Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Adare Village: Trip Notes

"Bunratty Folk Park" sounds awful, but is actually quite worthwhile, especially from the photographic aspect.  It consists of the Castle and a variety of buildings that have been relocated from different parts of Ireland and rebuilt, including a church!  There are shops, bars, workshops, farm buildings, a grand house, cottages - you get the picture.  They even have actors playing the parts of "inhabitants" of a few locations, they're both interesting and photogenic. Start with the castle, but … [Read more...]

Cong and “The Quiet Man”, Galway and Bunratty Castle: Trip Notes

The village of Cong is where John Huston filmed "The Quiet Man" with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara in 1951 and it's still living on its reputation.  There's a good shot over the stream opposite the small cottage museum. "Pat Cohan's Bar" on the main drag was recreated in 2008 and actually looks like the one in the film. Travelling through Connemara to Galway provides the opportunity for landscape shots, but to be honest I didn't find it particularly striking.  Sweeping views but expanses of … [Read more...]