Folk Park Ireland | Things to do in Clare | Pet Farms Ireland | Book Now

Set on 26 acres of unspolit Clare countryside, Bunratty Folk Park features over 30 buildings in a ‘living’ village and rural setting.

Rural farmhouses, village shops and streets are recreated and furnished as they would have appeared at that time according to their social standing, from the poorest one roomed dwelling to Bunratty House a fine example of a Georgian residence built 1804 home of the Studdarts, the last family to occupy Bunratty Castle.

The Village Street

Prepare to experience village life in 19th century Ireland!

The Village Street is the epiccentre of Bunratty Folk Park. Here you will find a collection of brightly coloured shops and buildings side by side. The sweet sounds of traditional Irish music is carried in the air and the village characters, including the schoolteacher, policeman and village doctor are on hand to entertain and enhrall all who visit!

The village houses and shops in the Folk Park have been chosen from many different areas, to form a collection of typical 19th century urban Irish buildings including the School, Doctor’s house, Pawnbrokers, Pub, Drapery, Printworks, Grocery, Hardware shop, Pottery and a Post Office.

In the early 19th century the country people provided for most of their own needs in food, clothing and supplies and bought only luxuries such as sugar, salt and tea. Fairs and markets at the Village gave the farmers and the rural craftsmen an opportunity of selling their products for cash, while shops provided for the rural dwellers needs. However, during this time, exciting new products were becoming available in the local shops, which started to rival, and eventually replace, home production.

The village is set at a time of fundamental change in Irish society, and as such illustrates the growing money-orientated lifestyle of many of the villagers alongside the traditional, self-sufficient rural culture.

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Meet rare breeds of native animals

Bunratty Folk Park is home to an array of rare breeds of native Irish animals.

Home to indigenous breeds of sheep, goats, cows, pigs, ponies, and poultry many of which would have been popular in the early 1900’s, the period on which the folk park is based upon.

The park is also home to to a family of Irish Red Deer, our new ponies, adopted rescue donkeys Millie & Tillie and Irish Wolfhounds Saoirse and Meabh.
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Animals & Pet Farm

Where fairies hide & pixies seek

Full of magic, imagination and fun, our Fairy Trail is perfect for kids of all ages. Little visitors are invited to use the interactive booklet to solve clues and answer questions on their way around the trail. You can download the Bunratty Trail booklet before you arrive or pick one up at Admissions. Encompassing the upper end of the folk park, this fairy trail is an magical experience that gives visitors an insight into the enchanting world of fairies.

Look out too for the mystical land where these fun loving imps have created a minature version of Bunratty Castle & Folk Park. The fairies and pixies are industrious creatures - always adding to their community and dwellings. Over time they create and develop new fairy houses and lots of other hidden gems. You should look out for these every time you visit, just to see what they have added. However you must be careful NOT to disturb their homes and places of work. They take such great pride in all they do to keep it magical for you..their welocme visitors !!!! They will love you for it !

Fairy Trail

Viking Playground

A World of Adventure Awaits

Our Viking Playground is a firm favourite with little visitors!
Located just off the Village Street, the playground features ...

A Viking Playship
An impressive 4 tower play castle which provides vantage views to the surrounding country landscape ... just like the real Bunratty Castle!!!
Rope Walks
Belt Bridges
A variety of Swings suitable for all ages
Slides
Sandpit
25m Zipline
Picnic Benches
Ice Cream Hut (operates in high season only)

Not only that but the playground is located right next to Meabh and Saoirse, our beloved irish Wolfhounds paddock!

Kids love it and so do their happy parents!

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Window to the past

Spread across the 26 acres of Bunratty Folk Park you will find an array of traditional Irish farmhouses.

The first farmhouse constructed in the park took place in 1959 and was the Shannon Farmhouse. This 3 roomed dwelling stood on land zoned for the extension of the runway at Shannon Airport. Instead of knocking the farmhouse down, the suggestion was made to move the farmhouse to Bunratty and it was from there the concept of Bunratty Folk Park was born.

Nowadays the folk park is home to a host of farmhouses for visitors to explore and enjoy, each one representing a different part of the Shannon region and showcasing the lifestyles of the different classes of Irish country life in the early 1900's.
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Folk Park Farmhouses

A living reconstruction of the homes and environment of Ireland of over a century ago.

Don’t miss the beautiful walled garden at Bunratty House. It is a surviving part of the demesne which was originally formed around Bunratty Castle. The garden was built for the house c 1804. As walled gardens go it is small, just less than half an acre, this was due to the fact that a large garden would have existed within the demesne, located north of the castle.

View Regency Walled Garden

Regency Walled Garden

Mr. O'Regan's Cafe

For a one-stop shopping & dining experience, visit the Shannon Irish Design Gift Store & Mr. O'Regan's Cafe while you visit!

Mr. O'Regan's Cafe offers the finest Menu items from healthy breakfast items, interesting lunch dishes, great coffees to indulgent desserts while our gift store stocks a wide range of gorgeous glassware from every corners of the country. And then there’s the eclectic and exciting array of perfumes, pewter, jewellery and button art also on offer. Not forgetting of course, the iconic Aran knitwears for all age ranges.
View Mr. O'Regan's Cafe