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Uninhabited and sheltered
amongst basalt islets, the rugged beauty of Dunseverick harbour captures all that is
synonymous with the North Antrim coast. It is a magical place to wander in the early
evening when the
sunlight shines from the west - as evening falls and shadows
deepen, if you look closely on the
shoreline half way down the road towards the harbour, you will see a large rock at the
water edge which takes on the resembles a figure holding
a child. The harbour is also where many local people began their long emigration trail during the 1800's, being rowed out to catch a passing schooner
bound for Glasgow or Londonderry where they would embark on one of
the many emigrant ships to Australia, New Zealand or the Americas. You can
walk from the harbour to Portbraddon along a winding path that hugs the cliff and
shoreline, past the old salt fields and kelp
walls that once sustained local families. Midway between Dunseverick harbour and Portbraddon, on the cliff top above the pathway, lies the ancient site of Templastragh
(Temple of the Flame)
which was said to have been founded by St.
Goban or Gobain in 648 AD. Goban was a local man known for
his building skills
and was responsible for many fine buildings in the area including another
church in Glenshesk - it is said that a
divine light guided him to where he finally built the church of Templastragh. The ruins we see today date to the
1600's, the original site
of Templastragh is believed to have been a few hundred yards inland from the present
site. A stone mounted in the gable wall is carved with an early Christian cross
which is believed to have come from the original church. |