Bunratty Folk Park
 

Hi,
We will be in Ireland next month and am narrowing down our activities. What is the opinion of Bunratty Folk Park. Is it worth a visit or too touristy? Probably won't do the banquet just spend some time on the grounds and pub(s). Thanks.

I wouldn't do the banquet. We were there about three years ago and it was fairly fun but just do a quick tour. We ended eating at a place across the street I think in an old train station. Bunratty is pretty hokey but it is worth the visit. Some of the things are interesting enough to make the visit worth while.

Bunratty Castle & Folk Park are well worth a visit. It is not just for tourists; many of the people you meet there are Irish who are visiting the park for the Irish history portrayed there. I disagree that Bunratty Castle & Folk Park are hokey. Bunratty Castle is one of the best preserved 15th century castles in Ireland furnished with antiques of the period. If you take the time to read the self-guided tour sheet that they give you as you tour, you will find out many interesting things about the castle and history of the area. Go up to the battlements for good views of the area. The folk park has period houses and cottages that are all authentically furnished so that you can see how people lived in the past. You can view everything from a fisherman's cottage to the doctor's more upscale house. There is also a re-created 19th century street, giving you more insight into a past way of life.

If you don't care for the thought of a medieval banquet, I would recommend the Ceili with Irish music and dance. The food is pretty good too.

Don't write off Bunratty Castle and Folk Park as "touristy" or "hokey". They are well worth a visit.

We visited Bunratty at the tail end of our 2 weeks in Ireland. It was recommended that we do our gift shopping there. The prices are reasonable, especially the Waterford Crystal promotional items.

I'd skip eating the "apple pie that's baked on site." Really wasn't anything exceptional.

Oh man. How many years ago was it? I went to Ireland in 1982, and one of the clearest memories I have of the visit was the visit to Bunratty Castle and the medieval dinner we ate there with our fingers. It was great fun, and touristy or not, it is an experience that will stick!

OK, its a little hokey but I went when my parents were over visiting me a few years ago. It was a nice wander and my dad enjoyed seeing someone actually thatching a roof on one of the houses. Mt parents are from Ireland as well. I have seen more hokey/touristy places in Ireland. The shopping area is very good as well. I got a few nice things and its a huge place (Not in the park but just outside it.

Have you ever been to places like Historic Williamsburg (VA) or Sturbridge Village (MA)? It's on those lines. Yes, done for tourists, but in a good way. Interesting and educational. I'd do it again. The castle and the park are on one ticket now (as of last summer), you can't choose just one (well you can, but you pay for both). I didn't do the banquet so can't comment on that, although we stayed near there and walked by while it was going on and they sounded like they were having a great time.

Thanks to all for your responses. So it looks like the park and castle are a go. If it similar to Williamsburg that is good. Our traveling companions are from Williamsburg and we enjoy going into town when we are there on visits. We are passing on dinner because of my picky husband's food tastes, and it's too much to spend and have him just eat a little. So all in all, it looks like a good day's activity.

Audie
We went to Ireland 2yrs ago and while the banquet is not a, "not to be missed" event, we had a lot of fun. I think they served chicken but I can't really remember the food. You sit at long school cafe type tables, it is small inside and crowded but the wine is free flowing and everyone at our end of the table was in a great mood.

Audie,

Send your husband to Kathleen's for dinner and go and enjoy the banquet.

They had chicken & ribs. How can your husband not like either of the two? ((b))

If you hit Bunratty midweek, it is a bit different than on a Saturday or Sunday. A good number of tours naturally start on those days from Shannon so the park can be VERY crowded. I didn't like the folk park exactly for that reason, but I intend to go back when the traffic is less.

I haven't yet done the Ceili yet so I can't comment but I hear that it is very good. The food at the Bunratty Banquet is just so so at best. I thought the food was better at Dunguaire, though maybe they have updated. The entertainment was good and it was a good experience. I wouldn't write it off.

Bill

Audie - I want to make sure I didn't mislead you by saying it was like Williamsburg - it is in the sense that it is a rather authentic recreation of life in a village at a certain time in history. But Bunratty is much smaller and doesn't have anywhere near as many crafts, stores, etc. I still enjoyed it but it's not as big a deal as Williamsburg. Just didn't want you to get there and be disappointed.

I don't actually remember the food at the medieval banquet. What I do remember was the feeling of having gone through a time warp, to experience what a dinner in a castle would have been like in Medieval days. I remember there were people in costume, and a table the king sat at, with a taste tester who tried the food first to make sure it hadn't been poisoned. It was great fun, especially after seeing the castle and imagining how different life must have been in the days of yore. I don't think people go so much for the taste experience as the "time" experience.