Visit Ballygally Castle in Northern IrelandBallygally Castle is situated along the beautiful Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland. The castle hotel faces east across the bay with views of the sandy beach and the sea toward Scotland.
You will enjoy the twenty-six mile drive north from Belfast on scenic Highway A2 as you go from town to town along the coast. Ballygally is six miles north of the ferry Port of Larne, at the south end of the nine Glens of Antrim. 
Ballygally Castle is a fine base for exploring Northern Ireland. Belfast, Carrickfergus Castle, the Glens of Antrim, the Ulster Way walking trail, Cairndhu Golf Course, the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, the Giant's Causeway, Bushmills Distillery, and Dunluce Castle are all nearby as you travel along the sea coast.© Patricia McKinney-Lins The original castle was built in 1625 and is the only building of its age still used as a residence in Northern Ireland. If you stay in the hotel, you can even visit Lady Isabella, one of the resident ghosts, in her room!The castle was built by James Shaw and his wife, Isabella Brisbane. James was from Scotland and came to Ireland to seek his fortune. He acquired land from the Earl of Antrim and built the castle. The castle was built for defense as well as for living quarters. Thick walls, a steep roof, and loopholes for muskets were all part of the design, yet the style was similar to a French chateau. There were inner and outer courtyards including stables, coach houses and a brew-house. If you are planning a trip to see Ireland's castles and other sites, I'd recommend myguide Ireland for airline and lodging reservations, car rentals and other travel assistance. I've been very pleased with their service. Just click on their link to see how they can help you plan your trip:  myguideIreland help you create Ireland Vacations where you can pick your destination and be your own tour guide.When I can't get to Ireland, I like to browse through the products offered at ShopIrish. Give ShopIrish a try; you will find just the right item to remind you of this beautiful country. Irish Shopping - The Premier web site for Irish Gifts, Jewelry and other Items For a real taste of Ireland, go to the food ireland website and order some of the authentic Irish products. You will find the quality and service outstanding! For more Ireland travel information, you may want to order one of these two popular travel books from amazon.com. You will use them on every trip and enjoy them as you browse at home. The resident ghost, Isabella, is said to be the wife of James Shaw. As you recall, they were the original owners of the castle. It is rumored that James locked Isabella away in a tower room after she gave birth to a baby boy. She tried to escape and either fell or was thrown by her husband, or one of his thugs, to her death. She is said to be a friendly ghost, although I don't know why she would be. Guests can visit her tower room and have been known to hear strange sounds and to see an eerie green mist over the castle. Creepy!
The castle was used during the Irish Civil Wars, the rebellion of 1641, and again as a fortress in the 18th century. Ownership was passed down through the generations. The last squire was William Shaw. In the 1800s the Shaw family lost their wealth and the estate was sold to the Agnew family. To get to the castle, you can take the scenic Antrim Coastal Road A2 north from Belfast right to the property. For a faster trip, you can take M2 from Belfast and take exit J5. Then travel along the A8 to Larne, then A2 to Ballygally. There is car parking near the hotel. For more information, visit Ballygally Castle Hotel's website . (The link will open in a new window.)
Here is a map of the area near Ballygally: View Larger Map Return to Home Page
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