Limerick and Bunratty Castle

On Tuesday, our last full day before everyone but Jack and Marion and Dom and I left, we split into two groups. Mom still was not feeling well so everyone but the four of us (Jack, Marion, Dom and I) took the big van and went to the town of Limerick for some last minute shopping and lunch. The consensus was that Limerick was not worth a second visit.

About 3:30 in the afternoon we all met at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park outside Limerick. Jack had arranged for all of us to enjoy their Medieval Banquet. Before the banquet at 5:30 we explored the castle  and the Folk Park. The latter recreates rural and urban life in 19th Century Ireland and had furnished cottages, a village street, a church, a manor house, a mill and a lot of other buildings that we could walk through and see how people lived in a different era.

At 5:30 we went to the castle and stood in line. There was a bit of confusion because Jack did not know he was supposed to pick up tickets for the dinner at the entrance to the complex. A few phone calls were made and Jack charmed his way in without having to retrieve the tickets. As recompense for the delay, they asked if he and my mother wanted to be the evening's Earl and Countess. Of course Jack was thrilled and Marion resigned.

 The banquet started out in the great hall with glasses of mead (honey wine) for everyone.

 Marion and Dom waiting for the festivities to begin.

 Jack made friends with another American family.

 Finally the evening began with some welcome songs and...

 ...the crowning of the Earl and his Lady.  A brief video of the crowning is at the end of this post.

The nice thing about being with the Earl was we were led to a special table in the banquet hall before everyone else.

 The Earl got to sit in a big chair with a cushion. The rest of us sat on backless benches.

 At one point the Earl had to test the soup. He proclaimed it marvelous.

 The meal was quite good--soup, spareribs, roast chicken, potatoes, vegetables and dessert. There was also red wine, white wine and water. There were no forks, just knives and spoons. Luckily there were also finger bowls (especially nice after the sticky ribs) and lots of paper napkins.

 More potatoes?

 After dinner the tables were cleared and...

 ...there was entertainment. The musicians and singers were very good.

Here is the crowning of the Earl and his Lady.

On the whole, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park were a little cheesy but we enjoyed the evening. It was interesting and a lot of laughs.