Bunratty Castle & Folk Park

Great experience, we weren't entirely sure what this was when we decided to go, we were just looking for something to do on our last full day in Ireland that was on our way back to Dublin and we stopped here. It was amazing! Whole little old time village with houses and stores and a blacksmith that was actually blacksmithing and teaching about what a blacksmith does and then there was the castle which was also very cool. As you enter there was a man playing Irish folk tunes on his fiddle, it was all very charming. We didn't have any kids with us, but there were child specific activities and a few animals to see as well as a train that can drive you around the town. Overall great experience, would definitely recommend stopping by!

The castle itself was a bit of a downer, as well most are, as they illustrate how people lived fought and died there. the place was cool though. The park it's located in is absolutely fabulous! Gardens, old houses, shops, animals, photo opportunities? endless. I would set aside about 4 hours to let it all sink in.

Such a fun day. Lots to see and do for the family and a lot of farm animals to pet and see. Actors are informative and friendly and you can go most places in the castle if you are brave enough to walk all the stairs in the towers.

Didn’t have time to go inside, but the scenery alone was worth the stop. Beautiful grounds, charming village feel, and a great spot for photos. I’ll definitely plan more time to explore next visit!

This is so worth the visit and it is for all ages. Having not only the castle but the village houses with the thatched roofs and fires burning in the fireplaces burning peat gave you the authentic feeling. Staff were so friendly and happy to chat to you about the history. Plenty of space to park and for kids to run around.

The castle and village/park is pretty awesome. The restoration did and amazing job of sticking to what it would have been. Including the furniture being hundreds of years old (not original to the castle but just as old and from that area and time period. Most def recommend and set aside maybe 2-3 hours if you are going self guided. You can then take your time. Plus there is a Pub to catch a drink!

Bunratty is a beautiful place. Love the folk park. It’s really like going back in time to see the way things were. Lot of information and history. You can explore pretty much the entire Castle from the dungeon to the tower. Furniture, paintings, tapestries, flags and mounts are all still there in each room. Really gives you a sense of the time period then. Lot or shops on each side of the road. This was our 3rd visit here and it’s always a stop when we go to Ireland. We always get most of our gift shopping done here. There’s plenty of parking if going to the castle and folk park.

This castle and the grounds were great! You really get a sense of how people would live in the village in history. Definitely walk through the castle first and explore the grounds after

We're back! Just as last time, fun, entertaining, same menu which was outstanding and Lady Lynn served our table! The element of interacting with familiar faces added to the fun and entertainment of the experience this time! The entertainment is way more than 5 stars! We look forward to returning....Hopefully sooner than 3-4 years!

A castle is a castle. Used to love them. What I don't love is huge groups all coming in at once with misbehaved and shrieking children. The staff did their best, but it was too many people for my tastes, so I left the castle tour early. I did really like the Folk Park. There was not a lot of activity, but seeing a facsimile of an old town was really enjoyable. It felt a little bit like a Disneyland sort of town, but tastefully done. I especially enjoyed the little post office. If you're doing an Ireland tour, then you'll likely end up here. It's only worth the journey if you have some interest prior. Don't do it just because you read about it in a guide book. You do you.

Great way to spend an evening while in Ireland! The dinner was good, and the music and entertainment were even better! Book early because this show is very popular.

Pretty cool castle! This was one of those times where we stumbled upon a gem. We stopped to do a pit stop and do some shopping, and found this castle hiding in the back. How fun! Just a random castle, no big deal... Only in Ireland right? ;) Anyway, we walked over to check it out, but couldn't stay long. It's super tall! I love the castles in Ireland!

Seriously why the great reviews the castle tour itself in meh at best. You traverse stairs that lead to rooms with not much in them. Completely underwhelming also the folk grounds really doesn't have alot to ser. It's mostly shops selling overpriced merch and the huge gift store you have to go through is just a cash grab. We went to several castles during our stay this and Blarney were the two that really disappointed us just tourist traps!

We booked a dinner at the castle and were not disappointed! The castle is striking from outside and within. The "cast" stayed in character with jokes and merriment throughout the event. This is family style eating which can be intimidating for some but our experience was lovely. The cast also were truly outstanding harmonizing in songs all through the dinner and it made for a very fun evening. If you don't enjoy Renaissance faire esque antics, singing, and jokes this wouldn't be your choice but we do. Fair warning it's a climb of about 20 steps to the door of the castle and 37 steep steps up to the reception area where honeyed mead awaits you. We had bread, soup, ribs, wine (white & red), chicken with potatoes & veg, and a fruity cheesecake dessert, followed by coffee & tea upon departure. Again the castle is authentic and the crew/servers/cast make this worth the visit.

We thoroughly enjoyed this castle and grounds. It really gave you the feeling of how life was...even if just a glimpse. Lots to see and do here. Shops and dining as well. Great stop!! Don't miss it!

Toured the castle and accompanying grounds. Amazing! Prepare for many levels of labyrinth like stairs throughout the castle structure with wonderful views at the top. The shops, tea room, restaurant, additional historical buildings and fairy forest are all well worth the price of admission.

On 8th August, in the afternoon. A member of management, working on the tills at the main gift shop ruined the day for my daughter and I. She has a horrific attitude towards kids and families. She was intentionally cruel and demeaning. What kind of a company hires management with that approach to people. They have had many opportunities to get in touch to address their shameful behavior. In addition, the toilets are smelly. They don't have well placed toilet locations either. You'll find yourself needing to walk for up to half an hour for a toilet. Whilst they may have some in various locations, they aren't available to the public except for events (like at the castle, you'll need to wait a long time before you get a chance to go! Add in lots of stairs and kids and you're going to have a little adventure).

What a fun place to visit. The castle is different from others I've visited. Prepare for a lot of weird stairwells. i most enjoyed strolling thru the grounds. There are so many unique stops, shop, and animals to enjoy. They offer a medieval dinner, but you need to book well in advance. They have holiday trail of lights with chRachters and holiday themed events in December. Don't leave without stopping by the mead mill and getting a sample.

Do not miss this castle! Our driver picked us up from the airport and while we meandered through the wonderful streets of Dublin, he mentioned about Bunratty Castle. I listened, but it was not on the radar at that time. Next couple of nights, we are looking at our itinerary with friends and Bunratty is mentioned. I was like, hey, the driver said not to miss this one. So, we embarked on a new side adventure. A Hallmark Christmas movie was also filmed at this location, so we envisioned ourselves entering a Christmas Wonderland. Let me tell you, if you miss this one, you are missing out on an amazing site. We were also able to get tickets for the feast that night and that is in itself another must do (tickets are very hard to get though). Anyway, so we arrive very late, visit the castle and cannot believe how preserved it is, then go out to visit the park around the castle. Now was the time to get pictures and make myself believe I was in a Hallmark movie. The village seemed small but quaint and we visited everything we could see. But that is not where the story ends.... We were trying to find the husbands and they said they were at Mack's pub. We were kind of mad, thinking they had left the park and found a pub to visit. But, we waited for them and got in line for the Bunratty Castle Feast (you must go). The next day we are on our way to the Cliff of Moher and we talk about the village and Bunratty. I mention it seemed small for a movie to be filmed at and that is when the lightbulb hit and we realized there was another entire area of the park that we had completely missed since it was already dark. Literally another area twice as big which held the movie area and lo and behold, Macks Pub! I am pissed at this point that my girlfriend and I missed out on the Hallmark moment. So, we decide to stop in later that day. I tell the person at the ticket counter what happened, show her our tickets from the day before and they let us go right in without having to pay again! It was extremely nice and we enjoyed every minute of the entire park we had missed!! We even got pictures in front of Mack's pub since the guys were still laughing at us. Anway, go. It is such an amazing piece of land and the buildings were educational and fun.

Our tour was for the Medieval feast dinner.  We were welcomed with a cup of honey mead.  It was my 1st time having mead and it was delicious.  The same cast entertained us with music and served us food the whole night.  The room where we had dinner gave me the whole Game of Thrones Red Wedding vibes. We are only given a dagger (knife) to eat the soup, bread, beef ribs, chicken and the potatoes/veggies.  A little messy but also kinda fun! The do provide a bowl of water to rinse your fingers, but I would suggest to bring sanitizer wipes. There was also red & white wine floating all over.  The live music and the interaction with the cast was wonderful.  Their acapella singing was so perfect that if you close your eyes, you would think you are listening to a recording.  The acrostic of walls goes perfectly with the harmony of the harp. The only con is that it was way too crowded. They squeezed in a LOT Of us into the long bench table. You are literally eating elbow to elbow.  If there was just a couple people less in each row, or at least room for our jackets or purses would have been a bit more comfortable to enjoy the dinner. Also, if you have mobility issues, I would call to check if they have other options to get up / down the castle other than the very long narrow stairs.

The Banquet was included as part of our CIE tour (Taste of Scotland and Ireland) and our expectations were modest given that the earlier planned evening entertainment events on that tour at their cheesy and forced elements. The Banquet at Bunratty differed refreshingly in the quaity of the voval performances, the engaging nature of the cast, the quality and quantity of the food and the ambience of the facility. Those familiar with Midieval Times may experience some vague familiarities (dining in a darkened space, using minimal utencils, while being entertained by performers in period garb), but Bunratty does this better and more professionally. Would I come a second time in quick succession? No; it would seem old hat. That said, this event looms large as a highlight of our overall Ireland experience and should not be missed. The bottomless wine goblets help, but even without. Just go.

We decided to make an impromptu stop at the Bunratty Castle and Gardens (August 2023). To our surprise, the grounds were set up like it would have been hundreds of years ago. This included people dressed up in authentic attire and welcoming you into the various exhibits around the grounds. It was another beautiful day while we were there with partly cloudy skies and a drizzle here or there. It was busy too, but not overly crowded. We walked the property in reverse and did some self-paces learning about the property. It kind of felt like a petting zoo too, because they had so many animals around the property like donkeys, horses, bunnies, and sheep (even an owl!). The last stop for us was the castle itself and it has lots of rooms and 4 towers to explore. Similar to the other rooms, it was decorated similar to what you might expect it to look like when it was in use. We climbed to the top of 3 of the 4 towers and took in the magnificent views of the surrounding area. We didn't have the energy for the fourth tower and figured it was probably much like the other 3. It was great, definitely recommend.

Well worth the price of admission. Much to see, more than the Tower House. The Tower House was great, lots of history to see. A tight fit getting to some parts but worth it. The view from the top is wonderful. Plan on a full day, lots to see and experience - a look into history. Spent 3 hours and only saw about 1/2 of the village. Heard the Pub was very good. Gift shop is very nice, helpful staff. Will come back when we have more time.

Wonderful and entertaining evening in a beautiful Castle with amazing music and song. AND, the best show food we have had in a full week of evening adventures! Emma was our guide for the evening and she was the shining star!! You won't regret an evening at Bunratry Castle!

No matter what the circumstances, once you book you are stuck. Absolutely no returns so we are out hundreds of dollars before we even step foot in the country.

Quite a show they put on with dinner and wine. Better be hungry because there is way too much food. Entertainment is funny and love the traditional music. For $70 you get dinner and drinks with entertainment at a castle that dates back to the 1300 century. Well worth the money. And if you still need to live it up Durty nellies is right next door.

We passed through the Folk Park on our way to Bunratty Castle for a Medieval Feast. It was evening and most of the features were closed down for the night. It sure looked like a an excellent learning experience for families and any student of history. There are live demonstrations and hands-on activities allowing an immersion into the medieval lifestyle. I'm sure you'll being to appreciate more of the little modern conveniences in our lives today. The live stock are up close and personal. In fact, the trees were alive with countless nesting crow. Squawking good evening to all the neighbors and pseudo peasants & nobles walking through after a fabulous feast in the Castle.

The castle grounds are quite literally a break away from the universe for a few hours. There is a small entry fee but it is so worth it. Once you get past the entry, you walk into the main village, which looks like it has been frozen in time. From the animals, to the castle, to the tea rooms and forest, it is worth EVERY PENNY. Don't even get me started on the theming, during Halloween, the whole grounds turn into an all out spook-fest. And during Christmas time, a winter wonderland. Even though when I was visiting, I unfortunately didn't encounter any chicken goujons; this place is in need of 5 stars ASAP. Guided tour was nice.

This was one of our favorite castles to check out. We have been to a few prior to this and we felt this was nice because it was very interactive. We learned a lot through the village area and then going into the actual castle we kept being educated on what this place used to be. Coming from a rich culture I appreciated this so much and felt that they did such a great job at educating visitors. The people were so fun too :) hope to be back!

Looking for a good day while around Shannon or Limerick....look no further than the Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. There is more than just a castle to explore, there is an entire park of activities, small period houses, goats, shamrocks, and when we visited...Santa and his village! :) This 15th century Castle is situated on the river Raite, nestled among trees and gardens. The land itself is full of time period houses, "workshops" , and small storefronts that give off a very fun vibe. Where as this part is mostly geared for children...I had fun too! There are goats meandering around the premises (gated), 2 wolf hound dogs that are as sweet as can be, and plenty to keep your eyes busy and happy. The castle still has some furnishings to view, a dungeon you can climb down to, and many fascinating pieces form when the castle was lived in. I am super glad that they kept the stairways to the top of the roof open for us to explore! Of course when you have had enough and need to sit down...there is a wonderful café with some amazing treats to be had. Plan to give yourself at least 3 hours to see the entire park, as you don't want to miss a thing! There is a banquet, music, tons of activities for kids....just a great day!

This is a fun attraction and I really enjoyed it. The castle tour was very interesting. Going through the folk village is really cool too. There are lots of things to see. I had tea and a scone at the Teahouse which was nice. It was the perfect activity to do while waiting to check in to my b&b.

This review is coming a bit late as I haven't been there in a few years but I remember going with my nieces to see the Christmas village. It was very well done up and the staff/entertainers were amazing! There are little shops you can stop by to pick up some trinkets and you can walk the grounds and get a nice castle feel. It is worth stopping by!

Went to the medieval dinner show and it was a blast! People dressed up in medieval costumes, singing, laughing and pretending they were from that era. Food and service were great, and the atmosphere of being in a castle was awesome!

Visiting this castle is a all day adventure there was so much to see inside the castle and there was all the little buildings around it grounds it took a couple hours for us just to walk around the grounds and see the waterfalls and the flowers we seen a family of swans.

In college I studied Economics, and History... The €48.75pp for the Medieval Banquet seems steep at first, but I calculated how to get this almost for free: 1) A glass of cheap wine at most Irish restaurants is €5.50-6.00, or €5.75 average. 2) 48.75 / 5.75 = 8.478 3) You are given a cup of mead during the welcome party, let's count that as 1 glass. 4) 8.478 - 1 = 7.478. Let's round that up to 7.50. So basically, if you can drink 7.5 glasses of wine, you've basically got yourself a free four course dinner with great entertainment! Wine is unlimited! :D To be honest, I'm 193lbs/87.5kg, so I could only drink 7 glasses of wine to still be able to hike down the castle stairs and walk back to my B&B, so this medieval banquet ending up costing me €2.86. But you larger folks should be able to drink your money's worth in wine and then some. Other notes: -Food was pretty good overall: soup, pork ribs, chicken, and dessert. -All the actors and staff were all wonderful. -I'm not gay, but I found the young handsome male violinist extremely attractive. -However, at the end of show they do gently hustle you out of the banquet room to the coffee/tea room. I guess they're all eager to clean up and go home after a hard day's work. Conclusion: I don't care if its touristy and if Rick Steves hates it...I whole heartily enjoyed this drunken merry silliness! :)

I've visited a lot of castles in Europe, but Bunratty Castle is the most genuine and "hands on". Often, touring castles is guided and you cannot explore on your own. Not at Bunratty; you can go down into the Dungeon or up to the Watchtowers. You can sit in the King's chair, or run inside the moat! Everywhere is open for exploration! Trim Castle (famous in the movie "Braveheart") allows exploration too, but the castle's upkeep is not as good compared to Bunratty. The Folk Village is a nice addition, and it provides a "feel" for medieval living. The Middle Ages were some rough times! Still, I've never eaten in the Folk Village, as we go across the street to "Durty Nelly's" (we LOVE the Filet of Plaice and Chicken Liver Pate)! The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is due to the expensive admission fees. Otherwise, the castle is top rate and comparable to any in Ireland, the UK, or mainland Europe!

I'm from Ireland but thought I'd do some local sightseeing so I came here with my parents for a day trip and we were lucky to be blessed with sunshine all day. The folk park and village area was a nice walk with some cute shops, lots of animals from pigs, geese and goat to rabbits and ponies. Although being out of season the tea shop and a few village shops were closed. There is a pub inside as well but they only had soup or a ham & cheese toasties for food, and a few drinks like irish coffee, whiskey and baileys hot chocolate. The medieval banquet was amazing with great music, food and entertainment. I highly recommend it. The gift shop has lots of lovely souvenirs but is quite pricy. Overall a lovely folk park, nice walk and wonderful banquet although much better to come in season as it was pretty empty in March when we came.

I love visiting historical places like these whenever I'm on vacation. You get to learn a lot about the country's culture. The awesome thing about Bunratty is you get to touch/sit on some of the furniture. I was actually surprised we were able to do this since the place is so old. When you're in the castle itself, it feels cold and damp (maybe because we visited in March) and smells kind of musty. You definitely want to dress warmly! You can take all the photos you want but they make you turn off the flash. Worth the trip!

We weren't able to see the castle because they close up at 4 to prep for the banquet but they let us into the grounds of the folk park

I loved visiting Bunratty Castle! We came later in the day and managed to get through the old castle before a bunch of tour groups. The people who work there are friendly and helpful, and the recreated village was not nearly as cheesy as I anticipated. This was the most expensive of the places we visited throughout Ireland (12 Euro a person) but certainly the most memorable. We are total dorks for animals and they have goats and pigs you can pet, plus free-range chickens!

Great experience, the cast was engaging. Plenty of activities for all ages! I recommended planning the visit to be a 1/2 day event. The castle grounds is spread out, if you're going with a family, be sure to mark a meeting place if anyone gets lost. Food is pricey so have a big breakfast and pack a snack, you'll build an appetite for sure! All of the animals are too cute to resist petting, the pigs, horses, and donkeys are photo friendly, so bring hand sanitizer.

Not just a castle! Not just a village! An entire complex! I loved this because it had some much going on. We were on a tour and I think we stopped for 2.5 hours and I feel like I missed a bunch and want to go back! The Castle itself is very cool, they start with a guided tour and then they let you wander. Its interesting to hear the way people lived inside the structure as well as its military functions. then when you wander they have several towers you can climb and so many different rooms to visit. Once out of the tower they have an entire village to tour around. We were there early so few of the stores were open yet, but we did grab some stuff at the cafe and it was delish! Dont miss the gift shop, very touristy, but we found some cool finds.

Bunratty Castle is a nice place to stop for a quick driving break. Not somewhere I would spend all day at, but it is fun to walk through and learn a bit about the history.

Fun family outing. Nice area to walk around, pet some animals, including the two huge but gentle Wolfhound dogs. There is a small village, but unfortunately, on a Wednesday morning, not many of the shops were open, but it was fun to look around and envision what it might have been like back in the day. The castle is interesting. There are, as to be expected, a lot of stairs which are curving, very narrow, and very uneven. For someone with bad knees, hips or back, this isn't the thing to do. If you are up for it, however, and make it to the very top, you are rewarded with a beautiful view. You can also take a trip to the dungeon to see where they would have kept prisoners. If tight spaces are uncomfortable for you, skip this part. . I wish there was an app or something that could narrate information. That would make it much more interesting than simply looking at the rooms. Even having plaques in each area with information about use of the room, etc. would make it more interesting. There is an area at the beginning of the journey where you can read about the history and restoration of the castle. It was difficult to read due to the size of the print, and the number of people. All in all worth the trip and money.

We saw so many castles & ruins during our visit to Ireland & this is near the top of the list. It is very accessible & you can usually come across a guided tour going on in some part of the castle & listen in to the histories. There are so many rooms to explore (the stairs, my goodness, the stairs) & it was really quite fun to climb in & out of doorways. I would suggest getting there as early as possible or later in the day to avoid tour groups. Most of the castles/ruins we visited allowed entry 'til almost 7pm! (It stays light until about 10pm!) The folk park was charming with plenty of houses to visit with people inside doing the tasks of rural Irish families. We actually stayed here longer than we thought we would. There isn't much in the way of food...pre-made sandwiches, crisps, drinks, some ice-cream - so pack a lunch if you're going to be getting out around lunchtime. The castle itself would be fun for kids, but I don't think the Folkpark would capture their attention for long. For seniors the castle is a bit hard to get into & around through the different floors.

We attended the medieval dinner here during our vacation and it was wonderful! The entertainment was really good. Throughout the experience we were treated to music and singing as well as a bit of comedy from the actors. The food was very good and it was all you can eat so no one left hungry. To make the experience even more authentic we were given just a knife and ate with our fingers like in the Middle Ages. I would highly recommend including this in your travel plans if possible!

Great folk park. It can get very busy during the weekends. Lots of stuff to do and experience... especially for the kids.

So much to do, lots of fun! My favorite part was the Medieval banquet, keep that Mead flowing! Best Mead ever, strong, so be careful, it's sweet going down, so before you know it, it hits ya! The banquet food was savory & there was plenty of it. I had stew with meat, potatoes, vegetables, & bread. My only regret is not buying more Mead to take home with me. The show itself was funny! In the Folk Park you can buy different things like soap, candles, & sugary confections of all sorts. We even got to hear the bagpipes. There's lots of animals to see too. A full day of amusement!

The castles experience and music were great....but when we were seated we were backed in like sardines in a can....I honestly could not move my arms and could not get up if needed. We left after the main course. The food was not good enough to endure the very very tight quarters. I was sweating the entire time at the dinner table. Please do not be so greedy. 14 per table to TOO many.....every one was complaining about the tight quarters. We even had an elderly gentleman fall during the busy hustle in the rain and dark to the castle. Please consider reducing the number of seats at each table . I would not recommend this to anyone until the numbers are reduced.

When in Bunratty, you don't want to miss touring the park. There are plenty to see and learn about the castle live. We also saw bread making demonstration which was pretty cool. Allot 2-3 hours just walking around the park and seeing various things. We also went to the medieval banquet which was very entertaining! Before the actual dinner, they have a "mead" and greet where guests (over 18) gets to drink the Bunratty Mead made locally (you can get seconds/thirds if you asked nicely), for the kiddo - they get fruit punch; and they have live music while you chill and learn about the castle. Then they bring you to the dinning hall where you eat without utensils. So much food!!! Unlimited bread, soup, roasted chicken, ribs, roasted potatos accompanied with red/white wines. Plus cheese cake to finish the meal! All while they have music performances and live entertainment. Definitely worth the money. At the end of the show, they offer coffee/tea at another section of the castle where you can browse the history of the castle. While you are leaving, they have a bagpiper playing music - the whole thing was amazing.

Amazing castle located in close proximity to Shannon airport.....good to bundle on one of the legs of the trip.

Bunratty Castle and folk park is well worth spending a day in. The folk park has a great collection of traditional vernacular Irish buildings. The big attraction is the different styles of cottage that were found in Ireland until very recently. There are very few left. For older Irish people visiting it surely will evoke great memories of past times. I brought my Aunt and Uncle who were visiting from the UK and my Uncle enjoyed looking at the farm machinery. The castle is also a great place to see and make sure to climb to the top for a marvellous view of the River Shannon and County Clare. Excellent place to bring children for a day. I would advise going early to get th best out of your visit as you will easily spend half a day here if you are interested in history.

We had a great day at the folk park. Great for kids and be sure to grab a spot of tea and homemade bakery goods

Interesting look at how people used to live in Ireland. It could be pretty fun for people with kids with the animals, playground, school sessions, ice cream, etc

Pretty cool place to walk around and look, kind of old-timey. In the folk park there are a couple places to eat and the prices aren't terrible. The banquet was really cool, so much fun. I went with my 18 yr old daughter & we had a blast. If you're in Bunratty, pay the money for the banquet--it's definitely worth it!

This was not open, but just looking at the exterior and being able to enjoy this national treasure (albeit from afar) was joyous. Don't miss the opportunity to see another O'Brien monument")

I went to Bunratty Castle & Folk Park in Bunratty, Ireland on 6/3/2015. It was my 1st time there. It was part of the 2015 Trafalgar Tour that I was taking. One of the finest castles that I've ever been to. I found the people that work there to be especially friendly, knowledgable and entertaining. Plus, I took photos.