 |
| A VIEW OF GLENARM CASTLE, CO. ANTRIM. -We have dealt with Glenarm elsewhere, from different standpoints, but this view shows the castle of the Earl of Antrim from its own park, and a very handsome structure it is. These Antrim MacDonnells have had a stormy history, and it is difficult to fix the period at which they first appeared in Ireland. In the main, although of undoubted Scottish origin, they fought with the native Irish against the common enemy. For centuries, they were lords of "the Glynns of Antrim," and, after rendering faithful service against Elizabeth's armies, were shamefully treated by Shane O'Neill, the Proud, at the instigation of the English Queen's ministers, who were his temporary "allies." This very injustice-the most glaring of his career-led to the subsequent destruction of O'Neill, who after his downfall, sought an asylum with these same MacDonnells, whom he had ill-used, and was by them, at the instigation of an English officer, named Bingham, barbarously butchered. His head was cut off and sent to Elizabeth, who caused it to be spiked on London Tower. We are not certain whether the MacDonnells of Glenarm are lineally descended from the particular family with whom O'Neill quarreled, but they, undoubtedly, belong to the same clan. The castle, pictured above, is of comparatively modern origin, dating from the middle of the eighteenth century. It is regarded as one of the most graceful aristocratic seats in Ireland. |
 |  |