Sights in Eastern & Southeastern Clare
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Bunratty Castle
Square and hulking Bunratty Castle is only the latest of several constructions to occupy its location beside the River Ratty. Vikings founded a settlement here in the 10th century, and other occupants included the Norman Thomas de Clare in the 1270s. The present structure was put up in the early 1400s by the energetic MacNamara family, falling shortly thereafter to the O’Briens, kings of Thomond, in whose possession it remained until the 17th century. Admiral Penn, father of William Penn, who was the Quaker founder of the US state of Pennsylvania and the city of Philadelphia, lived here for a short time.
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Killaloe Cathedral
The present church dates from the early 13th century and was built by the O'Brien family on top of a 6th-century church. Inside, ornate carvings decorate the Romanesque southern doorway, next to which is the shaft of a stone cross, known as Thorgrim's Stone. It dates from the early Christian period and is unusual in that it bears both the old Scandinavian runic and Irish Ogham scripts. In the cathedral grounds is St Flannan's Oratory, of 12th-century Romanesque design.
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Bunratty Folk Park
The folk park adjoins the Bunratty Castle. It is a reconstructed traditional Irish village with cottages, a forge and working blacksmith, weavers and pie-makers. There’s a complete village street with a post office, pub and small cafe.
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Traditional Irish Night
Traditional Irish nights are held in a corn barn in the folk park. Lots of red-haired (real or fake, it's clearly a big help in securing employment) servers dish up trad music, dancing, Irish stew, apple pie and soda bread. There's nontraditional wine as well, which may put you in the mood for the singalong. Book online or by phone.
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Medieval Banquet
If you skip the high-jinks in the corn barn, you may opt for a medieval banquet, replete with harp-playing maidens, court jesters and food with a medieval motif (lots of meaty items, but somehow we think the real stuff would empty the place right out). It's all washed down with mead – a kind of honey wine. The banquets are very popular with groups, so it's advisable for independent travellers to book well ahead.
The banquets at Knappogue Castle and Dunguaire Castle (in Galway) are similar but more sedate.
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Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
Square and hulking Bunratty Castle is only the latest of several constructions to occupy its location beside the River Ratty. Vikings founded a settlement here in the 10th century, and other occupants included the Norman Thomas de Clare in the 1270s. The present structure was put up in the early 1400s by the energetic MacNamara family, falling shortly thereafter to the O'Briens, kings of Thomond, in whose possession it remained until the 17th century.
Fully restored, the castle is loaded with 14th- to 17th-century furniture, paintings and wall hangings.
The folk park adjoins the castle. It is a reconstructed traditional Irish village with cottages, a forge and working blac…
reviewed
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Brian Ború Heritage Centre
Named for the local boy who made good as the king who, according to the political spinmeisters of his time, both unified Ireland and freed it from the Viking scourge. The centre does much to celebrate the legends and has good displays about the nautical heritage of this patchwork of lakes and rivers.
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