{{Short description|Castle in County Antrim, Northern Ireland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{infobox military installation |name = Kinbane Castle |native_name = |partof = |location = County Antrim, Northern Ireland |image = File:Kinbane Castle, daylight.jpg |caption = |map_type = Northern Ireland |map_size = |map_alt = |map_caption = |type = |coordinates = {{coord|55.229167|-6.291389|type:landmark|display=inline}} |code = |built = |builder = |materials = |height = |used = |demolished = |condition = Ruin |ownership = |open_to_public = |controlledby = |garrison = |current_commander = |commanders = |occupants = |battles = |events = |image2 = |caption2 = }}
right|300px|thumb|Kinbane Castle (dusk)
'''Kinbane Castle''' (''Caisleán Ceinn Bán, White Head Castle, Kenbane/Kenbaan Castle'') is located in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on a headland between Ballycastle and Ballintoy. The name comes from the Irish for "white head", referring to the limestone of the promontory.<ref name="casnl" /> Nowadays, the castle is largely destroyed. Kinbane Castle is a State Care Historic Monument sited in the townland of Cregganboy, in Moyle District Council area, at grid ref: D0876 4383.<ref>{{cite web | title=Kinbane Castle | work=Environment and Heritage Service NI - State Care Historic Monuments | url=http://www.ehsni.gov.uk/state_care_monuments_2007.pdf | accessdate=2007-12-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722033155/http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/state_care_monuments_2007.pdf | archive-date=2012-07-22 | url-status=dead }}</ref> The area surrounding Kinbane Castle is a Scheduled Historic Monument, grid ref: D0879 4381.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kinbane Castle |work=Environment and Heritage Service NI - Scheduled Historic Monuments |url=http://www.ehsni.gov.uk/scheduled_monuments1to31mar07.pdf |accessdate=2007-12-03 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20100217175409/http://www.ehsni.gov.uk/scheduled_monuments1to31mar07.pdf |archivedate=2010-02-17 }}</ref> The site also has views of Rathlin Island and Dunagregor Iron Age fort.
==History==
In 1547, a two-storey castle was built at the headland by Colla MacDonnell. The castle was damaged and partly destroyed due to English sieges under Sir James Croft in the 1550s and rebuilt afterwards. Colla MacDonnell died at the castle in 1558, and his son Gillaspick MacDonnell subsequently inherited it.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.culturenorthernireland.org/features/heritage/kinbane-castle |title=Kenbane Castle |accessdate=2009-07-03 |year=2009 |archive-date=7 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407155153/http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/features/heritage/kinbane-castle |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="casnl">{{cite web |url=http://www.castles.nl/kinbane-castle |title=Kenbane Castle |accessdate=2009-07-03 |year=2009}}</ref>
The hollow below the castle is known as ''Lag na Sassenach'' (''Hollow of the English'') and it is alleged that a troop of English soldiers besieging the castle were surrounded and killed there during the 16th century.<ref name="casnl" />
Sorley Boy MacDonnell, brother of Colla, later acquired the castle when trading property with Gillaspick. He later handed it to the MacAlisters because of their loyalty. The castle remained in the possession of the descendants of the MacAlisters of Kenbane until the 18th century.<ref name="casnl" />
== See also == *Castles in Northern Ireland
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Kinbane Castle}}
{{coord|55|13|45|N|6|17|29|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}
Category:Castles in County Antrim + Category:Ruined castles in Northern Ireland Category:State Care Monuments of Northern Ireland Category:Tower houses in Northern Ireland