Our Ireland Adventure: Bunratty Castle and Folk Park — A Slower Day in Ireland

Our original plan for this day was to visit Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands. However, when we started looking at the costs, the excursion seemed prohibitively expensive for some of our family members. Since we were traveling as a group of 15, we wanted to find an alternative that would let everyone enjoy the day without stretching their budget too far.

So, instead, we opted for Bunratty Castle and Folk Park!

It turned out to be a lovely, slower-paced day. After several big adventures, it was nice to explore another Irish castle, stroll through the exhibits, enjoy some delicious food, and discover a few unexpected treasures along the way.

Another Irish Castle to Explore

One of the things I loved about our Ireland trip was getting to see so many castles. Each one had its own history and character, and Bunratty was another opportunity to step back in time.

We enjoyed wandering through the castle and taking our time as we explored. With a large family group, it's nice to have days when we don't feel like we're racing the clock to get to the next attraction.

Although Inishmore had been our original plan, Bunratty gave us a chance to experience something different without the expense of the island excursion.

Exploring the Folk Park

Bunratty Folk Park gave us even more to explore. We enjoyed a slow walk through the exhibits, taking in the historic buildings and getting a glimpse of what life in Ireland looked like in earlier times.

One of the things I appreciated about this day was that we didn't have to rush. We could wander, stop when something caught our attention, and enjoy the experience at our own pace.

We also got to hear a young girl playing traditional Irish music on a harp and another handheld instrument. It was such a lovely way to experience a little more of Ireland's musical heritage.

And we even took a Gaelic lesson while we were there! It was fun to try something new and learn a little of the Irish language.

A Fun Find: The Irish Wolfhounds

A friend who had visited Bunratty before our trip told us to keep an eye out for the Irish wolfhounds, so we made a point of looking for them.

Of course, with our family, we eventually stumbled across them during one of our frequent potty trips!

The Irish wolfhounds walk around the park on leashes with their handlers, and these dogs are HUGE. They were almost as tall as our seven-year-old!

It was pretty amazing to see these enormous dogs up close. The kids certainly weren't expecting to find such impressive animals on the way back from the bathroom!

Sometimes the unexpected moments end up being some of the most memorable parts of a trip. I'm glad our friend told us about the wolfhounds, because otherwise we might not have thought to look for them.

Lunch at The Corn Barn

We also ate at The Corn Barn, which is located right inside Bunratty Folk Park. It was a convenient place to stop without having to leave the attraction, and the Irish food was amazing!

I tried the bangers and mash, and it was so yummy.

Now, I did have to wonder: is bangers and mash actually Irish, or is it more of a British and Irish comfort-food staple? Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Being able to sit down for a good meal was another nice part of our slower day. When you're traveling with children, having somewhere convenient to eat can make an outing that much easier.

A Little Hospitality History

One exhibit that particularly caught my attention was the one about Ireland's first hospitality school.

My dad has worked in hospitality in America for more than 35 years, so I thought this would be a fun tidbit to share with him. It's always interesting to discover a connection between something you're learning about while traveling and someone's life back home.

That was one of the things I enjoyed about the Folk Park: there were so many different little details to discover. Even on a relaxed day without a packed itinerary, we came away having learned something new.

Souvenirs at Bunratty

Bunratty also had a really nice gift shop, so we took the opportunity to pick up quite a few souvenirs while we were there.

I always enjoy finding little keepsakes from our travels, and it was nice to have so many options in one place. If you're hoping to bring home gifts or mementos from Ireland, Bunratty is a good spot to browse while you're already visiting the castle and Folk Park.

Between exploring the castle, enjoying the exhibits, listening to traditional music, meeting the Irish wolfhounds, and shopping for souvenirs, we found plenty to enjoy without having to rush through the day!

Sometimes a Slower Day Is Just What You Need

Bunratty Castle and Folk Park turned out to be a good alternative to our original plan for Inishmore. We got another castle visit, explored Irish history, heard traditional music, tried a little Gaelic, spotted some enormous wolfhounds, and enjoyed a delicious meal.

Not every day of a vacation has to be an epic adventure. Sometimes it's enough to explore somewhere interesting, spend time together, and give everyone a little breathing room before the next big outing.

Traveling with a group of 15 also meant balancing everyone's interests and budgets. We couldn't do every excursion we considered, but we could find alternatives that allowed us to keep enjoying Ireland together.

And honestly, that was a pretty wonderful day!

We may not have made it to Inishmore, but Bunratty gave us its own collection of memories—and a few fun stories and souvenirs to bring home.