Bunratty Heights B & B

Bunratty Castle
Visit the famous Bunratty Castle and folk park where you can take a step back in time to the 15th Century. The Castle is the most complete and authentic medieval fortress in Ireland. Built in 1425 it was restored in 1954 to its former medieval splendour and now contains mainly 15th and 16th century furnishings, tapestries, and works of art which capture the mood of those times. Today, the castle stands peacefully in delightful grounds. The houses and cottages of the folk park spread out at the foot of its massive walls, much in the way that the cottages and crafts of old would have clustered around its base.

Medieval Banquets are held twice nightly in the Castle at 5.30 and 8.30 p.m. Reservations can be made through Bunratty Heights B&B.

Bunratty Folk Park
Within the grounds of Bunratty Castle is Bunratty Folk Park where 19th century 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 enchantingas 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!

There are plenty of local bars and restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. The famous Durty Nellies nestling in the shadow of the castle offers a warm atmosphere and good food.

Bunratty Winery
Bunratty Winery is situated in the shadow of the famous l5th century Bunratty Castle. Here you can sample the famous Bunratty Meade.

Blarney Woollen Mills Bunratty
For those who like to shop there is the famous Bunratty Wollen Mills.

Bunratty is also an ideal base from which to explore the many wonders of County Clare.

The Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland's top Visitor attractions. The Cliffs are 214m high at the highest point and range for 8 kilometres over the Atlantic Ocean on the western seaboard of County Clare. O'Brien's Tower stands proudly on a headland of the majestic Cliffs. From the Cliffs one can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, as well as The Twelve Pins, the Maum Turk Mountains in Connemara and Loop Head to the South.The Cliffs of Moher are home to one of the major colonies of cliff nesting seabirds in Ireland. The area was designated as a Refuge for Fauna in 1988 and as a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA) under the EU Birds Directive in 1989. Included within the designated site are the cliffs, the cliff-top maritime grassland and heath, and a 200 metre zone of open water, directly in front of the cliffs to protect part of the birds' feeding area. The designation covers 200 hectares and highlights the area's importance for wildlife.

The Burren
The Burren, in North County Clare and parts of South County Galway covering an area of 160 square km, is unique - it is like no other place in Ireland. There are no bogs and very few pastures. Instead there are huge pavements of limestone called 'clints' with vertical fissures in the called 'grikes'.
The Burren is also famous for its plantlife. Limestone-loving plants such as foxgloves and rock roses grow here and rock's microclimates also nurture plants found in the Artic, Alpine and Mediterranean regions. Botanists have attempted to find out why, but no one has come up with a complete answer. Here too in The Burren, 26 of Ireland's 33 species of butterfly have been recorded, including its very own, the Burren Green.
Many of the views around The Burren are truly spectacular. You won't forget Corkscrew Hill and its vista across Galway Bay; or the journey around Black Head or the view from Ballinalacken Hill across to the Aran Islands.

Knappogue Castle
Knappogue Castle was built in 1467 by Sean MacNamara, son of Sioda (who built Bunratty Castle) has a long and varied history. In 1571 the Castle became the seat of the MacNamara Clan, Earls of West Clancullen. In 1641 it was occupied by Oliver Cromwell's troups but later returned to the MacNamara Clan who sold it to the Scots in 1800. The Castle has been host to two Irish Presidents, as well as other heads of state, including General de Gaulle.A wonderful feature of the Castle and its grounds, is the beautiful walled garden dating from 1817 now restored to its former splendour. The tall and imposing walls of the walled garden are resplendent with climbing roses, grapevines and many clematis varieties. In the magical setting of Knappogue Castle, this is a romantic oasis to sit and picnic or just escape the 'busy crowd'.

Craggaunowen - A window on the Past
Craggaunowen, the living past experience, is Ireland's original award winning Prehistoric Park. Situated on 50 acres of wooded grounds, the Park interprets Ireland's pre-historic and early Christian eras. It features a stunning recreation of some of the homesteads, animals and artefacts which existed in Ireland over 1,000 years ago.These include:
· A Ringfort - the typical residence of Celtic farmers in the Iron Age
· A Dolmen - one of the earliest Stone Age tomb types
· Fulacht Fia - the field kitchen of the Fianna, the legendary soldiers of the High Kings of Ireland
· A Togher - a portion of an Iron Age roadway dating back to 148 BC
· A Crannog - Under construction will be the artificially constructed lake island dwelling, home of the Bronze Age Chieftans
· The 'Brendan' - the leather-hulled vessel built by Tim Severin and sailed by him and his crew across the Atlantic in the mid-1970s to prove that it was possible for early-Christian monks from Ireland to have reached America in the 7th Century
· Rare Animal Breeds - including the Wild Boar
· Craggaunowen Castle - overlooking all is Craggaunowen Castle built by John MacSioda MacNamara around 1550.

Aillwee Cave - Ballyvaughan
A visit to Aillwee Cave is an absolute must for any visitor to the county. The caves represent a dramatic spectacle of nature. Located on the edge of the Burren country, it extends over 1.3 kilometres into the heart of the mountain. Guided tours will take you through beautifully lit caverns featuring stalactites, stalagmites, over bridged chasms, under weird formations and alongside the thunderous subterranean waterfall. You will be astounded with the sight of a frozen waterfall and fascinated to explore the hibernation chambers of long extinct brown bears. After you have viewed these wonders you can browse through an award-winning complex of craft shops and then relax in their friendly tea-room and savour the home-made produce like cheese and honey that is on offer. You can even sample a glass of wine on their terrace while enjoying beautiful views of Galway Bay. An experience not to be missed.

King John's Castle
King John's Castle is situated in the heart of Limerick's Medieval precinct, on the river Shannon at "Kings Island". The Castle was built between 1200 and 1210 and was repaired and extended many times in the following centuries. The visitor centre at the Castle contains an imaginative historical exhibition which tells the story of the Castle. Archaeological excavations have revealed the earliest evidence of settled life in Limerick and evidence from the traumatic siege of 1642. The castle offers panoramic views of Limerick city and the surrounding countryside.

Other day trips from Bunratty
Tipperary - 1 hour
Galway - 1.5 hours
Limerick - 20 minutes
Killaloe - 30 minutes