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Brief History of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park
1) 970 AD Vikings arrive to Irish shores and created a settlement in Bunratty's, making it Bunratty's first community.
2) 1250/70 AD. Robert de Muscegos built first structure, which was to be destroyed many times in the years ahead, beside today's Bunratty Castle. This first structure was located on grounds of what is now Bunratty Shannon Shamrock Hotel.
3) 1300 AD (approx) title of castle granted to Thomas De Clare.
4)1318 AD. Richard (son of Thomas) De Clare was killed in battle by Conor O'Dea. Richard's wife (Johanna) on learning of her husband's death, razed the castle before the powerful Irish clan could gain control. She was last seen on a ship on the river Shannon making her way towards England.
5)1425 AD. Bunratty Castle, as it is known today, was built by McNamara clan. This was the start of Bunratty Castle's 200 years of glory.
6) 1475 AD. O'Brien Clan took control of Bunratty Castle.
7) 1534 AD. Title of Earl of Thomond created - to appease Henry V111.
8) 1620 AD. Structure, now know as Durty Nellys, was built.
9) 1646 AD. William Penn, father of the founder of the state of Pennsylvania arrived. (Interestingly, his wife Margaret, was born in Bunratty. Legend has it that the 18 month old William (Jr) spent time in Bunratty Castle during this time) William (Snr), having taken control of Bunratty Castle, turned it into a garrison.
The 6th Earl of Thomond, Barnaby, left by ship on the river Shannon and lived out his days in England. May 10th was the last night an Earl of Thomond occupied Bunratty Castle.
10) 1725AD. Thomas Studdert bought Bunratty Castle, and so began its decline.
11) 1800 AD. Bunratty Village is thriving - imports/exports have lead to a community of over 1000 residents.
12) 1804. Studdert family move out of the castle and into Bunratty House. Bunratty Bridge is built. In its time, it was the country's largest single arch bridge.
13) 1845 AD. Population declines throughout famine years.
14) 1953 AD. Viscount Gort bought Bunratty Castle for £1,000. This was the first step in collaboration between Irish Govt, Lord Gort and Hunt family that renovated the castle, create the folk park and turn the Castle into the first monument of its kind in the 'new' Ireland. Local more 'modern' houses by the castle had been removed during this renovation.
15) 2007 AD. Although Bunratty Village may never get back the community that it had 200 years earlier, with its population of 1000, there has however been a series of new, sensitively constructed residential homes developed in recent years, most of which will be occupied by Summer 2007.
Bunratty Castle Folk Park
Its important to note that the buildings in Bunratty Folk park although original, were not actually where you see them today. This is not of course to take away from that fact that they are historically correct and rebuilt in the time honoured traditions of bye gone years.
Some of the buildings come from county Kerry, county Cork and County mayo to name but a few. Many were uncovered in excavations during the past two centuries and beautifully recreated.
One thing notable to the folk park was the first building to be recreated. This was the Shannon farmhouse. It was originally located where the main runway in Shannon International airport now lies. It was removed and re-built in the folk park. This marked the beginning of the park with many more buildings following.
You will find a wealth on information on both the castle and the folk park on the following link
