Bunratty Castle and Galway

We left Killarney and headed for Galway today. On the way, we visited Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. The castle was built around 1425, the last in a series of fortifications on this site. It was restored during the 20th century, its rooms furnished with mainly 15th and 16th century furniture.

Winding, steep stone stairs seem to be a continuing theme in our vacation. There were lots of them here. The main block has three floors, each consisting of a single great room. The four towers each have six floors, and contain  bedrooms, robing rooms, chapels, the Earl's private apartment, a pantry, kitchen, storeroom, and servants' quarters.

As well, we went out onto the roof, where we had a great view of the River Ratty and River Shannon. Very windy up there!

Above: Fred on the roof, with the view through the crenels.
Right: The South Solar room — according to an employee who
we ran into there, the most beautiful room in the castle.

 

In addition to the castle, the park features a recreation of the homes and environment of Ireland long ago. Rural farmhouses, piggery, blacksmith's forge, village street with shops, stately Georgian house, formal walled gardens, horizontal mill, vertical mill, and a church that was moved stone by stone from Co. Tipperary. We spent a couple of hours looking at everything. Well worth the entrance fee.

Next, we drove to Galway and checked into our B&B. That's when a light rain started. We explored the town centre — only a five-minute drive from our home base — and had dinner in a little Italian restaurant. A rainy evening, but nothing a couple of true Vancouverites couldn't handle.