Bunratty Castle & Folk Park

OVERVIEW

See how the Irish once lived by visiting a 15th-century castle and by meandering through a recreated village of 19th-century buildings. Built on the site of a Viking trading camp, Bunratty is the last of four castles at that location. Although once in disrepair, the castle has been so meticulously restored that it is considered the most complete and authentic medieval castle in Ireland. Its furnishings, tapestries and works of art capture the mood of those times. Similarly, the Bunratty Folk Park features a collection of historical buildings arranged along a street that replicates village life centuries ago. You will get a real feel for what it was like to visit a pawnshop, pub, grocery, hardware store and other buildings that offered essential services at that time. You will also stop at Blarney Woolen Mills, a collection of Irish heritage shops that occupies one of the oldest woolen mills in Ireland.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore the most authentic and complete medieval castle in Ireland.
• Walk along a recreated 19th-century village street and stop in the buildings of that time.
• Shop for Waterford crystal, Belleek china and Aran knitwear at Blarney Woolen Mills.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.