Carrickfergus (from Irish Carraig Fhearghais [ˌkaːɾˠəɟ ˈaɾˠɣəʃ]ⓘ, meaning "Fergus' rock")[3] is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

[5] Carrickfergus Castle, built in the late 12th century at the behest of Anglo-Norman knight John de Courcy, was the capital of the Earldom of Ulster.

Archaeological excavations close to the walls' foundations have yielded many artefacts that have helped historians piece together a picture of the lives of the 12th and 13th century inhabitants.

De Lacy oversaw the final construction of the castle, which included the gatehouse, drum towers and outer ward.

De Lacy was relieved of his command of the town in 1210, when King John himself arrived and placed the castle under royal authority.

De Lacy eventually regained his title of Earl of Ulster in 1227, however the castle and its walled town were captured several more times following his death (in 1242).

A contemporary Elizabethan illustration of Carrickfergus shows ten tower-houses, as well as terraces of single-storey houses, some detached cottages and 70 or more Irish beehive-type huts in the town.

[13] During the Seven Years' War, in February 1760, the whole town was briefly captured and held to ransom by French troops landed from Francois Thurot's naval squadron, after the defenders ran out of ammunition.

[20] In 1912 the people of Carrickfergus turned out in their thousands to watch as the RMS Titanic made its first ever journey up the lough from its construction dock in Belfast.

[21] During World War II, Northern Ireland was an important military base for United States Naval and Air Operations and a training ground for American G.I.s.

[24] On 8 September 2007, Carrickfergus was the Northern Irish host for the Last Night at the Proms, featuring Alison Balsom, Alfie Boe, and Ulster conductor Kenneth Montgomery.

[25] The British peerage title of Baron Carrickfergus, which had become extinct in 1883, was bestowed upon Prince William on his wedding day in 2011.

Alan Riach, who has translated the poem into English, has praised the genius of its 18th-century author and how brilliantly he emulated both Homer and Virgil in telling his tale of men against the sea.

[citation needed] Sporting establishments in the town include the association football clubs Carrick Rangers F.C.

Carrickfergus FM is a Restricted Service Licence community radio station which broadcasts seasonally in the area.