After leaving Galway, we headed south towards Limerick. Our plan was to visit Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in County Clare. Bunratty Castle was built in 1425 and restored in the 1950s and is surrounded by buildings typical of the era including a fisherman’s cottage and farmer’s home.
If you go, make sure to look up. In March, the bird nests were visible due to the lack of leaves. I’d love to know what kind of birds made these nests.
Watch out for low doorways! I love the brilliant blues, yellows, and oranges of the houses.
The castle (or rather, tower house) was interesting because it was furnished with period pieces. Many structures from this time period sit empty, despite outer renovations. However, I did notice the padded benches right away, and said that I thought this would be where we were having dinner.
The four of us climbed the narrow, winding stairs to the top. I was breathing a little heavy (old musty places do that to me) and didn’t have an inhaler, but I made it.
After descending, we visited several of the other structures in the park, including several farmhouses. It was interesting to see the differences in structures and furnishings between the various socioeconomic levels.
The BarnyardThere was even an area with farm animals and structures. The way they stored hay on platforms was quite interesting.
There was an area with farm animals and a byre. Mom thought the pigs were cute.
There was even an Irish traveler caravan.
However, my favorite spot was the fairy garden. I’d love to bring the girls here in a few years. Even without the leaves out and flowers blooming, it was magical.
I could have easily spent an entire day here. We didn’t even see half of the park and only went in to one or two shops. Someday I’d love to come back, but for today, it was on to our hotel in Limerick and then out to dinner at the medieval banquet.
I am following your site for long time. This one tempt us to visit the place. Looks great.
Sign me up for the fairy garden OMG! That would have been so magical to my younger self and even now as my adult self lol
Ireland has always been at the top of my travel bucket list! Your post is making me itch to go now. Lol. I’m so glad you had an amazing visit!
Lovely place.Lovely pictures. I would sure love to be in Ireland sooner or later.
Looks like you stepped back in time. It must have been quite a surreal experience. I enjoyed the photos – they reminded me of the scenery from The Lord of the Rings.
I look forward to reading about your trip. Castles have always fascinated me. This one looks amazing. What a wonderful opportunity to see history and be able to walk into houses that were built so long ago.
Ireland has some great heritage that the Irish should always be proud of. I hope to visit someday.
Thanks for taking us to the Bunratty Castle with you. The fairy garden looks so cute! Awesome pics! 🙂
I have always wanted to go to Ireland! What beautiful photos. I love the old caravan and those bird nests look really neat! I love reading about your adventures!
Ireland is just an incredible place to discover! My family and I are planning a trip to europe soon and I hope we get to include Ireland!
charming beautiful ireland. It has lovely castles, lovely people, lovely accents and lovely beer. I had never heard of this castle and you brought it to life with you vivid writing and great pics thanks for a piece well written.
Wow, what a fantastic experience! The fairy garden looks so whimsical. I would love to travel to Ireland. Hopefully some day!
Very beautiful pictures. Looks like you had a lot of fun traveling there.
Bunratty Castle looks like its straight out of Game Of Thrones! What am amazing trip this must have been for you all. I love all the tiny colorful buildings and old architecture. The slide shows are nice little addition as well. Will we see Limerick next?
Looks like it was a fabulous trip! I agree with your mom, that piggy was cute! Lol
This castle is amazing! Totally adding this to my bucket list
The castle looks so amazing ! I would like to visit that place once. Even love that cute caravan.
I can’t wait to go to Ireland it is on my main bucketlist. The castles the food the people!!! I’m very excited thanks for your photos they were lovely!! This is a trip of a lifetime!
Your visit to Ireland seems to have been an extraordinary experience
It was a great trip—I only wish that we would have had more time to explore. Ireland is a beautiful country.
What a fabulous trip. O O have to visit Ireland one day. Great article.
Would definitely love to visit Ireland! I just love being in places that are far different than what Im accustomed to. I’m a sucker for old establishments.
Me too! I love history!
Wanderlusting big time after reading this!! What an amazing trip!!
So beautiful! Ireland is definitely on my list!
I have always wanted to visit Ireland. My great grandparents came here from Northern Ireland. Thank you so much for sharing your photos and trip!
I regret not visiting Ireland when I was living in the UK. But these picture sure inspire me to want to consider a visit.
My husband and I are talking about visiting Ireland this year. I would love to see this castle in person!
Most of my grandfather’s family was from Ireland. I hope my journey leads me there one day. Looks amazing.
I´ve been there too! its lovely ! thanks for the memories you brought me!
Nice pics
What a wonderful trip it looks like you had. Ireland looks like a beautiful place. I hope to visit there one day.
This looks like such a gorgeous place! It looks like you stepped into a fairy tale!
I’ve always wanted to visit Ireland. What an adventure!
Great post. Full of eventful pictures from the trip!
Tracy, it looks beautiful. Ireland is so close to me, and I am sad to say I have never been. Perhaps I will sometime.
You really should. We only had a week, and I could have spent months exploring Ireland. Scotland is next on our overseas adventures, I think. Perhaps in a few years.
WOW! Adding this to my bucket list. I’ve always wanted to go to Ireland, and these cottages are absolutely beautiful.
Your travel is so amazing I love to see your trips and adventures, great post.
This looks amazing! I’m headed to Europe this summer so I may have to swing by after seeing this.
Oh!! How I would love to visit Ireland one day. And a fairy garden?? OH!! How amazing this must have been for you!!!
This looks like so much fun! Ireland is one of the places on my bucket list.
This looks like an amazing trip! The fairy garden looks like something unique to visit. I would love to take my boys here when they are older. It looks like a lot of fun history.
Oh this is beautiful! I’d love to visit Ireland!
I miss Ireland! My husband and I did a bike tour 11 or so years ago! This is making me think it might be time to plan a trip with my daughters!
Ireland have beautiful castles..like that Irish traveler caravan…actually recently have a post about Ireland so I am so much in love of this country…would love to visit such castles!!!!!!!!
This is awesome, what an adventure! Love the birds nest views!
All the buildings have such charm. I love the stone structures. I would love to visit Ireland some day. It looks like you had a beautiful and wonderful trip!
What a great trip, jealous!! I would love to get to Ireland one day. That travelling caravan looks pretty rustic, did you get to peek inside?
We did! I wouldn’t want to live in one. It was cute, but so tiny!