Bunratty Castle

Bunratty was a thriving village until its population was decimated by the great famine in the middle of the 19th century. A hundred years later, Bunratty returned to prosperity with the development of nearby Shannon Airport, and that's when Bunratty Castle became one of Ireland's first major tourist attractions. The Celtic Tiger economy brought back the population with the construction of high-end housing and hospitality properties, but its medieval castle still takes center stage. The village has become the entertainment hub for the wider area, with a good mix of restaurants and pubs. The original Durty Nelly's Pub close to Bunratty Castle attracts older characters and tourists, while locals head down to Gallagher's Restaurant on the weekends.