The Morgans Go European

May 17, 2018 Bunratty Castle and Folk Park

We returned to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, (we had gone for the Medieval feast), for a more thorough visit. The castle is well preserved inside and out, and around it, they have built a 19th century Irish town as it would have been. A couple buildings are on their original sites, one house was moved to the park when they put in Shannon Airport's runway, and some were built from scratch but in the traditional way. There was loads to learn, a chatty school master full of history, and beautiful gardens to explore.

Approaching the castle the same way as we did for the Medieval banquet.

This was exciting for me.

The Main Guard where we ate for the Medieval banquet. It was the main living room of the common soldiers and of the Earl's retainers.

We are ready for another banquet!

Aaron in Lord Thomond's special chair.

The Great Hall. The original banquet hall and audience chamber of the Earls of Thomond. The Earl gave judgements while sitting in his Chair of the Estate. The walls are hung with French, Belgian and Flemish tapestries.

The Captain's Quarters for the captain of the guard. A very nice room.

The captain's saddle.

The Earl's kitchen. Food was cooked here for guests in the Great Hall. This room had its own garbage chute.

The Earl's bedroom. One of her ladyship's dresses (on the bed) is elaborately beaded.

The 15th century cupboard with writing flap is an extremely rare example.

The North Solar. The private apartment of the Earl and his family. The oak paneling dates to c.1500. The table is said to have been salvaged from the wreck of a Spanish Armada ship.

Note the leuchterweibchen - flamboyant female figures often used as "chandeliers" and of German origin.

The Earl's Pantry. This may have been used as a kitchen or servant's quarters.

The top of one of the turrets.

The Public Chapel has a finely decorated 16th century stucco ceiling and several precious artifacts including a 15th century Swabian altar piece.

The priest's room.

The South Solar comprises the guest's apartments and lady's room.

The South Solar's ceiling is partially a replica, in Tudor style.

The ladies of the castle had elaborate gowns which made navigating the spiral stairs in the castle difficult. The guide said women rarely went outside the castle, rarely left the apartments, in fact, they weren't allowed in the Great Hall. They would spend their days stitching and schooling here.

Another side of the castle.

On to the Folk Park.

Mountain Farmhouse. A typical farmer's house of a type found on the borders of Limerick and Kerry. It has a loft for extra sleeping space.

The dining room of the Mountain Farmhouse.

The outside of the Mountain Farmhouse.

The Shannon Farmhouse. It originally stood on the site of the main runway at Shannon Airport.

Open the cupboard and out plops a bed! This was in the dining room.

The dining room.

This house has an upstairs accessed by a portable ladder.

Bothan Scor. One roomed dwelling of a poor landless laborer who worked for the local landlord. Many of these houses and their occupants were lost during the Great Irish Famine.

The inside of the Bothan Scor.

The sleeping area in the Bothan Scor.

Inside the Bothan Scor. The floor was dirt.

The Golden Vale. This is the home of a strong farmer from the rich lands in the Golden Vale Counties of Limerick and Tipperary. The family would farm 100 acres and be prosperous.

The Golden Vale.

The Golden Vale. No matter the wealth of the family, the Irish made it a priority to have icons and statues in their homes drawing to mind their faith.

Resident Irish Wolfhounds. The one on the left is a "puppy" at 1 year, and the one on the right was 2 years.

Paul is in hog heaven!

Irish Wolfhounds: https://youtu.be/X9uffONhM4I

The school master teaching the kids outside the school building.

Inside the school building. There were two rooms on opposite ends of the building. One for girls and one for boys.

Clare at school with her quill pen.

Hopscotch

The Doctor's House. This parlor was used as both exam room and surgery room.

The doctor's desk.

J.J. Corry's Pub.

A bench by the fire inside the pub.

J.J. Corry's family kitchen would also be used by well known customers.

Fairy land.

Clare seeing if any fairies are home.

Fairy houses.

Hazelbrook House. Built in 1898, this was home to the Hughes Brothers who started a dairy industry in the 1800's and later produced HB Ice Cram which became a household ice cream brand in Ireland.

Hazelbrook House

Hazelbrook house

The wisteria was in bloom!

The Wolfhounds back in their area.

Bunratty House. Original to this site. A late Georgian dwelling built in 1804 of the type occupied by minor gentry in the 19th century. It was home to the Studdart family, descendants of the O'Brien's who lived in Bunratty Castle.

same room

The guide telling us about the house.

The dining room. Before the trees grew up, there was a view from this room of Bunratty Castle.

The entry way of Bunratty House.

The Regency Walled garden, built close to Bunratty House and is part of the original, much larger garden which existed. Views overlook the Owenogarney and Shannon Rivers.