Bunratty Castle & Folk Park

We went to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park many years ago. We both loved it. We also did the medieval banquet. If you like open air folk parks, you will probably like this site as well.

We liked Bunratty and the folk park as well. The banquet is touristy, but fun.
I would also suggest King John’s castle in Limerick as an option.

We loved the Bunratty experience. Open air museums are a favorite and this is one of the best. We stayed in the hotel across the street for two nights at the end of our RS Ireland tour, flying home from the Shannon airport. It was perfect weather, and a lovely way to end our trip. The exhibits are well done, there are some craft shops throughout the park for good quality souvenirs, there is a pub to have a beer break, and the smell of peat burning in the replica cottages is such a pleasant sensory memory.
The hotel had a Geezer Special so we had a tea experience and an included dinner. It was perfect. Took a cab to the airport, which is small and efficient since you get to do US customs there instead of at your US arrival stop.
https://www.bunrattycastlehotel.com/

Thanks for your replies. I will mention it as an option to my traveling companions. We will be staying in Galway so dinner won’t be an option, but the rest of it looks interesting. On a previous trip we stopped by the Cliffs of Moher, but our friends have never been to Ireland so any place we stop will be new for them and I’m looking for new experiences, not just revisiting places.

If anyone has other suggestions I’d love to hear them.

Tammy, thanks for the suggestion of King John’s castle. It looks interesting.

Andrea, depending on your route, Adare might make a cute lunch stop. It’s a charming little town, with several restaurants, easy parking (bathrooms) behind the Heritage Center, a park, and an abbey. It isn’t an “attraction” like Bunratty is but might be easier - and no admission.

Thanks TTM!