Photograph from 1 May 2002

Shane's Castle is a ruined castle near Antrim in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, which was mostly destroyed in 1816 by fire. The castle is situated on the north-east shores of Lough Neagh, 2.7 miles from Randalstown. Built in 1345 by a member of the Clandeboy O'Neill dynasty, it was originally known as Edenduffcarrick, meaning "brow of black rock" (from the Irish éadán dúcharraige).[1][2] It owes its present name to Shane McBrian McPhelim O'Neill, who ruled Lower Clandeboy between 1595 and 1617.[2]

History

Shanes' castle was originally built in 1345.[3] A fire in 1816 left the castle in ruins though the family papers were saved.[3]

The castle's 1816 destruction by fire was the subject of John Neal's poem "Castle Shane," published in The Portico the same year.[4] The ruins have been used in the HBO TV series Game of Thrones.[5]

Shane's Castle Railway

Shane Castle Railway

Shane's Castle Railway was a 3 ft (914 mm) gauge tourist railway in the grounds of the castle run by Raymond O'Neill, 4th Baron O'Neill between 30 April 1971 and 31 October 1995. It was laid by NIR staff in their spare time using 75 pounds per yard (37 kg/m) track with curves to CDRJC standards. The line had three stations (Antrim, Millburn and Shane's Castle) and was 1 mile 40 chains (2.4 km) long.[6][7]

There had previously been a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge line in the castle grounds between 1940 and 1956, which was used by the British Army for transport to and from a bomb dump.[7]

In 1982, the railway's rolling stock included the following:[8]

Number Name Wheel Arrangement Manufacturer Works Number Note
No.1 TYRONE 0-4-0T Peckett and Sons 1026 of 1903
No.2 RORY 4wDM Motor Rail 11039 of 1956
No.3 SHANE 0-4-0WT Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. 2265 of 1949
No.4 NIPPY 4wDM F.C. Hibberd & Co Ltd 2014 of 1936
NANCY 0-6-0T Avonside Engine Company 1547 of 1908
6 COLUMBKILLE 2-6-4T Nasmyth, Wilson & Co. Ltd. 830 of 1907
12 0-4-0+4wDMR Walker Brothers (Wigan) at Dundalk, GNR(I) - of 1934
18 0-4-0+4wDMR Walker Brothers (Wigan) at Dundalk, GNR(I) - of 1940
2w-2PMR D Wickham & Co 7441 of 1956

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Lowry, Mary (c. 1913). The Story of Belfast and Its Surroundings. LibraryIreland.com. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Shane's Castle Park". The Northern Ireland Place-Names Project. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  3. 1 2 Irish Tractor 2017.
  4. ↑ Richards, Irving T. (1933). The Life and Works of John Neal (PhD). Harvard University. pp. 210–212. OCLC 7588473.
  5. ↑ "Northern Ireland is Game of Thrones Territory". www.ireland.com. Tourism Ireland. Retrieved 7 January 2021. Take Shane's Castle in County Antrim. ... Lough Neagh was also transformed into the Summer Sea, where Jorah steals a boat, takes Tyrion captive and sets sail to his beloved Daenerys in Meereen.
  6. ↑ Martin 1981.
  7. 1 2 Johnson, Stephen (1997). Johnson's Atlas and Gazetteer of the Railways of Ireland. Leicester: Midland Publishing Limited. pp. 133–134. ISBN 1857800443.
  8. ↑ Industrial Locomotives 1982 including preserved and minor railway locomotives. Warley, West Midlands: Industrial Railway Society. 1982. p. 273. ISBN 0-901096-43-1.

Sources

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