Bunratty at 600: Ireland’s Storybook Castle Through the Ages

Bunratty Castle

Six hundred years ago, stonemasons were at work along the River Ratty in south County Clare. They would raise what would become one of Ireland’s most iconic fortresses – Bunratty Castle. In 2025, this towering 15th-century stronghold, framed by ancient oak and the Shannon Estuary, will celebrate its 600th anniversary. While its timeworn sandstone walls have borne witness to great fortunes and tragedies, its spirit remains vibrant. 

Today, Bunratty Castle is not just a monument; it’s a multifaceted experience – an interactive museum, cultural theatre and time machine. With its commanding silhouette, original interiors and a faithfully recreated 19th-century village, which has been built in its shadow, the castle continues to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to south County Clare. This milestone year is the perfect time to experience it at its best, when battle cries, banquets and theatrical reenactments will add new chapters to its rich legacy. 

From Viking roots to Gaelic lords 

Bunratty’s history is a tapestry of Viking, Norman, and Gaelic influences, with the first defensive fortress being built around 1250. The present-day castle dates to 1425 when it housed the MacNamara clan, but by 1475, Bunratty passed into the hands of their allies, the O'Briens - descendants of Brian Boru, Ireland’s most legendary High King. Under O'Brien rule, the castle became the capital of Thomond, a Gaelic kingdom encompassing much of modern-day North Munster. The O'Briens expanded the castle, laid out formal gardens, and established it as a stronghold and a stately residence. For nearly two centuries, it stood as the seat of their power. 

“It’s remarkable,” says Marie Brennan, events manager at Bunratty Castle. “Bunratty has survived conquest, rebellion, abandonment, and even Victorian indifference. It’s rare: a medieval building that wasn’t lost to time, but revived by it.” 

Bunratty Castle 1973

Inside the walls: where history lingers 

Climb the timber steps to the castle’s arched entrance and step back through the centuries into medieval Ireland. Inside, stone spiral staircases, murder holes, tapestries and antlers mark the grandeur of this once-powerful fortress. At the heart of it all is the Great Hall – a lofty, atmospheric chamber where feasts and councils unfolded beneath a timber roof, now faithfully restored to its 15th-century splendour. The furnishings, spanning the 14th to 17th centuries, include intricately carved oak tables, iron candelabras, and a bedchamber fit for a Gaelic earl. You’ll also find a dungeon, a chapel, and sweeping views from the tower top across the River Shannon and southward to County Kerry. 

Bunratty is Ireland’s most fully restored medieval castle, and its survival into the 20th century is largely owed to Viscount Gort, who purchased the ruin in 1954. His ambitious conservation efforts, supported by the Irish government, ensured the castle’s restoration. Opened to the public in 1962, Bunratty became a benchmark for heritage restoration in Ireland, balancing authenticity with accessibility. 

Folk Park & Living Traditions 

Bunratty Folk Park, a 26-acre open-air museum, brings 19th-century rural Irish life vividly to life. It’s not just a display; it’s an immersive experience. Hear the rhythmic clang of the blacksmith’s hammer, the chapel bell ringing, water flowing through the mill, and the scent of turf smoke rising from chimneys. Costumed interpreters bake bread, weave, and tend livestock, offering a glimpse into the daily rhythms of a bygone era. 

Highlights include a schoolhouse, a working pub (Mac’s), the original Hazelbrook farm that inspired Ireland’s top ice cream brand, a post office, and Bunratty House, a Georgian manor built in 1804 by the Studdart family, the last occupants of Bunratty Castle. Many buildings in the Folk Park were relocated from Clare and Limerick, offering a snapshot of rural life just before Ireland’s great waves of emigration. 

The Banquet Experience 

A great way to experience Bantry’s atmosphere is to join a Medieval Banquet. Celebrating 60 years, this long-standing tradition takes place nightly in the Great Hall, where costumed performers, mead, roast meats, and traditional harp and fiddle music create a captivating spectacle. Though theatrical, the banquet offers a compelling look at how food, music and storytelling were the heart of Gaelic hospitality. 

“While some visitors expect kitsch, many leave deeply moved,” says Marie Brennan. “There’s something timeless about breaking bread in a place where grand feasts have been held for six centuries. These banquets celebrate not only Ireland’s rich cultural legacy but also the talents of legendary figures like Thomas Moore, the celebrated 19th-century poet and composer, and Turlough O'Carolan, the blind 17th-century harpist whose music remains synonymous with Irish tradition.” 

Bunratty Castle

2025’s Anniversary Events: ‘Battle for Bunratty’ 

To mark the 600th anniversary, a full program of events is planned throughout 2025, with the highlight being the “Battle for Bunratty” – a one-day medieval tournament on 18. Expect jousting, mounted combat, and longbow archery, along with living history displays and a recreated medieval encampment. Reenactors from across Europe will gather in Clare to bring the event to life, creating a festival atmosphere both on and off the field.  

"For us, it's incredibly important to bring the history of Bunratty Castle to life and commemorate its long and rich past,” says Adrienne O’Flynn, sales and marketing manager for Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. “This castle is truly iconic in the minds of people in Ireland and worldwide, being one of the most authentic and complete medieval examples in Ireland. The 'Battle for Bunratty' aims to do just that, providing an interactive and educational way for locals and visitors alike to join us in celebrating this significant anniversary." 

Sustaining the past 

Bunratty’s success hasn’t come without its challenges. Preserving a 15th-century castle in the 21st century requires careful attention to climate control in stone-walled rooms, constant maintenance of timber and slate, and managing visitor impact while staying true to the original structure. 

Sustainability plays a key role in the Folk Park’s operations, says Marie Brennan. “We’re not just preserving a building; we’re sustaining a way of life that spanned centuries—from medieval feasts to 19th-century culture—both for the people of Ireland and the visitors who come to experience it.”