Bunratty Castle and Folk Park

People of Sydney! Do you remember Old Sydney Town? The fun park where you could experience a taste of Sydney during the convict days?

Bunratty Castle and Folk Park is a similar sort of tourist attraction. A medieval village as been recreated at the foot of the restored Bunratty Castle. Staff in period costume perform for the entertainment of visitors.


The castle itself was far too crowded to enjoy, but I liked the little touches of a period village, like this elevated haystack.

Or this water wheel.

These thatched roofs.

Or this period pawn shop in the pseudo main street.

This real church was disassembled and moved from its previous location to Bunratty before being reassembled in the Folk Park.

The schoolmaster wanders through the town every hour or so ringing the schoolbell and calling in a group of naughty "students" for a lesson in the Gaelic language.

It's all fun and games, of course, but the violent undertone of medieval life is still visible.