North Gate
St. Nicolas’s Church
The first wall was built round the city in-
Some confusion exists as to
side a month. It was built of sods and the
the exact date and founda-
inhabitants all joined with alacrity to de-
tion of the Church. It was
fend the place from their
almost certainly built by
enemies. This wall was
John De Courcy who
afterwards replaced
founded Carrickfergus in
by stone, part of
1182. De Courcy was a
which is still to be
well known builder of
seen. It was eighteen feet
Churches and Abbeys.
high, six feet thick and had seven bas-
The confusion arises
tions. There were four gates-The Gle-
because of the existence
narm-now the North Gate, the Woodburn
of two Abbeys in the
or West Gate, the Water Gate and the
area. Saint Mary's Ab-
Finey Gate which had battlements on the
bey, Goodburn (or Wood-
top.
burn), was founded by
The North Gate is still a picturesque me-
John De Courcy for the
morial of the old days, but we hope the
Premonstratensian Order
ancient structure may not fulfil the tradition which says: “The North Gate
ons. The building was dedicated to the Holy Cross. (Carrickfergus Industrial Centre at present
man becomes a mem-
occupies this site). The other monastery
ber of the Corporation.” A recent resolu-
was for the Franciscans or Grey Friars,
tion was passed which proves that wise
founded probably by De Lacy, Earl of Ul-
men have now a majority on the Corpora-
ster in 1232. It stood in the Joymount area
tion, for they have decided to restore the
of the town to the east.
interesting object.
.
of monks, the White Can-
will stand until a wise
North Gate. Long may it remain as a most
Carrickfergus Tourist Information
By Hannah, Chelsea, Elaine, Lois and Lana
Andrew Jackson Centre
Carrickfergus Castle Carrickfergus
tions to the cas-
The Andrew
Castle is one of
tle over the
Jackson Cot-
Northern Ireland’s
course of its
tage is housed
most striking
History. After use
in a tradi-
monuments
as a prison in the
tional thatched
whether you approach
18th century it
Ulster –Scots
it from land, sea, or
was further
farmhouse built
air. With over 800
strengthened and
in 1750’s. It has
years of history
served as a
been restored to
behind it, today
magazine and
its original state
it is under the
armoury until
including an
care of the NIEA
1928. Cannons
open fireplace
and is open to
from the 17th
with a daub
the public for fun days
to 19th centu-
and wattle can-
out, or to those wish-
ries are on
opy and hanging crane. The inte-
ing to learn more
show in the
rior has been decorated as a tradi-
about its history.
castle, while the
tional cottage with a dresser, sponge
Apart from its initial
keep houses
wear crockery and iron pots and grid-
construction, there
historical and
dles. The centre has an impressive
have been a number
other displays.
display on the life and career of An-
of altera-
drew Jackson (1767- 1845) 7th President of the United States of America whose parents emigrated from here in 1765 and a collection of Ulster patchwork quilts and farm machinery