Editing Carrickfergus (section)

===Early modern era===
The [[Battle of Carrickfergus (1597)|Battle of Carrickfergus]], part of the [[Nine Years War (Ireland)|Nine Years War]], took place in and around the town in November 1597. It was fought between the crown forces of Queen [[Elizabeth I]] and the Scots clan of [[Clan Donald|MacDonnell]], and resulted in a defeat for the English. A contemporary Elizabethan illustration of Carrickfergus shows ten tower-houses, as well as terraces of single-storey houses, some detached cottages and 70 or more Irish beehive-type huts in the town.<ref>{{cite book|last=O'Neill, B (ed).|year=2002|title=Irish Castles and Historic Houses|publisher=Caxton Editions|location=London, UK|page=14}}</ref>

[[File:CARRICKFERGUS CASTLE 113.jpg|thumb|270px|left|A drawing of [[Carrickfergus Castle]] circa 1840.]]
[[Arthur Chichester, 1st Baron Chichester|Sir Arthur Chichester]] was appointed by the Earl of Essex to govern the castle and town in 1599 and was responsible for the [[Plantation of Ulster|plantation]] of English and Scottish peoples in the town, as well as the building of the town wall.<ref name="CarrickfergusHistory-1500sBeyond">[http://www.carrickfergus.org/tourism/museum/1500s-and-beyond 1500s and Beyond in Carrickfergus] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305014508/http://www.carrickfergus.org/tourism/museum/1500s-and-beyond |date=5 March 2011 }}, carrickfergus.org; accessed 8 March 2016.</ref>

[[File:Plaque at Carrickfergus harbour - geograph.org.uk - 221331.jpg|thumb|A plaque at the harbour commemorates the landing of [[William III of England|William of Orange]] in the town in 1690.]]
Nevertheless, the decaying castle withstood [[Siege of Carrickfergus (1689)|several days of siege]] by the forces of [[William III of England|William of Orange]] in 1689, before surrendering on 28 August. William himself subsequently landed at Carrickfergus on 14 June 1690.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/11822.html|title=Landing of William III at Carrickfergus, 14 June 1690|publisher=Royal Museums Greenwich|access-date=30 April 2021}}</ref>
[[File:St Nicholas' Church, Carrickfergus.jpg|thumb|St Nicholas' Church in the town of Carrickfergus]]
During the [[Seven Years' War]], in February 1760, the whole town [[Battle of Carrickfergus (1760)|was briefly captured]] and held to ransom by French troops landed from [[Francois Thurot]]'s naval squadron, after the defenders ran out of ammunition. In 1711 Carrickfergus was the scene of the last [[Witch-hunt|witchcraft trial]] in Ireland. Eight women were charged with bewitching a young girl, and were convicted, despite a strong indication from one of the judges that the jury should acquit. They were sentenced to a year in prison and four sessions in the [[pillory]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/the-witches-of-antrim-2660284.html|title=The witches of Antrim|date=26 May 2011|access-date=1 June 2011|work=[[Irish Independent]]|first=Declan|last=Cashin}}</ref>

In April 1778, during the [[American War of Independence]], [[John Paul Jones]], in command of the American ship ''[[USS Ranger (1777)|Ranger]]'', attempted to capture a [[Kingdom of Great Britain|British]] [[Royal Navy]] [[sloop of war]], {{HMS|Drake|1777|6}}, moored at Carrickfergus. Having failed, he returned a few days later and challenged ''Drake'' to a fight out in the [[North Channel (British Isles)|North Channel]] which the [[North Channel naval duel|Americans won decisively]].<ref>"USS Ranger". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. 2003. Retrieved 9 January 2012</ref><ref>"He Bought HMS Drake". Seacoast New Hampshire. 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.</ref>

During the 1790s there was considerable support in the Carrickfergus area for the [[United Irishmen]].<ref name="Brief History of Carrickfergus">{{cite web|url=http://www.saintnicholas.org.uk/carrickfergus.html |title=Saint Nicholas Church, Carrickfergus |access-date=9 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209085932/http://www.saintnicholas.org.uk/carrickfergus.html |archive-date=9 February 2012}}</ref> On 14 October 1797 [[William Orr (United Irishman)|William Orr]] was hanged in the town following what was widely regarded as a show trial held in [[Carrickfergus Town Hall|Carrickfergus Courthouse]]<ref name=" Speeches from the Dock by D. B. Sullivan, 1886">{{Cite web|url=https://www.libraryireland.com/articles/WilliamOrrSpeechesDock/index.php|title=William Orr – Speech from the Dock|website=libraryireland.com}}</ref> (now the Town Hall<ref name="DOENI">{{cite web|url=http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/ehod_antrim-2.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=9 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424144803/http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/ehod_antrim-2.pdf |archive-date=24 April 2011}}</ref>) and in 1798 United Irish founder [[Henry Joy McCracken]] was captured on the outskirts of the town while trying to escape to America.<ref name="Ulster History Circle">{{cite web |url=http://www.ulsterhistory.co.uk/henryjoymccracken.htm |title=Henry Joy McCracken – United irishman |access-date=7 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204035344/http://www.ulsterhistory.co.uk/henryjoymccracken.htm |archive-date=4 February 2012}}</ref>