PRINCESS DAISY AT BUNRATTY CASTLE & FOLK PARK
Monday 20 June 2011
Having departed the good folks of Sixmilebridge we headed to Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, which I had not visited for many many years and it, was a great experience. Bunratty Castle was built in 1425 and was home to the Earls of Thomond. In 1646 it was taken over by the English who lived there until 1810 when it was abandoned. The present Bunratty experience all started back in the late 1950’s when Bord Failte and Shannon Development’s far thinking Brendan O’Regan, and the owners of the Castle, Lord and Lady Gort, got together to refurbish the Castle. In 1963 they started the Mediaeval Banquets at Bunratty Castle, which run every night and are a great fun experience. Around the same time the runway at Shannon Airport was being extended to take jet aircraft requiring the demolition of an old farmhouse. Someone came up with the idea of taking the ‘Shannon Farmhouse’ apart and rebuilding it stone by stone at Bunratty as an example of Irish farm life. It transpired then that people coming out of the castle after the banquets were every bit as interested in the old farmhouse as the castle so the whole concept was extended. There are now over 30 buildings representing rural and urban life set out over 28 acres, including farmhouses from different parts of Ireland, and a very pretty village street with shops, a pawnbrokers, drapery, printworks, a school, pottery, pub, and an ‘hotel’ and bar where we had a very nice lunch. There is also an original Church of Ireland building which was moved stone by stone from Ardcroney, Co. Tipperary, and rebuilt in the Folk Park as well as the original Hazelbrook House from Rathfarnham which was originally built in 1898 and was the home of Hughes Brothers who started a dairy industry in the 1800’s and went on to produce HB icecream. It is amazing to see the different styles of cottages, the thatch roped down on the Loop Head farmhouse lest it be blown into the sea, the turf ceiling of another to insulate it, the stone floor of yet another which apparently was most likely the bride’s dowry, the settle beds, the Sacred Heart lamps and pictures in most. Bean an Ti’s come in each day, many are local farmers wives, and talk to people about how life was back in those days. In Golden Vale, the wealthy farmer’s house, we met Bean an Ti, Eileen Clancy, who was not only highly entertaining and informative but making gorgeous scones and apple tarts for use in the onsite café. She took us out to see her huge Porter Cake baking in the oven - the real prize – the aroma was only awesome as our American cousins would say – and she gave us the recipe! We were also blown away by Princess Daisy, a two-day-old Shetland foal who was scampering around a paddock with her mother whilst nearby two great big Irish wolfhounds were lounging around like Lords of the Manor. It is a lovely day out for the family – something for everyone and a lot of our heritage.
In this period of revitalizing and refreshing ourselves I would urge you all to visit all the wonderful places and attractions we have here in Ireland – don’t just think of them as the territory of the tourist – which basically is what we have tended to do – you will be delighted with what you find – and have fun as well.
THIS ARTICLE WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE SUNDAY INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY, 19TH JUNE, 2011.