Carrickfergus/Definition

Carrickfergus is a town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It had once been a major port and was the site of the landing of King William III during the Williamite War. Its importance diminished in parallel with the increase in population of nearby Belfast in the latter part of the 19th century.

Also known as 'Carrick' for short.

Carrick is an Anglicisation of a Gaelic word meaning 'rock', therefore the town's meaning is 'the rock of Fergus'. There is a large, well-preserved Norman castle in the town which has been besieged many times since it was built and is now a popular tourist attraction. The castle, built in the 12th century, had been extended in subsequent centuries and stands strategically with one end on the shore of Belfast Lough.