I couldn’t quite decide — was Bunratty Castle a true step back in time or a tad kitschy?
On the one hand, the beloved castle is undeniably authentic, with its towering stone walls and period furnishings. It bills itself as the “most complete and authentic” castle in Ireland.
Outside, the folk park has recreated an Irish village with thatched cottages, shops, pubs, and animals added to the mix.
It’s a curious blend, authenticity meeting reenactment. It rather reminded me of Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia.
But somehow it all works, creating a place that’s a snapshot of history and a sweet bit of escapism.
I enjoyed my visit, especially the Irish wolf dogs and the baby sheep. I was lulled into a bucolic state of mind out in rural County Clare.
Just expect other people to be joining you on your reverie! I would avoid the weekends, if at all possible.
In this guide to Bunratty Castle, I’ll tell you everything to see and give you tips for visiting.
>>> Click here to pre-book a ticket
Guide To Bunratty Castle: What To See & Do
Mini History
You can’t visit a castle without some historical background. Bunratty Castle is a grand old fortress with plenty of stories to tell.
Built by the MacNamara family in the 15th century, it has weathered battles, sieges, and centuries of change.
Later, the powerful O’Brien clan took control, turning the castle into a symbol of their might in the region.
One of its most famous residents was Donough O’Brien, the 4th Earl of Thomond, known as the “Great Earl.” He was a key figure in Irish history during the 16th century and gave the castle its grand embellishments.
By the 17th century, Henry O’Brien, the 6th Earl of Thomond, ruled over Bunratty.
A master of playing both sides, Henry managed to be both royalist and rebel, though the castle’s fortunes began to fade under his watch.
One of Bunratty’s most significant battles came in 1646 during the Irish Confederate Wars.
As a Royalist stronghold, the castle faced a fierce siege by Confederate forces, who eventually captured it. Afterward, it was confiscated by Oliver Cromwell’s Parliamentarian army.
In the 19th century, the castle passed through the hands of Anglo-Irish families before the Stuart family built Bunratty House, a more comfortable residence in the Folk Park.
Living in a musty castle was no longer their style!
Finally, in 1956, Lord Gort took ownership and began a full restoration of Bunratty Castle. He brought it back to its former glory for future generations to explore, a significant public good.
With the help of architect John Hunt and his wife, the castle was carefully restored and filled with period furnishings from the 15th and 16th centuries.
Unfortunately, very little Irish furniture survived over those five centuries. Most of the pieces are from continental Europe.
Tour Of The Castle
The well-restored castle is a fortified tower house, built in 1460. It’s basically a rectangular keep with four turrets on the corners.
Unlike almost every other castle in Ireland, the gray stone castle is filled with period antiques, giving a glimpse of what life was like when the powerful MacNamara family built it.
Entry is through the drawbridge to the first floor.
As you cross the drawbridge, look up and you’ll spot a “murder hole” above the entrance. It was once used to pour boiling water or oil onto attackers below. Defenders would have had quite the vantage point!
And just in case intruders made it through, there’s a second murder hole in the ceiling. This ensured no one got too close to the castle’s main door unscathed.
The first room you’ll step into is the Main Guard, once the living and dining space for the Earl’s soldiers and retainers. Today, it’s the lively setting for the nightly Medieval Banquets.
As you look around, you’ll notice a striking portrait of King Henry V of England watching over the room, along with an impressive display of 17th century armor and helmets.
In the southeast corner, a small doorway leads to the dungeon for the brave to explore, while a spiral staircase on the left guides you up to the castle’s grandest room — the Great Hall.
This room is truly impressive! Once the grand banqueting hall and audience chamber for the Earls of Thomond, it stands 48 feet high and 30 feet wide, with a marble-paved floor.
Back in its prime, the hall was a spectacle of color, adorned with gold, red, royal blue, green, and purple molded plasterwork.
While the vibrant plasterwork is long gone, you can still admire the stunning 16th and 17th century tapestries that line the walls.
Be sure to glance up — the soaring, vaulted wooden ceiling adds to the room’s grandeur.
From here, you’ll climb a very narrow spiral staircase. One of our group felt a bit claustrophobic, so it’s worth keeping that in mind as you go!
You’ll come to the Kitchen. This was a small kitchen for the earl’s private household. The food for large banquets was cooked in the courtyard.
You can see early cooking pots, jugs, and pewter plates arranged on the 17th century furniture.
Next, you will pass through the earl’s private chapel, the chaplain’s bedroom, and the robing room. Then, you reach another highlight — the South Solar.
The South Solar served as the cozy living quarters and favorite retreat of Lord and Lady Gort. You can’t walk in. You have to admire it from the door.
One of the standout features is the original limestone fireplace, a reminder of the room’s medieval charm. The walls are lined with linenfold paneling, creating a warm and elegant atmosphere, while portraits of the Gorts add a personal touch.
A striking 16th century Brussels tapestry, depicting royal and martial scenes, hangs on the wall.
In the center of the room, a grand 16th century table commands attention. But it’s the Tudor-style ceiling, adorned with rich reds and greens, that truly steals the show.
Don’t miss the South Solar Bedroom, where the Earl’s most distinguished guests would have stayed. Afterward, head to the North Solar and Earl’s Bedroom.
The North Solar, with its beautifully restored wooden roof and impressive limestone chimney piece, was where the ladies of the castle spent much of their time. Since they couldn’t attend the banquets, this room was their space for socializing and relaxation.
After negotiating the treacherous staircase, you emerge to a nice panorama over the surrounding countryside.
As you go through the rooms, one thing that will catch your eye is the whimsical chandeliers.
They are unique pieces of craftsmanship that feature figures of people and animals. These carvings are part of the medieval tradition of incorporating symbolic and decorative elements into everyday objects.
Animals often represented certain traits, like strength, loyalty, or cunning, while the human figures might have depicted nobles or common folk.
Folk Park
The Bunratty Castle Folk Village is a living museum. It offers a lively glimpse into 19th century Irish life, with its thatched cottages, gardens, traditional shops, and working farms.
As you stroll through, costumed characters share stories from the past, while animals roam nearby.
If you’ve already been to some real, living Irish villages, you may find it a tad theme park-ish. However, it’s still pretty easy to enjoy the cottages and shops if it’s not high season and you hold back any cynicism.
What can you see?
As the Irish would say, there’s a gansey-load of things to do at the Folk Park, from jaunting car rides to blacksmith demos to lamb feedings. Just look at the schedule below!
There are plenty of pretty little buildings you can admire and pop into include, among others:
- Loop Head Farmhouse
- Blacksmith’s Forge
- Cashen Fisherman’s Cottage
- Mountain Farmhouse
- Golden Vale Farmhouse
- Team Room
- Grocery Store
- Macnamara’s Pub
- Ardcroney Church
At Bunratty, the animals are as much a part of the experience as the castle itself.
You’ll see everything from friendly goats and sheep grazing in the fields to majestic Irish wolfhounds, known for their size and gentle nature.
Those wolfhounds are about the size of a small horse!
Don’t miss the old-fashioned pigsty, home to some pigs flopped in the mud, or the working horses in the stables.
Kids may want to explore the Bunratty Fairy Trail. It invites you into a whimsical world, where tiny fairy houses peek out from the trees, and the fairy Ella may be watching over.
This adventure combines exploration with problem solving as you search for 12 clues, answer location-based questions, and tackle the final puzzle.
Using the map provided, follow the trail to each location, where a question awaits in your workbook.
Record your answers. And at the end, use the decipher code at the back of the book to transform the shaded letters into the final solution.
Bunratty House
Bunratty House was never intended as a permanent residence. It was built in 1804 as a temporary abode.
Surprise, surprise, the family found the “modern” house was much more convenient. They never moved back into the castle.
It’s a classic Georgian house, which were common in the Irish countryside.
Inside, it’s furnished in typical Victorian style — fussy wallpaper, overstuffed couches, frills and lace, and mahogany.
When I visited, there was a tour guide giving free tours of the house, which were very informative.
Medieval Banquet
I didn’t do this. It was a kitsch too far for me.
But if you have a fun-loving spirit and enjoy medieval reenactments, you should consider booking the medieval dinner. You’ll be served by costumed actors who are right good with a fiddle and song.
You can quaff mead and eat with your fingers, all while being serenaded.
Personally, I can see this being super fun for kids. And I’ve read that it sells out fast.
>>> Click here to pre-book a ticket
Practical Guide & Tips For Bunratty Castle
Address: Bunratty, Co. Clare,V95 TH73
How To Get There:
By Car: Bunratty Castle is just off the N18 motorway, about 20 minutes from Limerick and 10 minutes from Shannon Airport. It’s well signposted, and parking is available onsite.
By Train: The nearest train station is Limerick’s Colbert Station. From there, you can take a bus or taxi to Bunratty, which is about 9 miles away.
You can also see Bunratty on a guided day tour from Dublin that also includes the Cliffs of Moher.
Once you arrive, there’s a little tourist train to take you around to the different sites. And everything is well-marked if you’re walking.
Hours:
- Castle: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
- Folk Park: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
- Medieval Banquet: 7:00 pm nightly
Tickets:
The ticket price varies by season. It’s €15 to €18 for adults. Children are €10 to €12. And families with two kids pay €40 to €50.
>>> Click here to pre-book a ticket
Pro Tips:
I would plan to spend 3-4 hours at the castle if you want to see everything and not be rushed.
There is a very well-stocked and high quality gift shop, where you’ll be hard put not to buy a souvenir. I could not resist and walked out with several items.
There’s also a cafe, coffee shop, tea room, and pub if thirst or hunger calls.
Check the website before you go to see if there are any special events. For example, the castle hosts a special Halloween event.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to Bunrartty Castle. You may find these other Ireland and UK guides useful:
- Dublin bucket list
- 2 days in Dublin itinerary
- 3 days in Dublin itinerary
- beautiful places to visit in Ireland
- what not to do in Ireland
- 1 day in Belfast itinerary
- 3 days in Northern Ireland itinerary
- guide to St. Patrick’s Cathedral
- 3 days in London itinerary
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