Medieval Castle Banquets

One experience not to be missed, that becomes the highlight of many people's visit to Ireland and the Shannon Region, is the Shannon Medieval Castle Banquet experience at Bunratty, Knappogue and Dunguaire Castles.

Bunratty Castle, Bunratty Co. Clare:
Tel: 061 360 788.
Bunratty Banquets are held twice nightly, year round, subject to demand at 5.30 pm and 8.45 pm.
At Bunratty Castle in County Clare you will share with up to 140 others guests, a banquets with the great "Earl of Thomond", toasting an era of great Irish taste with excellent food, wine and honeyed mead. You will be entertained by the world renowned Bunratty Singers with enchanting melodies to the music of harp and violin. A memorable occasion, full of fun and good humour.

Bunratty Castle and Folk Park:

Built in 1425, the majestic Castle was restored in 1954 to its former medieval splendour. It now contains mainly 15th and 16th century furnishings, tapestries and works of art, which capture the mood of the times. You can marvel at the finest collection of medieval furniture in the country, which brings to life a vital part of the Celtic past and the heritage of Co Clare.

A restored village street complete with pub, post office, school, doctor's house, hardware shop, printers, drapery shop, pawn shop and village hotel provides the main focal point for the park which will enchant and mesmerise both young and old.

Another very interesting feature at the park is the formal Bunratty Walled Gardens, modelled on the original Regency period garden which supplied fruit, vegetables and flowers to Bunratty House built in 1804 (and now furnished in typical Victorian style).

Traditional Irish Night- Corn Barn, Bunratty Folk Park.

April to October (subject to demand) at 7.00 pm

Experience the magic of Irish music, Song and Dance...

The Corn Barn in Bunratty Folk Park is the perfect setting for a celebration for all the best tradition of Ireland today. You are invited to enjoy the company of the finest singers, dancers and musician of the local villages and experience the homeliness, friendship and warmth of a true traditional Irish evening. No where else can you experience the fun of what the Irish do best - enjoy themselves...you might even learn a step or two! Dine on delicious home cooked food, excellent wine and get to join in the singing and dancing.

Knappogue Castle Banquet

Tel: 061 360 788.
The Knappogue banquets are held twice nightly, April to October, subject demand at 5.30 pm and 8.45 pm.

Enjoy an enchanting evening at historic Knappogue Castle. The ladies of the castle, aided by the Earl's Butler, will delight you with a truly magnificient show of music, song and dance. This delightful evening is complemented with dinner and flowing wine.

The Burren experience

The northwestern corner of County Clare, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the quieter water of Galway Bay, is a rock garden of no ordinary proportions. The burren extends over more than a hundred square miles and most of it is bare, pale grey limestone. If there were nothing but rock, a tour might become tedious, if spectacular for a while. But the rock is enlivened by big or small patches of green pasture or little pieces of hazel woodland. On the pasture, and in the many crevices in the pavement of rocks, there are countless wild flowers so that the region is mass of colour. Besides all this, it is mountanious, has a wonderful seashore and is liberally scattered with the monuments created by its human inhabitants in the course of six thousand years. At its best on a sunny day in May when the greatest numbers of wild flowers are in bloom, the Burren is unique and worth a visit any time of year.

The Cliffs of Moher

Visitor Center open year round 9.30am- 5.30pm, June to August: 9.00am - 7.00pm. (closed December 21st - 27th). O'Briens Tower - Open March to October: 9.30am - 5.30pm (Weather permitting).

Just North of Lahinch, on the coast of West Clare, are the famous Cliffs of Moher, defiantly standing as giant natural ramparts against the agressives might of the Atlantic Ocean.

They rise in places to over 215 metres (700 feet) and stretch for almost 8 km.

O'Briens Tower, which was contructed in the early 19th Century as a viewing point for Victorian tourists, is located on Moher's highest cliff. From its exceptional vantage position you can view the Clare coastline, the Aran Islands and mountains as far apart as Kerry and Connemara.

Poulnabrone Dolmen

Poulnabrone Dolmen or Portal Tomb in the Burren, is one of the most photographed of all the monuments in Ireland.

Its dramatic siting on the limestone pavements makes as much impact on one's senses as the most famous piece of modern sculpture does. High praise indeed, for its boulders of more than 6,000 years ago.

Polished stone axeheads, a bone pendant and other small piece of jewellery were also dicovered. Animal bone identified included horse, cow, pine martin and most unusually, the wood matin.

Recent conservation work ensure Poulnabrone's survival for another 6,000 years!

Aillwee Cave - The Burren underworld

Ballyvaughn, County Clare. Tel: 065 7077036

The Aillwee Cave is open daily, from 10.00am to 5.30pm
With its stalactites, stalagmites, relics of bears, and a waterfall, the superb Aillwee Cave has become one of Ireland's leading attractions. An essential part of any tour to the Burren. Open daily, mid-March to early Novomember (28 miles from Ennis). 

Craggaunowen - the Living Past Experience, is Ireland's original, award-winning Prehistoric Park. Situated on 50 acres of wooded grounds. It interprets Ireland's pre-historic and early Christian eras, featuring a stunning recreation of some of the homesteads, animals and artefacts which existed in Ireland over 1,000 years ago.

Clare Heritage Center

The museum tells you the story of 19th Century Ireland, a fascinating window on the past. Simply but effictively presented.

The museum is open daily. + 353- 65- 6837955

Concert Hall

University Concert Hall
University Campus, Limerick

Tel: 061 331549

A calendar of events is published monthly in advance.

Located on the University campus in Limerick, this is the largest purpose built concert hall in Ireland. It plays host to a wide variety of entertainments throughout the year. During the summer season, most of the dates are booked for classical music recitals with the RTE National Symphony and Concert Orchestra, and national and international rock artists.

Glor Irish Music Center, Ennis, County Clare

Tel: 065 6845370 Fax: 065 685372

The Glor Irish Music Center in Ennis, County Clare, the home of traditional music, opened in 2001.

Glor is a state-of the art concert venue dedicated to the performance of traditional Irish music and will feature the country's top ten musician in a friendly and intimate theatre setting. Nightly programme suitable for tour operators seeking new and exciting venues for groups and individuals. Restaurant and bar facilities available, and a retail outlet.

The Delight of Dolphins

Dolphin Discovery, Kilrush Marina, Kilrush, County Clare

Tel: 065 9051327
Dolphinwatch, Carrigaholt

The mouth of the Shannon is home to Ireland's only resident community of bottlenose dolphins. These playful mammals have endeared themselves to the humans, for whom dolphins watching is a joy to behold. Over 100 bottlenose dolphins have been identified as members of this Shannon estuary group, comprising mostly mothers and calves. The estuary provides a rich source of food and a safe habitat, and is one of only six such breeding communities in Europe.

Newmarket-on-Fergus
On the threshold of Shannon Airport, the village is a bridge between ancient and modern Ireland. Close-by is the Iron Age hilltop fort at Mooghaun where one of Europe’s biggest find of gold objects from the Bronze Age was unearthed. Further along the road is Dromoland Castle, onetime seat of the O’Brien earls and converted to hotel luxury by Irish-American industrialist, Bernard McDonagh. Ralahine, on the other side of the village, has 16th century castle remains and gives its name to a pioneering 1830s rural co-operative initiative.

Access to Mooghaun Fort is by foot via a forestry car park signposted off the N18 road between Newmarket-on-Fergus and Dromoland. This famous Iron Age fort is regarded as one of our most remarkable antiquities.

E-mail: carramorelodge@oceanfree.net  Phone Number  00353 (0)61376704