Latest News & Events at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park

July 2026

Time Machine Lands at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park to Celebrate 100 Years of HB Ice Cream

Bunratty Castle and Folk Park will play host to the HB Time Machine on Saturday, July 18, with a specially created pop-up exhibit celebrating 100 years of HB Ice Cream.

July 2026 New Dr Brendan O’Regan Centre opens at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park A new permanent interpretive centre celebrating the life and legacy of Dr Brendan O’Regan has officially opened at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park. View More

Battle for Bunratty 2026 The Battle for Bunratty Returns Experience the thrill of medieval combat this June as the Battle for Bunratty returns to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park on Sunday, June 7. View More

Easter 2026 Spring into Easter at Clare’s Top Attractions A major programme of Easter events is set to take place across some of the best-known Clare County Council-owned visitor attractions, with more than 15,000 visitors expected over the holiday weekend.

March 2026 Shamrocks and Shenanigans in Bunratty this St Patrick’s Weekend This St Patrick’s weekend will be celebrated with a vibrant day of Irish culture, music and family fun at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

June 2026 Circus Gerbola to bring ‘Big Top’ experience to Bunratty Castle & Folk Park Bunratty Castle & Folk Park will welcome Circus Gerbola for a limited run of performances from 9 to 14 June 2026, offering a family-friendly programme of live entertainment set against one of County Clare’s most iconic visitor attractions.

01Feb Start of Spring Marked at Bunratty with Imbolc Celebration The annual Imbolc Celebration, a vibrant festival honouring Celtic traditions and St Brigid, takes place at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park on Sunday, February 1, from 11am to 5pm.

Oct 2025 Haunting Tales and Halloween Traditions Come Alive at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park Monsters, Misfits and Mayhem are set to take over Bunratty Castle and Folk Park this October Bank Holiday Weekend (October 25 – 27), turning the popular County Clare attraction into a frightfully fun Halloween village.

June 2025 Fossett’s Circus - Live at Bunratty The award-winning Fossett’s Circus is making a spectacular return to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park at 4pm, on June 14, and June 15. Set against the stunning backdrop of Bunratty Castle, this event promises to be a highlight of the summer season.

June 2025 Bunratty to Host First-Ever ‘Bark in the Park’ Fun Dog Show Dog lovers across Ireland have a new date to mark in the calendar, as Bunratty Castle and Folk Park hosts its first-ever Bark in the Park event on Sunday, June 8th, from 12pm to 5pm.

April 2025 Easter celebration on the double at Bunratty and Craggaunowen More than 15,000 people are expected to pass through the gates of Craggaunowen and Bunratty Castle & Folk Park this Easter Bank Holiday Weekend.

March 2025 Shamrocks and shenanigans in Bunratty this St. Patrick’s weekend Ireland’s patron saint and national holiday will be celebrated in style at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park on Sunday, 16 March.

Feb 2025 Bunratty marks the beginning of spring with Imbolc Celebration Bunratty Castle and Folk Park welcomes the arrival of spring with its annual Imbolc Celebration, a vibrant festival honouring Celtic traditions and Saint Brigid, on Sunday, February 2nd from 11.00am to 5.00pm.

November 2024 Bunratty to host Ireland’s largest Christmas parade Ireland’s largest Christmas parade will roll through Bunratty on Thursday November 28th as the County Clare village is transformed into a winter wonderland.

Saturday October 26th - Monday October 28th Halloween at Bunratty: Where History meets the Haunted! ‘Monsters, Misfits and Mayhem’ will descend on Bunratty Castle & Folk Park this October Bank Holiday Weekend (October 26th-28th) as the County Clare visitor attraction is transformed into a haunted Halloween village.

09Sep Unique collection of vintage farm machinery to be displayed at Bunratty Harvest Day Ireland’s largest private collection of vintage machinery will be on display throughout Bunratty Castle and Folk Park on Sunday, September 22nd next when the popular County Clare visitor attraction host its annual ‘Traditional Harvest Day'.

June 2024 Ireland's National Circus Rolls into Bunratty Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in County Clare will host ‘The Big Top’ of Ireland’s national circus this weekend.

March 2024 Easter family fun at Bunratty and Craggaunowen A comprehensive Easter programme of family-friendly activities and entertainment for all ages have been announced for Bunratty Castle & Folk Park and Craggaunowen.

March 2024 Bunratty Goes Green for St. Patrick's Day Bunratty Castle will be lit up in green throughout the St. Patrick’s Bank Holiday Weekend as part of a comprehensive programme of entertainment kickstarting the 2024 tourist season at the popular County Clare visitor attraction.

January 2024 Bunratty Celebrates Ancient Pagan Festival Of Imbolc Imbolc, the ancient pagan festival marking the beginning of spring, will be celebrated at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park on February 4th.

December 2023 Visitor numbers increase at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park Visitor numbers at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in County Clare have exceeded more than 344,000 for the year to date representing a 14% increase on the overall visitor count for 2022.

December 2023 Jordan lights up Bunratty for Christmas A Clare teenager who has just returned home from undergoing extensive treatment at Temple Street Hospital fulfilled a lifelong dream of switching on the Christmas lights at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park this evening.

November 2023 New Initiative To Promote One Of Ireland’s Rarest Pony Breeds The Kerry Bog Pony Cooperative Society has teamed up with Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in County Clare as part of a joint initiative to preserve and promote awareness of one of Ireland's rarest breeds of pony.

April 2023 Medieval Knights Ride into Bunratty for Inaugural Grand Medieval Tournament Medieval archery contests, mounted swordsmanship and jousting will be showcased during the inaugural Grand Medieval Tournament at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in County Clare this coming Saturday and Sunday.

August 2023 Bunratty Hosts Injugural Harp Celebration A unique celebration of the harp and its special place in Irish folklore and culture takes place at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in County Clare on September 2nd and 3rd next.

28Jul Irish Wolfhounds return to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park The sight of Irish wolfhounds roaming the paths and laneways of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park has been reinstated.

July 2023 'Rebels and Rivals' at Bunratty Castle The origins of one thousand years of settlement at Bunratty Castle will be brought to life this Saturday (July 29th) when the popular County Clare visitor attraction is transformed into a Norman village.

12Jun IRELAND’S NATIONAL CIRCUS MARKS 135 YEARS WITH BUNRATTY SHOWS The 135th anniversary of Fossett’s Circus is being celebrated this month in the unique and beautiful surrounds of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in County Clare.

30May REVIEW OF SHANNON HERITAGE CLARE SITES COMMENCES Clare County Council today (Tuesday, 30 May 2023) signed a contract with Lambert Smith Hampton to undertake an in-depth review of the Clare-based assets of Shannon Heritage.

25May Exhibition Marks 60 Years Of The Bunratty Castle Medieval Banquet The 60th anniversary of the Bunratty Castle Medieval Banquet was celebrated in County Clare today with the launch of a new exhibition chartering the history, evolution and popularity of one of Ireland’s oldest running evening entertainment shows.

August 2025 Bunratty Castle celebrates Ireland’s rich agricultural heritage with a Traditional Harvest Day Strength and agility will be put to the test at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park on Sunday, September 7, 2025, as the County Clare visitor attraction plays host to a sheaf throwing competition as part of its long running Traditional Harvest Day event.

Win for Bunratty Castle and Folk Park at the All-Ireland Marketing Awards Bunratty Castle and Folk Park has been acknowledged for its reactive marketing at the All-Ireland Marketing Awards.

December 2022 Shannon Heritage celebrates 20 years of magical Christmas events at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park Over 31,000 visitors expected over the Christmas period 50 additional local staff hired for the festive season

Whirlwind weekend of egg-citement at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park this Easter Visitors to Bunratty Castle & Folk Park are in for a whirlwind weekend of egg-citement at the Shannon Heritage Easter bank holiday bonanza. The iconic castle and folk park will play host to Easter themed celebrations across Saturday 8th to Easter Monday 10th of April.

October 2023 Monsters, Misfits And Mayhem To Take Over Bunratty This Halloween Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in County Clare hosts its biggest Halloween celebration yet when Monsters, Misfits and Mayhem take over the castle grounds from Saturday October 28th to Monday October 30th.

August 2024 Bunratty to host Ireland’s first showcase of indigenous breeds as part of Heritage Week Ireland’s first celebration of indigenous animal breeds will take place at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park on August 18th as part of a wide-ranging programme of National Heritage Week events at the County Clare visitor attraction.

2026 Expressions of Interest Invited We are seeking talented musicians, dancers, craftworkers and artists