Bunratty Castle and Folk Park
Fifteenth-century tower house with an open-air folk park of over 30 buildings forming a living village, plus medieval banquets in the castle.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Bunratty Castle stands near Shannon in County Clare. A series of earlier castles on the site were built and destroyed; the present tower house was begun in the fifteenth century by the MacNamara family and completed by about 1467. Around 1500 it passed to the O’Briens, later Earls of Thomond, who made it their main seat. During the Confederate Wars it was held by a Parliamentarian garrison and taken by the Confederates after a long siege.
By the early nineteenth century the Studdert family had moved into the nearby Bunratty House, and the castle fell into disrepair until Lord Gort bought and restored it in the 1950s with help from the Office of Public Works. It opened to the public in 1960.
The Folk Park beside the castle covers about 26 acres and has more than 30 buildings arranged as a living village and rural setting. It includes farmhouses, village shops and streets, and Bunratty House, a Georgian residence of 1804. Costumed characters and demonstrations bring the displays to life in season, and medieval banquets are held in the castle in the evenings.
Highlights
- Fifteenth-century castle with views over the Clare countryside
- Folk Park with over 30 buildings in a living village setting
- Farmhouses, village streets and shops
- Bunratty House, a Georgian residence built in 1804
- Evening medieval banquets in the castle
Permanent exhibitions
- Bunratty Castle – A furnished fifteenth-century tower house with guides telling the story of the lords and ladies who lived there.
- Bunratty Folk Park – A 26-acre open-air park with more than 30 buildings, including farmhouses, village shops, streets and a Georgian house.
- Founded
- 1960
- Operated by
- Clare County Council (Clare Tourism Development DAC)
Admission & discounts
Ticket prices are shown only in the online booking system and vary by ticket type and date. Separate tickets are sold for the medieval banquet and for seasonal events.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The Folk Park is largely wheelchair accessible, while the castle has limited access because of its historic structure. Service dogs are allowed in the castle and dining areas; other dogs are allowed in the Folk Park only.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 3 hrs |
|---|
- Baby changing facilities
Baby-changing facilities are available, and the Folk Park offers costumed characters and demonstrations in season.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bus Éireann services run from Limerick and nearby towns. The nearest railway station is Limerick Colbert Station, with taxi or bus connections.
By car
Free parking
Free parking is available at the castle all year.
The site is just off the N18 between Limerick and Ennis, about 10 minutes from Shannon Airport.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
- Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi in designated areas. The Earl’s Pantry, the Bunratty Tea Rooms and the Corn Barn Restaurant serve food; gift shops sell Irish crafts, with an ATM in the Bunratty Craft and Design Gift Shop. Toilets and baby-changing facilities on site.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Allow about 45 to 60 minutes for the castle, 1.5 to 3 hours for the Folk Park and 3 to 4 hours for the whole site. Guides are stationed in the castle rather than leading scheduled tours. The medieval banquet lasts about 2 hours. Primary and secondary school tours are offered. |
