Carrickfergus factfile

How to get to Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus is on the A2 Belfast Road, 30 minutes from the major termini of Belfast International and George Best City airports, and the ports of Belfast and Larne.

Sports and leisure in Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus supports freshwater fishing at seven reservoirs and sea fishing from piers and the shoreline, plus four golf courses, three bowling greens, sailing, scenic walks, and over a dozen safe and secure play areas for kids. Carrickfergus Leisure Centre offers swimming, squash, football, basketball and more.

Natural beauty spots around Carrickfergus
Parks and gardens abound in Carrickfergus. The Marine Gardens offer sunken gardens, a striking clock tower, manicured lawns and a recreation of the formal Jacobean Knot Garden Palace. Shaftesbury Park boasts tree-lined avenues and rose and shrub beds.

Famous landmarks in Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus Castle was built in the 12th century and commanded access to Belfast Lough and to the land approaches into the walled town.

Things to see and do around Carrickfergus
There's no lack of interesting sights in Carrickfergus. To name just a few, there's the King William Statue, Albert Edward Pier, harbour, marina, Carrickfergus Castle, the walled town centre, and the old Irish and Scotch Quarters.

How Carrickfergus got its name
Carrickfergus means the rock of Fergus. It relates to the sixth-century experience of Fergus, the son of Eric of Armoy who, on his return from building a kingdom in Scotland, was shipwrecked on the rock on which the castle now stands.

Famous people from Carrickfergus
The parents of Andrew Jackson, the seventh US president, emigrated from Carrickfergus in 1765. The family's traditional Ulster-Scots thatched farmhouse, which was built in 1750, has been restored. Lilian Bland, in 1910-1911, was the first woman in the world to design, construct and fly a plane, which she named Mayfly.

Carrickfergus' claims to fame
In 1690 William III landed in Carrickfergus on his way to the Battle of the Boyne, where he defeated his father-in-law James II. The White Star Line's RMS Titanic stayed overnight at Carrickfergus before continuing on its fateful first and last voyage.