Carrickfergus

No stop on the Pub Runners Musical Tours of Ireland captures the spirit of these journeys better than our visit to Carrickfergus. A hallmark of the tours is pausing in the very towns and villages celebrated in song, bringing the music to life where its stories were born. In Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, we performed the beloved ballad “Carrickfergus.” Popularized by the Clancy Brothers in the 1960s, the song is a hauntingly nostalgic tale of an aging wanderer yearning to return home.

Located just 11 miles from Belfast along the shores of Belfast Lough, Carrickfergus is home to a remarkably well-preserved 12th-century Norman castle. Fittingly, we sang the song at the historic Dobbins Inn, situated directly across from the castle, making for a truly memorable and authentic experience.