Bunratty Castle
Caisleán Bun Ráite
Ireland · County Clare, Munster · Near Limerick
Built 1425 · Tower house
This page is part of an independent travel guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by Bunratty Castle.
© Unsplash
Quick Facts
- Hours
- Daily 09:00–17:30
- Entry via GYG
- €22
- Duration
- 2–3 hours
- Best time
- Year-round
- Nearest city
- Limerick
Featured Tour
Bunratty Castle and Folk Park Day Visit
Cancellation available · Instant confirmation
Highlights
- ✦Most complete medieval castle in Ireland
- ✦Authentic 15th-century furnishings and tapestries
- ✦Bunratty Folk Park — a reconstructed 19th-century Irish village
- ✦Nightly medieval banquets with traditional music
- ✦Located minutes from Shannon Airport
Skip the queue with a guided tour
Skip-the-line tickets & expert guides
Bunratty Castle is the most complete and authentically restored medieval castle in Ireland, standing on a low mound above the Ratty River where it has dominated the surrounding landscape since 1425. Built by the MacNamara family and later seized by the O'Brien Kings of Thomond, the castle's Great Hall, solar, and battlements are furnished with original 15th- and 16th-century artefacts, tapestries, and paintings. Adjacent to the castle, Bunratty Folk Park recreates a 19th-century Irish village complete with farmhouses, a forge, a post office, and a working Victorian-era street. Each evening the Great Hall is transformed for medieval banquets — a theatrical feast with traditional Irish music that has been running for over 60 years.
History
A fortress has stood at Bunratty since Viking times. The present tower house was built around 1425 by the MacNamara clan and subsequently acquired by the O'Brien Kings of Munster, who made it their chief seat. It passed through English colonial hands after the Cromwellian period and fell into disrepair. Major restoration began in the 1950s under the direction of Lord Gort and the Irish Tourist Board, guided by historians who filled the rooms with period-appropriate furnishings. The first medieval banquet was held in 1963, launching a tradition that continues to this day.
How to Visit
Getting there: Bunratty Castle is on the N18, 14 km from Limerick city and 8 km from Shannon Airport — a convenient first or last stop on an Irish trip. Regular bus services connect Shannon and Limerick to Bunratty; ample on-site parking available.
Tickets: Entry costs €14 (children €9); the Folk Park is included in the same ticket. The GYG entry ticket (t94794, from €22, 4.6★/43 reviews) covers a self-paced day visit to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.
Practical tips: Nightly medieval banquets in the Great Hall require a separate advance booking — a theatrical feast with traditional Irish music, running nightly for over 60 years. The spiral staircases throughout the tower are narrow; the castle is not accessible for wheelchairs.
Combine with: [Blarney Castle](/castles/ireland/blarney-castle) 1.5 hours south or [Cahir Castle](/castles/ireland/cahir-castle) 1 hour east for a Munster medieval castle circuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
An evening of traditional Irish food, wine, and live music performed in the Great Hall, evoking the feasts of the castle's O'Brien kings. Booking in advance is essential.
Location
Bunratty, Co. Clare, V95 HD35, Ireland
Nearby Castles
Tours & Tickets
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From
€22/ person