open to the public. The banqueting hall has been fully restored and there are many exhibits to show what life was like in medieval times. It was built and re-built three times, and still stands today. On the day of his wedding, 29 April 2011, Prince William of Wales was created Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, and Baron Carrickfergus. The latter title of peerage, along with the geographical barony itself, had been extinct since Victorian times. The title is now only ceremonial with no official connection to the castle. Governors of Carrickfergus Governors of the garrison at Carrickfergus included: 1568: William Piers 1597: Sir John Chichester (killed near Ballycarry in 1597) 1599: Sir Arthur Chichester (created The 1st Baron Chichester in 1613; died in 1625) 1606–: Sir Faithful Fortescue and Roger Langford 1625–1648: The 1st Viscount Chichester 1648: The 1st Earl of Donegall (replaced) 1648: General George Monck (for Parliament) 1649–1650: Thomas Dalzell of Binns 1660–1675: The 1st Earl of Donegall (restored) 1675–1687: The 2nd Earl of Donegall 1689: Charles Macarty Moore 1716: Lord Mark Kerr 1728–1732: The 1st Baron Conway 1763: Nehemiah Donnellan 8 September 1787: Francis Dundas 30 January 1817 – 13 November 1828: Sir Baldwin Leighton 1 December 1828 – 22 January 1830: General George Moncrieff. 12 February 1830 – 10 June 1841: Lieutenant-General Sir William Hutchinson, K.C.H. (1765–1845) The post of Governor was abolished in 1841. Railway access The castle is short walk from Carrickfergus railway station. Trains connect west to Belfast Lanyon Place and Belfast Great Victoria Street and east to Whitehead and Larne Harbour operated by Northern Ireland Railways. See also Castles in Great Britain and Ireland List of castles in Ireland References External links Carrickfergus Castle Visitor Information on discovernorthernireland.com 1177 establishments in Ireland Buildings and structures completed in 1177 12th-century fortifications Castles in County Antrim Carrickfergus Historic house museums in Northern Ireland Museums in County Antrim Northern Ireland Environment Agency properties Norman architecture in Ireland Norman architecture in the United Kingdom Earldom of Ulster George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle