View source for Bunratty Castle

{{Short description|Castle in Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Bunratty Castle
| native_name = 
| image = bunrattybig.jpg
| caption = 
| locmapin = Ireland
| coordinates = {{coord|52|41|48|N|8|48|42|W|region:IE_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Bunratty village]], County Clare, Ireland
| area =
| built = c. 1425
| restored = 1956
| restored_by =  7th [[Standish Robert Gage Prendergast Vereker M.C., 7th Viscount Gort|Viscount Gort]]
| architect = 
| architecture = 
| governing_body = [[Clare County Council]]
| designation1 = Irish National Monument
| designation1_offname =
| designation1_date =
| designation1_number = 478<ref>[http://www.archaeology.ie/media/archeologyie/PDFS/FileDownload,296,en.pdf National Monuments in County Clare]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201175616/http://www.archaeology.ie/media/archeologyie/PDFS/FileDownload%2C296%2Cen.pdf |date=1 February 2014 }}</ref>
}}
'''Bunratty Castle''' ({{Irish place name|Caisleán Bhun Raithe}}) is a large 15th-century [[tower house]] in County Clare, Ireland. It is located in the centre of [[Bunratty|Bunratty village]], by the [[N18 road (Ireland)|N18 road]] between [[Limerick]] and [[Ennis]], near [[Shannon, County Clare|Shannon Town]] and its [[Shannon Airport|airport]]. The castle and the adjoining folk park are run by [[Shannon Development#Shannon Heritage|Shannon Heritage]] as tourist attractions.

==Name==
The name ''Bunratty'' means "mouth of the Ratty River" in Irish. This is another name for the Owenogarney River, which empties into the [[Shannon Estuary]] after flowing past the village and castle.<ref>{{cite book|title=Irish Names of Places|last=Joyce|first=P. W.|year=1869|location=Dublin|publisher=Phoenix Publishing Co.|volume=1|page=528|url=https://archive.org/details/irishnamesofplac01joycuoft/page/528}}</ref> 

==Earlier structures==
[[File:Bunratty-Castle-sign.jpg|thumb|An [[Irish language]] plaque at Bunratty Castle]]
[[File:Bunratty Sign in English.jpg|thumb|Bunratty Castle Plaque in English]]

The first recorded settlement at the site may have been a [[Norsemen|Norse]] trading camp reported in the [[Annals of the Four Masters]] to have been destroyed by [[Brian Boru]] in 977. According to local tradition, such a camp was located on a rise southwest of the current castle. Since no remains of this settlement have been found, its exact location is unknown and its existence is not proven.<ref name="Library">{{cite web|url= http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/archaeology/ryan/part4_chapter33_bunratty.htm|title=A Survey of Monuments of Archaeological and Historical Interest in the Barony of Bunratty Lower, Co. Clare, Part 4: Castles and tower houses c.1500, Chapter 33: Bunratty Parish |publisher= Clare Library| year=1979 |first=William Gerrard |last=Ryan |access-date=17 August 2013}}</ref>

Around 1250, King [[Henry III of England]] granted the [[cantred]] or district of Tradraighe (or Tradree) to Robert De Muscegros, who in 1251 cut down around 200 trees in the King's wood at [[Cratloe Woods|Cratloe]]. These may have been used to construct a ''[[motte and bailey]]'' castle, which would have been the first castle at Bunratty, but again the exact position of this is unknown. A later reference in the state papers, dating to 1253 gives de Muscegros the right to hold markets and an annual fair at Bunratty. It has thus been assumed that the site was the centre of early Norman control in south-eastern Clare. Early 19th-century scholars put the structure to the north-west of the current castle. When a hotel was constructed there in 1959, [[John Hunt (antiquarian)|John Hunt]] excavated the area and thought the remains to be that of a gun emplacement from the [[Irish Confederate Wars|Confederate Wars]] (see below).<ref name="Lynch">{{Citation | last = Lynch | first = Christopher|title = Bunratty Castle – a short history| journal = The Other Clare | volume = 1 | pages = 17–18 | year = 1977| url =http://www.duchasnasionna.eu/other_clare/vol_1.pdf| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200229144712/http://www.duchasnasionna.eu/other_clare/vol_1.pdf| archive-date = 29 February 2020}}</ref> This river, alongside the castle, flows into the nearby [[River Shannon|Shannon]] [[estuary]].<ref>{{google maps|title=Bunratty Castle & Folk Park |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bunratty+Castle+%26+Folk+Park/@52.6995682,-8.8206773,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x485b4221fd01d505:0x19abd4db861eb415!8m2!3d52.6995682!4d-8.8119226 }}</ref><ref name="Library"/>

These lands were later handed back to (or taken back by) King Henry III and granted to Thomas [[De Clare]], a descendant of [[Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke|Strongbow]] in 1276. De Clare built the first stone structure on the site (the second castle). This castle was occupied from ca. 1278 to 1318 and consisted of a large single stone tower with lime white walls. It stood close to the river, on or near the site of the present Bunratty Castle. In the late 13th century, Bunratty had about 1,000 inhabitants. The castle was attacked several times by the [[O'Brien dynasty|O'Briens]] (or O'Brians) and their allies. In 1284, while De Clare was away in England, the site was captured and destroyed. On his return, in 1287, De Clare had the site rebuilt and a {{convert|140|yd|m|adj=on}} long fosse built around it. The castle was again attacked but it did not fall until 1318. In that year a [[Battle of Dysert O'Dea|major battle]] was fought at Dysert O'Dea as part of the [[Irish Bruce Wars 1315-1318|Irish Bruce Wars]], in which [[Richard de Clare, Steward of Forest of Essex|Richard de Clare]] was killed. Lady De Clare, on learning this, fled from Bunratty to Limerick after burning castle and town. The De Clare family never returned to the area and the remains of the castle eventually collapsed. As the stones were probably used for other local construction works, no traces remain of this second castle.<ref name="Library"/>

In the 14th century, Limerick was an important port for the English Crown. To guard access via the Shannon estuary against attacks from the Irish, the site was once again occupied. In 1353, Sir [[Thomas de Rokeby (died 1356)|Thomas de Rokeby]] led an English army to conquer the MacNamaras and [[MacCarthy of Muskerry|MacCarthys]]. A new castle (the third) was built at Bunratty, but once again, its exact location is unknown. Local tradition holds that it stood at the site where the Bunratty Castle Hotel was later constructed. The new structure was hardly finished before it was captured by the Irish. Documents show that in 1355, King [[Edward III of England]] released Thomas Fitzjohn Fitzmaurice from prison in Limerick. He had been charged with letting the castle fall into the hands of Murtough O’Brien whilst serving as a Governor (Captain) of Bunratty.<ref name="Library"/>

==Current structure==

[[File:Bunratty Castle Room.jpg|thumb|upright|South [[Solar (room)|solar]] in Bunratty Castle]]
[[File:Rose Cottage at Bunratty.jpg|Rose Cottage at the Folk Park|thumb]]
Building of the fourth castle, the present structure, started around 1450. Its builder may have been one Maccon Sioda MacNamara, chieftain of Clann Cuilein (i.e. the MacNamaras). He died before the castle was completed which happened under his son Sean Finn (died in 1467). At around 1500, Bunratty Castle came into the hands of the O'Briens (or O'Brians), the most powerful clan in [[Munster]] and later Earls of Thomond. They expanded the site and eventually made it their chief seat, moving it there from Ennis.<ref name="Library"/>

In 1558, the castle—now noted as one of the principal strongholds of [[Thomond]]—was taken by [[Thomas Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Sussex|Thomas Radclyffe]], the [[Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland]] from Donal O'Brien of Duagh, last King of Thomond (died 1579), and given to Donal's nephew, [[Connor O'Brien, 3rd Earl of Thomond|Connor O'Brien]]. [[Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond|Donogh O'Brien]], Conor's son, may have been the one to move the seat of the family from Clonroad (Ennis) to Bunratty. He made various improvements to the castle including putting a new lead roof on it.<ref name="Lynch"/>

During the [[Irish Confederate Wars|Confederate Wars]] set off by the [[Irish Rebellion of 1641]], [[Lord Forbes]], commanding forces of the English [[Long Parliament]], was allowed by the then Lord [[Barnabas O'Brien, 6th Earl of Thomond|Barnabas O'Brien]] to occupy Bunratty in 1646. Barnabas did not want to commit to either side in the struggle, playing off royalists, rebels and [[roundheads]] against each other. He left for England, where he joined King [[Charles I of England|Charles]]. Defence of the castle, whose position allowed those holding it to blockade maritime access to Limerick (held by the [[Confederate Ireland|Confederates]]) and the river Shannon, was in the hands of [[William Penn (Royal Navy officer)|Rear-Admiral Penn]], the father of [[William Penn]], founder of Pennsylvania. After a long siege, the Confederates took the castle. Penn surrendered but was allowed to sail away to [[Kinsale]].<ref name="Lynch"/>

Barnabas O'Brien died in 1657, but had apparently leased out the castle to one "John Cooper", likely the same person married to [[Máire Rua O'Brien|Máire ní Mahon]] of [[Leamaneh Castle]], widow of another O'Brien, Conor (died 1651).<ref name="Lynch"/> Bunratty Castle remained property of the O'Briens and in the 1680s the castle was still the principal seat of the Earls of Thomond. In 1712, Henry, the 8th and last [[Earl of Thomond]] (1688–1741) sold Bunratty Castle and {{convert|472|acre|ha}} of land to Thomas Amory for £225 and an annual rent of £120. Amory in turn sold the castle to Thomas Studdert who moved in ca. 1720.<ref name="Estate1">{{cite web|url= http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie:8080/LandedEstates/jsp/estate-show.jsp?id=1972|title= Landed estates database: Studdert (Bunratty)|publisher= NUI Galway|access-date= 17 August 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140305072306/http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie:8080/LandedEstates/jsp/estate-show.jsp?id=1972|archive-date= 5 March 2014|url-status= dead}}</ref>

The Studdert family left the castle (allowing it to fall into disrepair), to reside in the more comfortable and modern adjacent "Bunratty House" they had built in 1804.<ref name="Estate1"/><ref name="Estate3">{{cite web|url= http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie:8080/LandedEstates/jsp/property-show.jsp?id=1958|title= Landed estates database: Bunratty House|publisher= NUI Galway|access-date= 17 August 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140227154037/http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie:8080/LandedEstates/jsp/property-show.jsp?id=1958|archive-date= 27 February 2014|url-status= dead}}</ref>

For some time in the mid-19th century, the castle was used as a barracks by the [[Royal Irish Constabulary]].<ref name="Estate2"/> In 1894, Bunratty was once again used by the Studdert family, as the seat of Captain Richard Studdert.<ref name="Estate2">{{cite web|url= http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie:8080/LandedEstates/jsp/property-show.jsp?id=1960|title= Landed estates database: Bunratty Castle|publisher= NUI Galway|access-date= 17 August 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140311164429/http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie:8080/LandedEstates/jsp/property-show.jsp?id=1960|archive-date= 11 March 2014|url-status= dead}}</ref> In the late 19th century, the roof of the Great Hall collapsed.<ref name="Lynch"/>

In 1956, the castle was purchased and restored by the 7th [[Standish Robert Gage Prendergast Vereker M.C., 7th Viscount Gort|Viscount Gort]], with assistance from the [[Office of Public Works]].<ref name="Estate1"/> He reroofed the castle and saved it from ruin. The castle was opened to the public in 1960, with sporting furniture, tapestries and works of art dating to around the 1600's.<ref name="Library"/><ref name="Estate1"/>

In February 1984, Pat Nugent was discovered in the reception area of the castle, mortally wounded.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Death of Patrick Nugent |url=https://magill.ie/archive/death-patrick-nugent |access-date=6 February 2024 |work=Magill Magazine |date=12 June 1985}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Clifford |first1=Mick |title=Bunratty Castle death still shrouded in mystery 40 years on |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/spotlight/arid-41322532.html |work=Irish Examiner |date=5 February 2024 |language=en}}</ref> In 2024 a renewed investigation into his death was opened by [[Garda Síochána|An Garda Siochana]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lally |first1=Conor |title=Gardaí believe local information can solve death of Patrick Nugent 40 years ago in Co Clare |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2024/01/29/gardai-believe-local-information-can-solve-death-of-patrick-nugent-40-years-ago-in-co-clare/ |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=29 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2023 the ownership of the castle was transferred, with the transfer of Shannon Heritage DAC, a division of [[Shannon Airport|Shannon Group]], to Clare County Council.<ref>{{cite web |title=Iconic Visitor Attractions Transferred to Clare County Council {{!}} Council {{!}} Clare County Council |url=https://www.clarecoco.ie/your-council/%5Bnews%5D/iconic-visitor-attractions-transferred-to-clare-county-council.html |website=www.clarecoco.ie}}</ref> This was part of larger transfer of the tourism sites that the company formerly operated, including the transfer of the nearby [[King John's Castle (Limerick)|King John's Castle]] to Limerick City Council, owing to losses sustained at the sites during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Deegan |first1=Gordon |title=Clare County Council to take over ownership of Bunratty Castle |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/clare-county-council-to-take-over-ownership-of-bunratty-castle-1.4607073 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=29 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Other sites included in the transfer to Clare County Council were [[Craggaunowen|Craggaunowen Bronze Age Park]], [[Knappogue Castle]] & Walled Garden, and a retail unit operated by Shannon Heritage at the [[Cliffs of Moher]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=McMahon |first1=Páraic |title=Government agree €6m funding for transfer of Shannon Heritage sites to Council |url=https://www.clareecho.ie/government-agree-e6m-funding-for-transfer-of-shannon-heritage-sites-to-council/ |work=Clare Echo |date=18 April 2023 |language=en-gb}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of tourist attractions in Ireland]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Christopher Lynch, ''Bunratty Castle'', Volume 41 of The Irish Heritage Series, Eason 1984, {{ISBN|0900346566}}.

==External links==
*[http://www.shannonheritage.com/BunrattyCastleAndFolkPark/ Shannon Heritage website]
*[http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie:8080/LandedEstates/jsp/image-show.jsp?id=1151 A picture showing the castle before its 1950s restoration]
*[http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=CL&regno=20406204 National Inventory of Architectural Heritage: Bunratty Castle]
*[http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=CL&regno=20406203 National Inventory of Architectural Heritage: Bunratty Bridge]
*[http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=CL&regno=20406201 National Inventory of Architectural Heritage: Bunratty House]
*[http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=CL&regno=20406202 National Inventory of Architectural Heritage: Bunratty Castle Hotel]

{{Dalcassians}}
{{Historic Irish houses}}
{{Tourism in County Clare}}

[[Category:Castles in County Clare]]
[[Category:National monuments in County Clare]]
[[Category:O'Brien dynasty]]
[[Category:Museums in County Clare]]
[[Category:Historic house museums in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Open-air museums in the Republic of Ireland]]