Bunratty Castle in Ireland
Irish Castles are structures from ancient history
, when armies with bow and arrow fought for power. But one historic Irish castle is located just minutes from the modern convenience of Shannon Airport. Bunratty Castle is easily accessible from Shannon, and makes a great starting or ending point for your Irish Castle tour.Bunratty Castle is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ireland, and not just because it is well located. While the airport can transport you to another country, Bunratty Castle can transport you back in time. Singers, dancers and period musicians roam the castle. Food and drink are served and it often feels like a medieval banquet. Many of the group tours to Ireland include this experience for their travelers.
The old school revelry spreads onto the castle grounds as well. Bunratty Folk Park is next to the castle, and is a 26-acre replica of a nineteenth century Irish town. The village includes traditional Irish cottages, shops, traveler wagons, a post office, grocery and pub. Characters in costume demonstrate the old skills of butter-making, wall building, farming and bread-baking. "Irish Nights" are held in the Folk Park Corn Barn. Singers, dancers and musicians add Irish traditions to the celebration.
As usual in Ireland, a great pub is just across the road. Durty Nelly's Restaurant and Pub is a great place for dinner and a drink. The pub offers a casual lower level as well as an upper area with a more formal setting. If it's not raining, you can enjoy the weather from the outdoor patio. You will find fellow travelers every night of the week here. I like to make it my last stop the night before flying home. I've enjoyed a casual meal outside with my children as well as a quiet dinner upstairs. The food is delicious and the service is excellent.
Across from Durty Nellie's is Blarney Woollen Mills, a good place to pick up souvenirs if you need some before heading to the airport. I've had my items shipped home to save the inconvenience of carrying them home. There is also another gift shop and a gas station near Bunratty Castle for all of your last minute essentials.
The Castle itself presided over much of Ireland's history. It is the fourth castle on the present location, once an island off the north bank of the River Shannon. Vikings once had a trading camp there and the Normans built the first defensive structure on the site.
The first stone Bunratty Castle was built by Thomas De Clare. Bunratty developed into a town of one thousand people during the period.
In 1318, the Irish and Normans clashed in the village and the Castle and the town itself were destroyed. Richard De Clare, son of Thomas, was killed in the battle.
Bunratty Castle was restored by the King of England, but was again destroyed, this time by the Irish Chieftains of Thomond. The Chieftains were ruled by the O'Brien Clan and the MacConmaras. The castle was later rebuilt by Sir Thomas Rokeby, but was attacked by the Irish once again.
The existing Castle was built in the 15th Century by Sioda MacConmara and was later owned by the O'Brien Clan, the High Kings of Munster. The O'Briens, who lived in luxury at the Castle, were later named Earls after pledging allegiance to the King of England. They ruled the region until the troops of Cromwell forced their surrender of the castle. The O'Briens abandoned the castle but later built the beautiful Dromoland Castle.
Bunratty Castle was later granted to various Plantation families. The last of the families left in 1804 and the castle fell into disrepair. It was restored in the 1950's by Lord Gort, the Office of Public Works, the Irish Tourist Board and Shannon Development. The castle is furnished to replicate the time of the fourth Earl, approximately 1580.
The main area of the large tower house has three floors over the dungeons. The first floor has a murderhole over the door, a spiral stairway and narrow windows.
Murderholes are located above the entry doors of castles. They were used as a method of defending the castle during attack. Castle residents would throw boiling oil or water on the intruders to delay attack.
Modern-day visitors need not worry about the murderholes; the castle welcomes all now. All you need to worry about is having too much fun and missing your flight!
Copyright, Patricia McKinney-Lins. All rights reserved.
Bunratty Castle in Ireland
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