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The Village Street denotes village life in 19th century Ireland. Fairs and markets at the Village gave the farmers and the rural craftsmen an opportunity of selling their products for cash, while shops provided for the rural dwellers needs. In the early 18th century the country people provided for most of their own needs in food, clothing and supplies and bought only luxuries such as sugar, salt, tea ….The village houses and shops have been chosen from many different areas, to form a collection of typical of 19th century urban Irish buildings.
Visit the School, Doctor’s house, Pawnbrokers, Pub, Drapery, Printworks, Grocery, Hardware shop, Pottery and a Post Office.
Written Feb 8, 2013
Bunratty Folk Park is a living reconstruction of the homes and environment of Ireland of over a century ago. Rural farmhouses, village shops and streets are recreated and furnished as they would have appeared at that time.
In the Folk Park there is an extensive array of vernacular buildings; indicative of all of the social strata, from the poorest one roomed dwelling to Bunratty House a fine example of a Georgian residence for the gentry (built 1804 home of the Studdarts, the last family to occupy Bunratty Castle).
Written Feb 8, 2013
Phone: +353 (0)61 360788
There is so much to explore inside the castle. Now, when I'm looking the plan of the castle I managed to miss South Solar...described what comprised the guests apartments....and the dungeon...because there was just too many people around there.
Updated Apr 24, 2011
Address: House nr.4
The stairs are very narrow and difficult to climb when so many tourists doing the same up and down but still it was an interesting experience.
I like details but there was not allowed to take pictures inside the castle with flash and my digital camera is just a regular "soapbox" so, I managed to take only some OK quality pics and some good quality pics because at first I did'nt noticed that restriction sign.
As it mentioned before 15th and 16th century furnishing and interrior design is used...it was like walking around antique shop...or rather going back in time...It would have been even greater experience when visiting it alone...if no other people ( tourists ) inside you would easely forgot the year 2011.
Written Apr 24, 2011
Address: House nr.4
The present castle, last of a series on the same site was built around 1425. During the 16th and 17th centuries it was an important stronghold of the O'Briens kings and later earls of Thomond or North Munster. It is furnished with mainly 15th and 16th century furnishings in the style of the period of the Great Earl. The main block has three floors, each consisting of a single great room, or hall. The four towers have a six stories each. The castle is entered by a drawbridge to the Main Guard. (Text from leaflet).
Before I visited Bunratty I past it by via bus to Limerick. It was an impressive view from bus window and I thought by myself that I will come to take a closer look. I never knew that there was whole Open Air Museum around it. It was a great and nice surprise when I started to look up more material about this castle from the internet before I decided to come. When finally in here...yes...it is tourist trap but it sure is a nice one and worth a visit.
Updated Apr 24, 2011
Address: House nr.4
A simple two-bedroomed home of a North Kerry salmon fisherman. Much of a timber would have salvaged from the sea. The floor is od rammed clay.
I liked the colour of the house and smell of smoke inside. Most of the Irish traditional houses have open fireplace...
Nice details around the house, wanted to photograph everything...
Written Apr 24, 2011
Address: House nr.3
The blacksmith made tools for many other craftworkers and tradesman. The hand operated bellows kept the fire blazing. He was one of the most important and recpected members of the community.
(Description taken from the leaflet).
Well taking look inside, it felt abandoned. But if you have a good imagination (luckily I have one) you can imagine a warm and romantic image of a well built man in a work, forging a magic sword ;-)
Written Apr 24, 2011
Address: House nr.2
The house of a fishing-farming family in West Clare. The thatch is roped down to protect it against the Atlantic gales. ( This was written in a leaflet ).
What I remember of that house was open fireplace inside and that I liked how two buildings make up a perfect match. And I remeber to be irritated as I tried to took a picture in a way that other people wont be in them...it took a while as there are a lot of tourists...like myself ;-).
I really felt myself as Japanese tourist ( it is not insult ) in there because I wanted to photograph everything.
Updated Apr 24, 2011
Address: Bunratty Folk Park
Helpfulness
Went into Bunratty castle and folk park (sort of a small Williamsburg). We toured the castle first as the day was a little rainy.
Again, our son looked for toilets - we found one inside and evidence of more from the outside. This castle was much newer than Trim. It was built in the 15th century. The folk park was nice. Our son enjoyed watching them make apple pies (we probably watched for 30 minutes). He also enjoyed the water wheel. The man there gave him some wheat seeds for the ducks.
Updated Jul 24, 2007
Helpfulness
When we finally decided to go out to the Castle and Folk Park because the rain wasn't going to stop and it wasn't raining very hard, we went to the Folk part first because the lady at the entrance said that there were two coach (bus) loads of tourists in there.
Finally we cut short our park visit so as to have time for the castle, we went in the exit by mistake and went up the down staircase (photo 3). When we got to the Great Hall, I sat down and sent my grandson up the stairs to the four towers (photo 5) and then came down the entrance stairs. We didn't see the dungeons. I thought we would see them when we came back for the banquet but we went to Knappogue instead.
There were tapestries and artifacts from various eras in the castle's history (none or few are belonging to the castle).
Open Year Round (Closed Good Friday & Dec 24th.,25th.,26th)
Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec
9.30 - 17.30 (Last Admission to Folk Park 16.15)
Apr, May, Sept, Oct
9.00 - 17.30 (Last Admission to Folk Park 16.15)
June – Aug
9.00 – 18.00 (Last Admission to Folk Park 17.15)
Last Admission to the Castle - 16.00 Year round
Admission Prices - As per 01 April 2007-31 March 2008
Adult: €14.00
Child: €9.00
Updated Jul 1, 2007
Phone: 353 (0)61 711200
Website: http://www.shannonheritage.com/Attractions/BunrattyCastleFolkPark/BunrattyCastle/AtourofBunrattyCastle/
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2 Reviews and 464 Opinions We stayed here and based out of this hotel at the end of our stay in Ireland. We were given the...
We only visited this village to go to Bunratty Castle. It is quite small, with a couple of restaurants, pubs and shops along one road, situated just off the N18, 10 miles north of Limerick.
My Dad did a tour of Ireland in the fifties, backpacking all around the coast. He camped for one night in the grounds of Bunratty Castle; so when I visited Ireland with university in 1998, I was very...
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