One of our main goals in going to Ireland was to track down our past. My family name, Colville, had - occupied several castles in Scotland and one in Ireland, Galgorm Castle. Our mission on our first full day in Ireland was to go to that castle. It is next to the Galgorm Golf Club, a very exquisite golf club. The current owner of Galgorm Castle is also owner of the Golf Club. We rode the train and bus from Bangor over to Ballymena, then planned on getting a bus or taxi the 5 more miles to Galgorm Castle. When the lady at the bus station learned of our quest for my family history, she immediately insisted on taking us to the castle herself. I'm telling you, people all over the UK are so eager to help and are so friendly! She also said she was going to be back in that area in about 3 hours and wondered if we wanted her to pick us up and take us back to the train station. Of course, we let her do that. In the meantime, during those 3 hours, we had an amazing adventure!! We spent a good hour looking around the castle, peeking through the windows, and exploring the grounds. This castle has a portrait of Dr. Alexander Colville hanging on the entrance wall. We were able to peek through the window and see that portrait!! How exciting!! But wait...this just gets better...we decided to walk over to the adjacent golf course and check out the golf club to see if possibly they sold any trinkets, like a key chain, or fridge magnet of Galgorm Castle. We went into the golf club and began chatting with the manager, telling him I was a Colville, and very interested in anything he might have about the Galgorm Castle. We discussed the portrait on the wall, the history of the 'boot' - the 'ghosts' that inhabit the castle, and on and on. He called the owner of the castle and golf course and got permission to take us inside!! Realize - this castle is not open to the public. Phil, the manager, stays in it some during the winter to avoid the drive back into town, but not open to the general public. Right now, there are plans to add shops and stores in buildings recently built behind the castle, and plans on restoration of the castle itself. Anyway, we got a private tour of the castle once occupied by a Colville!!Dr. Colville bought this castle in 1640. It was built in 1618. Legend has it that Dr. Colville sold his soul to the devil for gold and knowledge. The devil agreed to fill his boot with gold, but Dr. Colville cut out the heel of the boot, nailed it to the 2nd. floor and when the devil went to fill it with gold, it first had to fill up the entire cellar floor before filling up the boot. Now there is a golf tournament where the winner is awarded the 'Colville Boot'....picture below....
Below are the pictures - before we got inside and afterwards from inside the castle as well as The Colville Boot and Pub in the golf club upstairs!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dyduy2U800
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This little hut in the far corner of the courtyard was probably used as storage,,,the next few pics are inside this hut
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More pictures from around the grounds and in the back of the courtyard where buildings have been built for shops. At this time, we saw a beauty shop and photography studio.
Now, pictures inside the Golf Club and inside the Castle!!
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| The Colville Boot that golfers play to win! |
Good-bye Galgorm Castle! It was quite a visit, but we've got other places to check out as well!!
Onward now to Giant's Causeway.........................check back later for more on that ...........
