History Is Present

Bunratty Castle

County Clare, Ireland

I remember visiting Bunratty when I was a little girl of 6 years old with my family on a holiday to the land of

our ancestors. Bunratty Castle (in Irish is Caisleán Bhun Raithe, meaning "Castle at the Mouth of the Ratty") is a large 15th century castle in Clare, and is located in the centre of Bunratty village.

The site on which Bunratty Castle stands was in origin a Viking trading camp in 970.

Robert De Muscegros, a Norman, built the first defensive fortress in 1250. His lands were later granted to Thomas De Clare by King Henry III who built the first stone castle on the site with a large town of 1,000 inhabitants.

In 1318, Richard De Clare, Thomas’s son, was killed in a battle between the Irish and the Normans and the castle and town were completely destroyed. The castle was restored for the English King but was laid to waste in 1332 by the Irish Chieftains of Thomond under the O'Briens and MacNamaras. It lay in ruins for 21 years until it was rebuilt by Sir Thomas Rokeby but was once again attacked by the Irish and the castle remained in Irish hands.

The powerful MacNamara family built the present structure around 1425 but by 1475 it became the stronghold of the O'Briens, the largest clan in North Munster. They ruled the territory of North Munster where they lived in great splendour. The castle was surrounded by beautiful gardens and it was reputed to have a herd of 3,000 deer.

Under Henry VIII's 'surrender and re-grant' scheme, the O'Brien's were granted the title 'Earls of Thomond' and they agreed to profess loyalty to the King of England. The reign of the O'Briens came to an end with the arrival of the Cromwellian troops and the castle and its grounds were surrendered.

Bunratty Castle and its lands were granted to various Plantation families, the last of whom was the Studdart family. They left the castle in 1804, allowing it to fall into disrepair, to reside in the more comfortable and modern Bunratty House that they had built in 1804 and the reasons for the move were bound up in family arguments over the eldest son marrying his first cousin.

Bunratty returned to its former splendour when Viscount Lord Gort purchased it in 1954 and the extensive restoration work began in 1945 with the help of the Office of Public Works, the Irish Tourist Board and Shannon Development. It was then opened to the public in 1962 as a National Monument and is open to visitors year round. It is the most complete and authentically restored and furnished castle in Ireland.