Antrim
Castle and it's beautiful woodland estate seemed an idyllic home for Sir Hugh
Clotworthy in the early 1600s.
However,as sir Hugh's young bride,lady Marion Clotworthy found life at Antrim
Castle a lonely and miserable existence. Her husband was often absent
on military business. She pined for the excitement and galmour of her
girlhood days at Carrickfergus Castle.
Marian whiled away long hours wandering through the woodlands of
the castle grounds. on one of her solitary strolls,she was confronted
by a huge,savage wolf. At once the beast sprang at her. Marian screamed
and collapsed in a faint.
Upon awakening,her
gaze fell upon an incredible sight. The wolf lay dead,badly savaged.
Standing guard by her side was an Irish Wolfhound,itself badly injured.
Together they made there way back to the castle where she tended her protector.
It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. The shaggy guardian escorted
lady Marian on her daily rambles. The close companionship was set to save
many lives.
One stormy night,armed enemies crept stealthily towards the castle.
Just as they were about to attack, A wild barking alerted those asleep within
the castle. In the midst of fierce firing,an agonised howl - as if from
a beast - was heard.The castle was saved but daylight revealed a trail
of blood that led to the wolfhound's corpse.
By encasing the hound
in stone and mounting it upon one of the castle's front towers, Sir hugh
shrewdly calculated the effigy's potential to ward off hostile but superstitious
enemies. An added insurance, he propagated a belief that if ever the statue
should be removed, the Massereene family would "speedily decay".
Later alterations to the castle caused the statue to be taken down, initally
to a wall of the estate and, subsequently, to its present location on the leisure
centre's lawn.
The castle quickly decayed
after a fire in 1922 and the Massereene family has removed itself to England.
Author:
Alaistair Smyth
From the book:
"Antrim Town & Country"
