Kinbane Castle, Antrim

Kinbane Castle

16th Century Tower House

The Macdonnells of Antrim were a sept of the Scottish McDonald Clan of Kintyre. They held several strongholds along the north coast of Antrim, including the castles at Kinbane, Dunluce and Dunseverick. The castle was built in c.1547 by Colla MacDonnell, a son of the Lord of Isla and Kintyre and brother of James and Sorley Boy Macdonnell. Bonamargy Friary was a burial place for the Macdonnells during this period. Kinbane tower house is dramatically situated on a chalk headland, overlooking Rathlin Sound. Rathlin Island was also held by the Macdonnell Clan in the 16th century. The name Kinbane is derived from the Irish An Cionn Bán meaning "Whitehead."

The remains of the castle consist of a curvilinear court/bawn with a two-storey tower house in the SSW corner. The south angle of the tower collapsed into the sea in c.1820. The tower was entered through a door in the centre of the north wall. The walls were built using local basalt with cream coloured sandstone quoins. Apart from a gun loop very few features remain. Access to the site is via a narrow path down the main cliff and narrow rock cut steps lead up to the castle.

Kinbane Castle 16th Century Tower House The Macdonnells of Antrim were a sept of the Scottish McDonald Clan of Kintyre. They held several strongholds along the north coast of Antrim, including the castles at Kinbane, Dunluce and Dunseverick. The castle was built in c.1547 by Colla MacDonnell, a son of the Lord of Isla and Kintyre and brother of James and Sorley Boy Macdonnell. Bonamargy Friary was a burial place for the Macdonnells during this period. Kinbane tower house is dramatically situated on a chalk headland, overlooking Rathlin Sound. Rathlin Island was also held by the Macdonnell Clan in the 16th century. The name Kinbane is derived from the Irish An Cionn Bán meaning "Whitehead." The remains of the castle consist of a curvilinear court/bawn with a two-storey tower house in the SSW corner. The south angle of the tower collapsed into the sea in c.1820. The tower was entered through a door in the centre of the north wall. The walls were built using local basalt with cream coloured sandstone quoins. Apart from a gun loop very few features remain. Access to the site is via a narrow path down the main cliff and narrow rock cut steps lead up to the castle.
The two-storey tower house	The tower and part of the court/bawn wall
Rathlin Island can be seen in the background
	Situated: From Ballycastle head west on the B15(Clare Rd) for 0.8miles. Then right onto B15 (Whitepark Rd). Then take aright turn to Kinbane head, sign-posted. Park at the end of here. Discoverer Map 5: D 0874 4379. Last visit 2023. Longitude: 6° 17' 29" W Latitude: 55° 13' 46 " N Google Map. Photos: José Gutiérrez.
Ref: McNeill, T. E. “The Stone Castles of Northern County Antrim.” Ulster Journal of Archaeology, vol. 46, 1983, pp. 101–28. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20567904.