern coast are likewise several old castles, some of which are very difficult of access, and must have been fortresses of great strength prior to the use of artillery: of these the principal are Dunluce, Dunseverick, Kenbane, Doonaninny, and Castle Carra; in Rathlin Island are the remains of Bruce's Castle.
Inland there are also many remains of fortified residences, of which Shane's Castle, the venerable seat of the O'Neills, was destroyed by fore in 1816.
Castle Upton is the only mansion of this kind at present habitable.
Lissanoure, on the banks of Lough Guile, is so called from an old fort in the vicinity.
Near the summit of White Mountain, two miles north of Lisburn, are the extensive remains of Castle Robin; and at Portmore, near Ballinderry, are similar remains.
Among the mansions of the nobility and gentry, few are splendid, though many are of considerable elegance.
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