Bunratty Castle and Folk Park
Bunratty Village, Co Clare
Phone: 061-360788
Email: reservations@shannonheritage.com
Web: www.shannonheritage.com/Attractions/BunrattyCastleFolkPark/
- Open all year
- Paved walkways for easy access
- Pub,Cafe and Tea Rooms
- Guiding Service available
- Family Entertainment
- Seasonal Events
- Walled Garden
- Gift shops
- Easy parking and access
- WC and disabled facilities
Within the grounds of Bunratty Folk Park 19th century Irish life is vividly recreated. Set on 26 acres, the impressive park features over 30 buildings in a ‘living’ village and rural setting. Meet and chat with the Bean an Ti (Woman of the House) and various street characters including the Policeman and Schoolteacher who give the site its sparkle. Enjoy the tastes, scents, sights and sounds of this enchanting place as you stroll from house to house or around the charming village complete with school, post office, doctors house, hardware shop, printers and of course the pub! It’s a wonderful experience for adults and children alike with something for everyone to enjoy!
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).
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. Costumed characters recreate the traditions and lifestyle of a bygone age and animate the Folk Park. The characters include the Bean a Ti (woman of the house), R.I.C. policeman, Schoolteacher and so on. Traditional jobs and crafts are also represented, milling, the forge, pottery, printing, baking, farming etc.









