Bunratty Castle in Ireland
Patricia G. McKinney-Lins
Article Title:
Bunratty Castle in Ireland
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Article Description:
Bunratty Castle is conveniently located near Shannon Airport
in Ireland. You will want to stop for a tour on your way in
or out of the country. Enjoy a medieval banquet with food,
drink and song and be transported back to the 1500s!
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Distribution Date and Time: 2010-11-02 12:00:00
Written By: Patricia G. McKinney-Lins
Copyright: 2010, All Rights Reserved
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Bunratty Castle in Ireland
Copyright (c) 2010 Patricia G. McKinney-Lins, All Rights Reserved
PML Unlimited, Inc.
http://www.majestic-castles-in-ireland.com/
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.
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Written by: Patricia G. McKinney-Lins.
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