274 Guide to Belfast. 



orders. The early Irish monastic system was quite different 

 from the Norman, and had very few features in common 

 with it. 



F. J. B. 



Castles. 



Long before the raths or crannoges fell into disuse through- 

 out our district, substantial castles were built of stone and 

 mortar, particularly along the coast. Sir John de Courci, 

 after his descent on the north-east of Ulster, promoted the 

 building of strongholds in various parts of the country ; and 

 his numerous followers, anxious to secure the lands they had 

 acquired by the sword, imitated the policy of their leader, 

 and built castles upon their several estates in which to 

 entrench themselves in those troublous times. A document 

 of the time of Elizabeth, now in the British Museum, states 

 that the principal means used to reduce Ireland were — •" By 

 restraining and taking from the Irishry, by little and little, 

 all trust of government : by building of castles and fenced 

 houses, and committing the captaineries to trustie and well- 

 affected English." And not only were castles built, but 

 those who lived in them were obliged to keep them in repair. 

 In the time of Richard II. it was ordered " that all who have 

 castles or fortresses in Ireland should cause them to be 

 repaired, and hold them in proper condition, and place 

 therein a good and sufficient ward for their safe keeping." 



This order was most cheerfully obeyed. It fitted in with 

 most perfect harmony to the tastes of the barons and 

 adventurers of the time ; and the great number they built 

 — and they stud the land on almost every point of 

 vantage — together with the existing castles and strongholds 

 of the Irish chiefs, speaks with no uncertain voice of the 

 very lively times that existed, first amongst the Irish them- 

 selves, and then in the everlasting line of warfare that 

 continued between the English to gain and keep, and the 

 Irish to retain their own — a state of affairs that continued 

 for ages. 



Of these martial strongholds the nearest to Belfast is that 

 of Carrickfergus, which claims an unbroken line of military 



