The massive and formidable medieval castle of Bunratty is located in County Clare in the eponymous village of Bunratty near the town of Shannon. This castle has a long history. Back in 1425 it was built by the Irish clan McNamara on the site of the citadel of a former Viking trading town, built in the tenth century. Then there were more castles built here in 1250 and 1318, which were also destroyed. And the castle we see now is the last fourth version of the construction, which has managed to stand and has survived well to this day. Some time after its construction, the castle was in the possession of the O’Brien family. The building was badly destroyed in 1641 during the Irish Rebellion, but it was rebuilt five years later. From the eighteenth century Bunratty Castle was owned by the Studdert family. At the beginning of the nineteenth century they left the castle to move to a more comfortable and elegant palace, and the ancient structure gradually began to deteriorate from lack of maintenance and timely repairs.
Already in our days, the castle was recognized as a cultural heritage site, in the period from 1945 to 1954, the state carried out a global restoration there, so that he renewed could return all its medieval splendor. Its interiors were filled with antique furniture, household items and art, priceless tapestries, and the rooms and halls were returned to their original luxurious décor, characteristic of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Any object of art here is complemented by an information plaque on its origin. Today Bunratty Castle is considered one of the best preserved in Ireland, with a rich collection of medieval furniture and tapestries. Medieval-style feasts are often held in its sumptuous halls.
Tourists enjoy getting to know not only the castle, but also the village where it stands, because here they have the opportunity to visit local farms and fishermen’s cottages, learn about traditional crafts, be photographed in national costumes, taste amazing food, watch historical scenes, which are often held in the castle for the entertainment of guests. It is very pleasant to walk through the garden surrounding the castle, it was created in strict Victorian style, there are a lot of flowers, fruits and vegetables.