What is recorded here

Castle Carrick stood at the heart of a bustling manor where over a hundred burgesses lived by 1307, yet vacancy and fire stripped it bare within decades. The loss of its roof and later its burn marked the end of its active life, though the name Shanacourt preserved its memory long after the stones fell silent.

The manor of Carrick was centered on a castle at Carrick, which may have been the old ringwork (WX037-028002-) or a separate location, and a settlement of over a hundred burgesses became associated with it by 1307. However, in 1323-4 the castle was described as vacant and consisting of an unroofed hall and chapel. In 1420 the castle is described as burnt. References to the manor and castle continue into the late 16th century, and in time it came to be known as Shanacourt (Old Castle) (Orpen in Hore 1900-11, vol. 5, 29-34). The location of a castle separate from the ring-work is not known, and there is no evidence of late medieval activity at the ring-work (Bennett 1984-5; Cotter 1988). See the attached section from the Down Survey parish map (N at bottom) reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Ireland (Ms 725) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 14 December, 2012

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.