Ballycastle is a small coastal town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Ballycastle is on the north-easternmost coastal tip of Ireland, roughly at the midpoint of the Causeway Coastal Route, in the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
A small fishing port and beach resort with just over 5,000 people, the town faces the North Channel. Its location makes it a natural base for exploring the Causeway Coastal Route. Yet, it has a distinctly local atmosphere that is evident on its streets, strand, and harbour.
Ballycastle is framed by headlands and islands, with Fair Head to the east, Kinbane and the Skerries offshore, and Rathin Island six miles out by ferry. Its immediate neighbours include the village of Ballyvoy, just a couple of miles east along the A2, while Ballintoy (gateway to the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge) lies to the west along the same coastal road. Regular ferries tie Ballycastle to Rathlin.
Ballycastle's early history revolves around ancient earthworks and forts. The town grew from early settlements at Dunamallaght (fort of the curse), Dunrainey (fort of the queen), and Dunineeny (fort of the fairs or games). In the broader Irish context, early towns were often monastic nodes rather than urban boroughs, a pattern that shaped how places like Ballycastle coalesced over centuries.
By the late 12th century, the area became part of the Anglo-Norman County of Coulrath (Coleraine), as a result of John de Courcy's expansion in 1177. By the 15th century, some Anglo-Norman families in the Route (north Antrim) had adopted Irish customs. Across the 15th to 17th centuries, repeated migrations from Kintyre and the Scottish Isles, especially the MacDonnells, reshaped settlement along the coast, giving Ballycastle a character that felt as much Gaelic-Scottish as Norman-English.
The civic spine of Ballycastle flows along Castle Street. The town's 18th-century surge, driven by Colonel Hugh Boyd in the 1730s and 40s, concentrated homes and commerce in this area, threading toward the Diamond. Along the shore, the harbour and strand grew into a resort identity while retaining the rhythms of a working port, with boats, ferries, and markets.
Northern Ireland's Troubles, from 1968 to 1998, touched nearly every town, Ballycastle included. Across the region, street protests, bombings, internment, and a heavy security presence were everywhere, as the British Army and Royal Ulster Constabulary confronted republican and loyalist paramilitaries.
For coastal communities like Ballycastle, the impact was both visible and intimate, with checkpoints on roads, soldiers in the streets, and a nervous calculus of everyday routines. There were several bombings in Ballycastle during this period. The ceasefires and subsequent agreements didn't erase the loss, but they did allow civic life to return. Festivals, tourism, and cross-channel ties are strong again today.
There are several attractions and places of interest in Ballycastle. Ballycastle Beach and Pans Rock Pier, just over a mile of pale sand arcs from the marina to Pans Rock, with safe paddling on calm days and views of Rathlin and Kintyre. Ballycastle Harbour, with fishing boats, the Rathlin ferry, and a working quay, lends energy to the waterfront.
On the edge of town near the Margy River are the ruins of Bonamargy Friary. The ruins of vaults, cloisters, and graves carry stories from the 16th century onward.
Ballycastle Museum highlights local archaeology, social history, and maritime heritage. Castle Street and the Diamond, the historic commercial core of Ballycastle, still serve as the town's main street. Its shopfronts and facades testify to the 18th century beneath later alterations. A Visitor Information Centre carries maps, ferry timings, and walking routes. Nearby are several small galleries.
Several resources for businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, museums, historical places, attractions, and entertainment venues, as well as sports and recreational programs, organisations, and events in Ballycastle, can be found below.
Recommended Resources
Situated beside the Carey River and farmed by Ballypatrick Forest, the glamping site offers three bespoke glamping cabins and a farm house, each blending modern comfort with the tranquility of a working farm. Accommodation options include a luxury two-bedroom pod, a one-bedroom couples' pod, and the Farm House, the latter with three beds, a full kitchen, a large living room, and child-friendly spaces. Features and amenities are highlighted, along with photos.
https://www.aganmorefarmglamping.com/
Founded in 1890, Ballycastle Golf Club is only yards from the shoreline on Northern Ireland's Causeway Coast. The course blends parkland with wild links terrain, offering panoramic vistas of Fair Head, Rathlin Island, and sometimes parts of Scotland's western isles. Ballycastle was one of the founding members of the Golf Union of Ireland in 1891. Originally laid out as a 9-hole parkland course, it was redesigned and extended to a full 18 holes around 1926. Membership information is provided.
https://www.ballycastlegolfclub.com/
The family-run bed and breakfast is located in the coastal town of Ballycastle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Each morning, guests can enjoy a delicious breakfast made from locally-sourced ingredients. Room options, features, amenities, services, and rates are published on the website, along with testimonials, local attractions, a gallery of photographs, the address, a map showing the location, and an online contact form. Online bookings are available through the website.
https://www.carnatelylodge.net/
O'Connor's Bar is located on Ann Street in the heart of Ballycastle, Northern Ireland. Since 2002, the proprietor, Cormac O'Connor, has blended traditional Irish pub character with modern touches. Signature dishes include Seafood Chowder, Salt & Chilli Squid, Seafood Linguine, and Crab Claws. Its menu, desserts, craft beers, drinks, and beer garden are highlighted, along with a schedule of live music, guest reviews, contacts, and an online store with branded clothing.
https://oconnorsbar.ie/
The Salthouse Hotel is a luxury, eco-conscious retreat on Northern Ireland's Causeway Coast, situated on the beachfront just outside of Ballycastle. It offers a variety of lodging options, including rooms, suites, and lodges, which are highlighted here, along with the on-site Salthouse Bar & Restaurant and Lookout Bar & Restaurant, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available. Key amenities and special options are featured on the website. Contacts and online bookings are included.
https://www.thesalthousehotel.com/
Some Histories of Ballycastle and Other Related Items
Dedicated to preserving and sharing the heritage of Ballycastle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, the website's core content, written by Hugh Alexander Boyd, covers the origins of the town, its geographical setting, and its evolution from medieval times to the modern era. Included are "Ballycastle: An Historical Survey" and "Old Ballycastle," as well as postcards from over the years, local letters, leaflets, and descriptions of significant places within the town.
https://www.ballycastlehistory.com/
