The restoration of Bunratty Castle, one of the finest surviving stone fortresses in Ireland, may be said to have started with its acquisition by the late Lord Gort in 1953. For many years, he had admired this relic of Irish History, and when it was offered to him he did not hesitate in purchasing it. He collaborated with the Irish Government & the Hunt family, in order to renovate & restore the castle, and create the Folk Park. Eventually, the Castle became the first monument of its kind in the 'new' Ireland. Lord & Lady Gort had always been deeply interested in early furniture and works of art. Over the years they endowed the Castle with exhibits which re-create the atmosphere of the 15th Century. Bunratty Castle and its contents are now held in trust for the nation.
The Shannon Castle & Banquets Heritage DAC portfolio has developed over the past 50 years from one product in 1963, which was the Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle, to a total of 8 day visitor experiences and 4 evening entertainments located in the Shannon Region. The company was established in 1987 having previously been two separate enterprises managing the day visit sites separately from the evening entertainments.
The spirit of innovation of those early days has left us a lasting legacy. The enduring success of Bunratty Castle and its Medieval Banquets has served as a model – one which has been imitated, in other parts of the world but not equalled. We are dedicated to capturing the past at our visitor attractions and dinner entertainments in a way you can enjoy and appreciate. We fervently hope that our efforts ensure that you have a fun, value for money experience.