Bunratty Castle and Folk Park
Robert De Muscegros, a Norman, built the first defensive fortress (an earthen mound with a strong wooden tower on top) in 1250.
His lands were later granted to Thomas De Clare who built the first stone castle on the site. About this time Bunratty became a large town of 1,000 inhabitants.
In 1318 Richard De Clare, son of Thomas was killed in a battle between
the Irish and the Normans. His followers were routed and the castle and
town were completely destroyed. The castle was restored for the King of
England but was laid 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 thereafter.
This castle was built around 1425 by the McNamara (MacConmara) family
but soon passed through marriage to become the stronghold of the
powerful O'Brien Clan, High Kings of Munster and later Earls of Thomond.
Prior to construction of the current castle it was the site of a motte
and bailey castle c1270 on an island in a tidal creek with a view of
the water-traffic entering and leaving the port of Limerick. With such a
strategic location established, the wooden castle was replaced by a
stone structure which was subsequently destroyed during the Irish Bruce
Wars 1315-1318 by the victorious O'Briens. A third castle was built and
destroyed before the current fortress was built. But that was not the
end - this castle was besieged and taken by confederate forces in 1646,
and then the last residents, the Studdert family, moved to a newer
residence in 1804 and the roof was allowed to collapse. It was saved
from ruin in 1954 by Lord Gort with reconstruction of a roof and
battlements, and the interior restored to its original medieval splendor
with Gort's wonderful collection of 15th and 16th century hand carved
furnishings and tapestries.
The tower house has four flanking towers which
project from the four corners of the keep as a defense against sapping
(trenching under) and battering rams. These corner flankers are
connected by arches on the north and south sides. Although there are
only three storeys in the main keep including a magnificent great hall,
the towers have many floors and small chambers including bedrooms and an
amazing 15 privies!