After a stop to view King John's Castle across the river in Limerick we moved on to Bunratty Castle which is a 15th Century tower house west of Limerick that also has a adjacent Folk Park that contains an eclectic assortment historic buildings that have been moved there from all over Ireland. From there we traveled on for a brief visit to the wet but impressive Cliffs of Moher, too late in the season for puffins unfortunately, and then on to Galway for a brief visit of some of the sights in the center of the city.
King John's Castle across River Shannon in Limerick, Ireland: built on the orders of King John in 1200. One of the best preserved Norman castles in Europe.
A massive pretty flower display near the Treaty Stone.
Monument to the Treaty of Limerick that ended the Williamite War between the Jacobites and the supporters of William of Orange and the Siege of Limerick.
Saint Munchin's Roman Catholic Church across the Shannon River from King John's Castle was built in 1922 to replace a smaller church that was built on the same site in 1799.
Bunratty Castle dining hall, note the interesting ceiling light fixture.
Bunratty Castle dining room stained glass.
North side and main entrance to Bunratty Castle located on the Ratty River west of Limerick.
Bunratty Folk Park ; a mountain farmhouse typical for a poor farmer who lived on the borders of Limerick and Kerry. It has a loft for extra sleeping space.
Bunratty Folk Park - Cashen fisherman's house; a simple two bed-roomed home of a north Kerry salmon fisherman with a peat fire burning on the hearth for a traditional smell.
Bunratty Folk Park - blacksmith's forge
Bunratty Folk Park - chickens running loose.
Shannon Farmhouse, the first cottage to be placed in Bunratty Folk Park; it originally stood where the runway is at Shannon Airport.
Bunratty Folk Park - chickens running loose.
Interior of the Shannon Farmhouse at Bunratty Folk Park; you can see the glow of the peat fire on the hearth.
Bunratty Folk Park - Bothan Scoir, a single-room dwelling of a poor landless labourer. Door required Jim Stoutamire to stoop to enter.
The Doctor's House, surgery was in the parlor, on the reconstructed 19th century Village Street in Bunratty Folk Park.
Bunratty Folk Park a tinker's shop and hardware store on Village Street.
Bunratty Folk Park - vertical mill; a classic Irish undershot watermill.
Ardcroney Church of Ireland is a T-plan gable-fronted church, built in 1838 and moved to Bunratty Folk Park stone by stone and reopened in 1998.
Pretty garden flowers in Bunratty Folk Park.
Francie Stoutamire Photography
