Bunratty Castle and Folk Park
After a number of tit-for-tat burning of castles by the Normans and local chieftains on or nearby the current castle, the McNamara clan built the existing 15th-century Bunratty Castle. It was once the stronghold of the O'Brien family who became the Earls of Thomond before they left Ireland in the 17th century for a change of identity and cozier lifestyle in England, but the castle is the park's highlight. It's now fully restored to its former glory, including everything from its carefully chosen period furniture to its "murder holes" that allowed defenders to pour boiling oil on attackers below. The views across the Shannon River from over the battlements are spectacular. Bunratty Folk Park has a carefully planned reconstruction of a typical 19th-century village, which comes complete with school, haberdashery, and, of course, a fully stocked Mac's Pub. Other highlights scattered about the park include the Shannon Farmhouse, the park's first exhibit, which was transported stone by stone from a site earmarked for Shannon Airport's main runway, and the 1898 Hazelbrook House, which was the home of Ireland's most famous ice-cream producers. Pa's Pet Farm and the Fairy Trail keep younger visitors intrigued. The castle runs epic annual events at Halloween and Christmastime. A café and high-end gift store at the entrance to the park has good-quality lunch bites.
Visit Bunratty Castle first as it is the earliest attraction to close (at 4 pm, to facilitate the evening banquets).
