About twenty minutes from Shannon airport, Bunratty Castle is one of the best restored and furnished castles in Ireland. The original Dirty Nelly’s, built in 1620, sits between the Shannon and the castle.
Burnaby Castle with the original Dirty Nelly’s
Four castles were built by Normans and destroyed by the Irish between 1250 and 1353. The MacNamara clan built the present stone castle in 1425 but by 1475, it was taken over by the O’Brien clan, which were given the title Earl of Thomond by Henry VIII in return for their oath of loyalty. Their reign came to an end with the arrival of Cromwell’s troops and the castle was subsequently granted to several Plantation families, the last of which abandoned the castle in 1804. The castle was purchased in 1945 and was restored and opened to the public in 1962. The many interior rooms give a feel for what life would have been like in the 1400 to 1600s.
The Folk Park adjacent to the castle offers a glimpse of 19th century Irish life with over 30 restored buildings.
When we were there, the wisteria, horse chestnuts, roses, lupines, foxglove, and hundreds of other flowers were in bloom.
walled Regency garden
Costumed interpreters recreate the life of an Irish village. This woman made and baked scones on a griddle over coals.
tea room cooking demonstration
Bobby citing Kaylea for drinking (coffee) in public
The drive to Dingle was a little over two hours, but for someone not used to driving on the left or on such narrow curing roads, it is a white-knuckle experience. We checked into Boland’s B&B, showered and napped before going out to a dinner of local lamb and seafood at Paudie’s Bar on the waterfront, where we listened to several hours of great local music.