Rick Steves hates places like Bunratty Folk Park as a matter of principle, so his opinion the FP isn't worth much. Either you like such places or you don't.

I find Rick Steves something of a paradox. His general advice about travel in Europe is very good. But his specific recommendations for restaurants, accommodations, thing worth doinmg etc are completely unreliable.

Yes, definitely see Bunratty! I've been there 3 times in the past two years and wish I could live there! I took my 15 yr old son there last April and we did the banquet too and he also loved it (and he is usually found not far from his own computer screen playing games and listening to loud rock music) At the banquet we had some ladies from Canada on one side ( neighbors to us here in Maine) and on the other side was a more local Irish couple...so yes you get to meet a variety of people both local and from afar. I've been there during either the spring (March-April) or fall (Sept-Oct) so the tourists crowds are light, B&B's are plentiful and rates are a lot better. Yes you could say it is touristy but that's what it's there for, are that's what YOU are when you get there. Yes you can see a lot of the real Irish life almost anywhere but seeing a village put together like this one with the little shops and houses set up like how they used to be is a lot of fun. And the one thing I noticed is there is no one breathing down your neck watching over your shoulder to see if you might be thinking of stealing a piece of Stafforshire pottery which is tight there...not roped off...that's really nice. You don't find it like that in the USA...I grew up near Old Sturbridge Village and it was a lot of fun to visit, too, but you were watched like hawks!
Also Craggaunowen is not far from Bunratty and I also would recommend that. Tourists are not all bad people. I live in the willywags of downeast Maine and enjoy the tranquillity of the "real" Maine but sometimes even here its fun to "play" tourist and join the throngs of people in Bar Harbor every summer.
Anyway...a definite yes to Bunratty! (I even loved the peat smoke filled houses which left some folks coughing and wheezing..those who have never had to rely on wood stoves for heat!)
Enjoy!

Liked the Banquet very much and and the Folk Park too,,,nothing wrong with a wee bit of "touristy" IMO.

I see alot of the yes responses also include the banquest. (not that there aren't some yes without it too) Been there and to me, I'd skip the park if it was just that. It's somewhat touristy and even if there are worse, I wouldn't go there just for that. There are so many other things to do/see in the area, I'd want each thing I chose to be special.

Now if you do the banquet, it's a special thing. That's a reason to go.

Bunratty Castle/Folk Park a tourist trap? In that case, Ireland is a tourist trap. Some say stay away from Killarney because it's a tourist trap -- go to Dingle instead. Well, Dingle's a tourist trap in that case.

I would do the Castle/Folk Park tour, and lunch at Mac's pub (inside the park). The castle banquet was fun, but if you're not into it, dinner at Kathleen's in the Bunratty Castle Hotel was GREAT!!!

With 3 trips to Ireland, we always spend the last night in Bunratty -- some last minute shopping also at the Bunratty Mills.

Budman,

Well said!

For those of you that prefer not to attend the Bunratty Castle banquet, I would recommend Bunratty Traditional Irish Night Ceili. The food was good and the entertainment great. Also, you don't have to sit on those long benches (like at the castles) but get an actual chair all to yourself. Much less crowded than the castle banquets.

"There are so many other things to do/see in the area, I'd want each thing I chose to be special."

Could you give some examples?

What is "special" to one person is "touristy" to another. It all depends on your interests and what you like.

We always have a car and drive the countryside, walk around little villages etc (as well as cities)

HOWEVER: the Bunratty area and Folk Park is a good place to WALK AFTER flying into Shannon from a long transatlantic flight. ...and to spend the first night! Some like to drive a couple of hours after arriving (we often do), but if one suffers from jet lag, the Folk Park makes a nice walk and is interesting also.(for a couple of hours), Lunch, or dinner, at Dirty Nellies (or another place) is fun also, then to bed early and off the next morning rested! (there is a lovely, quiet, Best Western down the road a few miles....great for the first night's rest, buffet breakfast,,,,and then the B&B's can follow the rest of the trip if one wants.)

Melissa,

My 6th trip to Ireland in April 2003 was the first time we finally stopped and went into Bunratty. We wandered for at least an hour around the folk park but noticed that the place was starting to fill up so we headed to the castle before it got too busy. Alas, there were groups of children visiting on a school outting as well as the tourists filling the place up so we didn't really get to see the castle at all. I really enjoyed the Park and plan on going back one of these days when it's less crowded to finish it and the see the castle.

As I happen to know from other posts that you are planning on visiting Ireland in June, I would take the time to visit Bunratty but apply the suggestion to try to get there first thing one day to see as much as you can without too much of a crowd. I would suppliment that with a visit to the castle as the first thing you do and then the Folk Park after.

I don't believe it really matters when during your vacation you visit Bunratty, you personally will have time to see the "real thing" sometime during your stay.

Cheers,

Wendy

We loved Bunratty Castle and Park. It was rainy when we were there but not bad because we had umbrellas and went from one cottage to the other with no problem. The castle was interesting and we did the feast. It was great except for the obnoxious French tourists. They were pushy.

Works out well if you are flying out the next morning and have a B&B nearby.

My family (with kids in the late-preteen and early-teen range) enjoyed the village in the late afternoon and the banquet at night. A bit corny, but good "family fun".

I have pictures from every trip of myself and my family at Bunratty...in the days before the folk park and shopping . My parents are Irish and we do visit more for nostalgia of our childhood trips and for a stop off before heading to ennis and visiting people.

A few years ago we went to the park for a look and dad ended up chatting away to a roof thatcher. Mom and I wandered and just relaxed for a break from driving. It is fine for a stop especially on a sunny day to pass a few hours. I love seeing the Castle as that was all that you would visit many years ago.

Also the shops.... dare I say it are very nice and I caught a sale period last time and bought some beautiful candles and there are nice houseware items.

It is no different than the many places we stopped in the U.S. after long drives for a break and diversion. I would go again.

I don't like touristy sights at all. I decided to skip King John's castle in Limerick because it was filled with stuff like animatronic exhibits. In lieu of that, I went to Bunratty and am very glad that I did. I knew it woud be a bit "touristy" but it wasn't overwhelming, especially in winter when there weren't any tour groups. I would never do the banquet, but touring the castle was awesome, a great glimpse of midievel life. The folk park is well done and provides a more up close view than you get from the road, including what it's like inside. I don't think I would do it again, but I would highly reccomend it once, especially if it's your first time.

We went to the Castle and Folk Park in April. It was a cool, foggy day with very few tourists. Most of the buildings were not occupied by "reinactors" and we took a liesurely stroll around. Ross Castle in Killarney and Cahir Castle in Cahir are more impressive to me than either Bunratty or Blarney, but we have very fond memories of the folk park. Also, if you have roots, the Photography Shop in the park has decent prices on the Villages Series photographs from the Lawrence Collection.

Just a quick post to say that while it wasn't until my 4th or 5th trip to Ireland that I made imy way to it, I did enjoy visiting Limerick Castle. It doesn't really have animatronic people in it but it does have a few mannequins scattered here and there with a recording of what they are supposed to be saying playing in the background. It's rather low-tech but the castle itself was really neat and I enjoyed it and the views of Limerick it afforded.

I probably would pick Bunratty over Limerick Castle in a pinch but if you are in Limerick and have the time, stop by the castle. It's quite impressive.

Cheers,

Wendy

Someone mentioned finding discount tickets to the Bunratty Banquet online.. I haven't been able to track them down. Any hints on where they might be? Thank you!

redbug,

I found coupons for 10% off all of the castle banquets and Bunratty Irish Night, plus two-for-one admissions to Bunratty Castle and FP. There are a lot of other coupons mentioned and some to print: http://www.irelandyes.com/discounts.html

redbug, There are other discount passes and coupons for Ireland. One is the Heritage Pass that you buy at any of the heritage attractions in Ireland. It is run by the Irish government and costs 20 euro for an adult. Once you pay the initial 20 euro, all other admissions to Heritage sites are free. It does not include Bunratty Castle & FP.

There is a book called Ireland At A Glimpse that you can buy that has two- fer coupons. I haven't used it and do not know if they include Bunratty Castle & FP. A look around their site will probably tell you what is included: http://www.take-a-glimpse.com/