Greencastle
Greencastle is a historic site, at a modelled elevation of 9 m. Slieve Binnian stands 746 m to the northeast, 8.4 miles off. The nearest named place is Millbay Picnic Area, a picnic site 1.6 miles away.
The story
Greencastle is a castle in County Down, Northern Ireland. While it dates mainly from the 13th century, it had substantial 15th- and 16th-century alterations. It was originally surrounded by outer rectangular walls with four corner towers (ruins of some remain). It is likely to have been built by Hugh de Lacy, along with Carlingford Castle on the opposite side of Carlingford Lough, to guard the narrow entry channel to the Lough, and the ferry crossing between the two. The motte from the earlier wooden motte-and-bailey castle (possibly built by John de Courcy) is still on the seaward side nearer the point. According to one legend John de Courcy was married at Greencastle, but this may have been at the original motte & bailey castle. According to the information boards at the site it was held for the English Crown by Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster, from 1264 to 1333. It was attacked and taken by Edward Bruce, the brother of Robert, in 1316. This was in spite of one of Richard de Burgh's daughters having married Robert the Bruce himself. It was attacked at least twice by the Irish in the later 14th century but still maintained as an English garrison in the 1590s. In the 16th century it was held by the Earl of Kildare and then Nicholas Bagenal of Newry. It fell into disuse after a bombardment by Cromwellian soldiers, to stop it being used by rebel forces. The site is also surrounded in close proximity by other medieval sites/monuments: e.g., the motte fortification predating the stone castle (Northern Ireland Sites and Monuments Record No. DOW 057:001), late-Medieval stone church (DOW 057:002) and two burial pits (DOW 057:017) that were excavated in 2003; one contained a female aged 25–35 and the second a child (one presumes related) of less than four years old at death (1 and a half to 3 and a half years old). A calibrated date range of AD1270-1380 was indicated; likely contemporary with the construction of Greencastle in the mid-13th century. The castle underwent archaeological excavations from 1966 - 1970 which also identified layers of occupation deposits that pre-dated the castle on the site. The castle is a state-care historic monument in the townland of Greencastle, in the Newry and Mourne District Council area, at grid ref: J2473 1184.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Wikidata Q5603788, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.
What the record says
- Built
- 1250-01-01
What to expect
How to reach it
Named places within 25 miles
- Knockshee: 3.0 mi
- Formal: 3.2 mi
- Cloghachorcha: 3.4 mi
- Knockchree: 3.6 mi
- Rocky Mountain: 3.9 mi
- Carlingford Ogham Stone: 3.6 mi
- Mint: 3.6 mi
- Taaffe's Castle: 3.6 mi
- Carlingford Castle: 3.6 mi
- Kilwirra Church: 4.5 mi
- Kitty's Road MUGA: 3.6 mi
- Manse Park Amenity Area: 3.8 mi
- Mourne Esplanade Amentity Area: 4.1 mi
- Rostrevor Foreshore Amenity Area: 5.6 mi
- Forestbrook Amenity Area: 5.7 mi
- Pigeon Rock: 7.3 mi
- Wee Binnian: 7.9 mi
- Wee Binnian: 7.9 mi
- Wee Binnian: 7.9 mi
- South Tor: 8.3 mi
- CarraigmcCoillte Dolmen and Court Grave: 3.2 mi
- Dog tomb: 3.2 mi
- The Long Woman's Grave: 3.2 mi
- Dogs tombs: 3.2 mi
- Guilty or not Guilty: 3.2 mi
- Millbay Picnic Area: 1.6 mi
- Kilfeaghan Picnic Area: 3.5 mi
- Manse Road Picnic Area: 4.0 mi
- The Bush: 4.9 mi
- Yellow Water picnic site: 6.9 mi
- St James Well: 2.4 mi
- Lady Well: 4.3 mi
- Saint Bridget's Well: 11.7 mi
- Ladywell: 12.8 mi
- St. John's Well: 13.5 mi
- Town Gate: 3.6 mi
- Black Rock: 7.3 mi
- Santas Cottage: 8.0 mi
- Ser Arlan's Grave: 8.9 mi
- Dundalk Central: 13.1 mi
- William Alexander Davis Garden: 13.4 mi
- Tollymore Arboretum: 14.1 mi
- Scented Garden: 16.6 mi
- The Annesley Garden: 16.6 mi
- Winter Garden: 16.6 mi
- Rostrevor Oakwood National Nature Reserve: 5.1 mi
- Bird Sanctuary: 13.0 mi
- Tollymore Forest Park Entrance: 14.6 mi
- Murlough Nature Reserve: 16.4 mi
- Murlough National Nature Reserve: 17.2 mi
- Greenore Railway Museum: 1.6 mi
- Louth County Museum: 12.4 mi
- Railway Museum: 13.1 mi
- Newry and Mourne Museum: 13.3 mi
- Irish Military Museum And Park: 24.4 mi
- Beach - Costa del Ceanfield: 2.0 mi
- Tyrella Beach: 20.6 mi
- Rossglass Beach: 21.9 mi
- Black Stairs: 13.0 mi
Summits around it
The highest named summits within 9.4 miles of Greencastle. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slieve Binnian | NE 34° | 745.9 m | 8.4 mi |
| Slieve Binnian North Top | NNE 30° | 678 m | 9.0 mi |
| Slieve Muck | NNE 16° | 670.4 m | 8.4 mi |
| Slieve Binnian North Tor | NNE 31° | 670 m | 9.1 mi |
| Eagle Mountain | N 0° | 638 m | 6.9 mi |
| Slieve Binnian East Top | NE 37° | 630 m | 8.6 mi |
| Shanlieve | N 358° | 626 m | 6.7 mi |
| Slieve Foye | W 272° | 589 m | 4.8 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 06:28 | 17:51 | 18:37 |
| June solstice | 04:52 | 21:02 | 22:02 |
| September equinox | 07:10 | 18:39 | 19:26 |
| December solstice | 08:42 | 14:54 | 16:04 |
Local time (Europe/London).
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidataOfficial siteOpenStreetMap element way/112670878
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