falthorper

Hello fellow travellers, Having looked at images of Bunratty Folk Park and the Irish National Heritage Park near Wexford on the web, they look completely different. We are going to be in Ireland for 14 days in September and only want to spend 1 of those days in a re-creation. We are interested in prehistorical and historical sites. The pictures of Bunratty look like scenes we could get from visiting Adare and some other cute touristy towns. True? Which one would you pick? Or is there some other place I haven't discovered yet that incorporates both? We are 2 senior adults on our first and probably last trip to Ireland. So much to see, so little time.

Padraig

The Heritage Park is still on my "must get around to it" list, so I can't give you a comprehensive answer but:
- The Folk Park at Bunratty gives you a better picture of Irish traditional life than does a visit to any "cute touristy town"; you get interiors as the might have been 100 or 150 years ago, and you get informed commentary.
- You can combine a Bunratty visit with nearby Craggaunowen: http://www.shannonheritage.com/Craggaunowen/.

falthorper

Thank you for your insight, Padraig. Craggaunowen does look interesting. Unfortunately Craggaunowen is going to be closed by the time we get there during the first 2 weeks of September which I didn't mention in my post.

Tony2phones

Unfortunately Shannon Heritage don't see fit to pay people anywhere other than Bunratty after the end of August.. Heritage Ireland and the OPW are much the same.. Unfortunately. Bunratty though is well worth a look around..

falthorper

OPW?

Padraig

Office of Public Works: the government body which (among other things) looks after our national monuments.

jaja

Too bad about Craggaunowen. Don't know if you will be in Co. Kerry but there is the Muckross Traditional Farm in the National Park, open 7 days a week in September, and the Kerry Bog Village near Glenbeigh,open year round. Bunratty Folk Park is worthwhile.

maureencol

As touristy as Bunratty is, I actually like it a lot. They decorated the inside of the castle with authentic furnishings so you can see what the bedrooms or manor hall would have really looked like. And the Folk Park is excellent as well. Reminds me of when I lived in Sligo for a bit back in '54.
My vote would be Bunratty!