Location: Greencastle, Inishowen Peninsula Map
Constructed: 1305
Greencastle is a medieval military citadel located on a hill near a town of Greencastle, Inishowen Peninsula in Ireland. Greencastle was constructed in 1305.
The name Greencastle comes from the castle in the
area, which in turn may have drawn its name from the green stone
with which it was built. The castle, built by the anglo-Normans, is
also known as Newburgh Castle. The first real pier was built in 1813
and has been enlarged several times since then. Today, in addition
to being a link towing and salmon fishing and home to numerous
associations of grazers, the pier also has a different impact.
Visitors disembark from the Magilligan-Greencastle ferry which
opened in 2002. The official website advertises the fact that this
saves 78 km ( or 49 miles) of driving, passable for those arriving
from Derry. The Lough Foyle Ferry Company recently (2004) started a
Lough Swilly ferry service that runs between Buncrana and Rathmullan
seasonally. The pier also contains a newly built pilot office to
replace the decommissioned pilot office at Pier Carrickarory.
Greencastle is also one of the landing gates for cruise ships
visiting Derry. Due to the tidal nature of the Foyle River estuary,
it is sometimes too shallow for cruise ships to allow it to dock at
docks from Lisahally to Derry. The Greencastle pier was not designed
to allow a cruise ship to dock.
Greencastle castle was connected with the castle in the background.
It was built in 1305 to provide a base for anglo-Norman power in the
Northwest. This building was called "Northburg". There is a more
modern Fort next to the Norman ruin. This was built by the British
to stop Napoleon.