Dunluce Castle, Northern Ireland

From a distance, Dunluce Castle is one of the most impressive ruins I saw in Ireland.



Built by the Earl of Ulster, it rises from the imposing cliffs almost like a natural rock formation.

Up close, Dunluce is a much more festive affair. There are a number of costumed staff engaged in "period" activities to amuse the huge crowds. There were also a number of street performers with no discernible period connection, like a stilt-walker and a guy who did stunts on a bicycle. Archery classes for the kiddies (and some adulties) were a popular choice for many visitors.

Personally, I liked the display of swordsmanship from the "mercenaries". The man who introduced the fight was very funny. He explained that freelance soldiers of this type were common during the warlike times around the Crusades. He said: "Now there aren't any more crusades - although come to think of it maybe there is one - we're forced to put on demonstrations for peasants like you." One of the mercenaries protested that the audience couldn't be called peasants. So the announcer said he would apply the peasant test. He drew his sword and demanded that anyone who thought they weren't a peasant come up and discuss it with him right then.

This is the one photograph I managed to take from within the castle that wasn't infested with brightly dressed touristy people ... like me.