Gimme the straight stuff

fennellkevin · Senior Member

Gimme the straight stuff

Green Dragon · Guru

I can't comment on Bunratty specifically, but I did attend a Medieval Banquet in London (Hatfield House, where Elizabeth I lived as a young adult). Now, keep in mind I'm somewhat jaded, having done many Medieval Faires in the past, and am practiced with keeping in character for entire weekends. However, I had to keep reminding myself they didn't have to fake the accents like I did! Nevertheless, it was fun, with tasty food, fun entertainment, laughs and giggles all night long (the mead may have helped there!). I'm not a big fan of touristy traps, but that was just a great time.

Don't know how Bunratty compares, but it IS possible! (I got a kiss on the hand by Sir Francis Drake... does that make me a bad person???)

Mark · Veteran Member

Kevin,

You might as well. It beats sitting in your hotel or B&B and if you go to the early seating you'll have plenty of time to visit the pubs afterward.

Mark

Michele Erdvig · Host

Kevin,

It is often remarked upon that the performers at the banquets and ceili are very talented artists who sing, dance and play instruments with the best of them. Not only do they perform but they are your wait staff also. Talk about double duty! Yet they do it with grace and a sense of humor that is typically Irish.

Let's put it this way...How often do you get to dine in a genuine 15th century castle? If you have a problem with claustrophobia inform one of the ladies of the castle as you chat over drinks before dinner and she will do her best to seat you at the end of the bench instead of the middle.

Or you could attend Bunratty Irish Night Ceili in the corn barn. No benches there but real chairs and generally it is not as crowded. Of course it's not a castle.

Michele

Melissa5 · Guru

Kevin, I have tried to research similar questions, is Bunratty Castle and folk park, and medieval banquet, providing a worthwhile experience, with some authentic traditions and talented dancers, or is it just a tourist trap, waste of time? I have asked similar questions on other web-sites too. The only person who seems set against it is Rick Steves in his guidebook to Ireland. other people seem to enjoy it, I have even talked to locals who have been dragged along by family visiting from out of the country, and they enjoyed it to their surprise.

Personally I have decided that upon our arrival at Shannon airport, from LAX, we will be too jet-lagged to enjoy a $45 show that night. So we will wing it that first night, visiting either pubs in Bunratty or in Ennis. The next morning, Mary Browne tells me, Bunratty folk park will be less crowded than it gets by afternoon, so I hope to visit the folk park and castle in the morning, whatever we can fit in, and still get a reasonable start for our drive on to Dingle. Then we are going to do the Dunguaire castle medieval banquet when we get to County Clare (after Dingle.)

MICHELLE: I have been meaning to ask you, do you think it's a problem to drive from Bunratty Lodge in the afternoon to Dingle, instead of leaving first thing in the morning? Is the weather any more likely to be a problem for driving in the afternoon? I assume we would want to be on the road by 2:00 pm for Dingle. Is that too late? Thank you!

Good luck with your decision.

fennellkevin · Senior Member

Thank you all for your replies.

I am reminded of another question: Which is better for music and dancing: the banquet or the traditional Irish night?

Kevin

yesiree · Guru

Okay, you asked for it straight, so I'll give you my thoughts.

The Medieval Banquet would not be my first choice of Irish experiences. Then again, I'm not a fan of large crowds squished together like sardines. It's been put together to appeal to the tourists, so they try to get something in there for everyone...which I guess is a good thing, even if it means including some decidedly non-15th century Irish songs.

The Bunratty Irish Night Ceili is a bit more my speed. Although filled with tourists (however, I know several Irish who have gone and have been very pleased), it still feels very Irish and fills you up on all your favorite ballads, reels and stories and will likely leave you with some new favorites as well.

The people who attend both of these events are there to have a good time, so the patrons are friendly and have a great attitude, and let's face, it's the people who make it happen. At 45 euro (about $55) it might not make the budget travelers' list, but that's a fair price for dinner and a show.

I also suggest spending time at the pub in the Folk Park village. A lot of locals hang out there, it has a very unique flavour. I also have enjoyed the Bru Boru evening show at Cashel.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Kevin,

For music and dancing the Irish Night Ceili is best. They even choose some guests to come up and do some set dancing. If you go you get an option of three different meals: Irish stew, vegetarian or salmon. The salmon was great.

The ceili is usually not as crowded as the castle banquets. As I said before, you get a chair to sit in as opposed to a long bench shared with others. Afterward go to Mac's Pub in the folk park.

Michele

Melissa5 · Guru

Michelle, I know we've discussed this before, but would it be redundant to attend both the Bunratty ceili night, and the Dungauire castle medieval banquet? Keeping in mind that hubby is very mistrustful of touristy functions, especially those that cost more than the price of a movie? I definitely want to book Dunguaire medieval banquet, but that Bunratty ceili is tempting me too. (On the other hand I think we can get to Vaughan's in Kilfenora for the set dancing in the barn. No cover charge?)

Merle · Senior Member

We attended the banquet at the castle on our last night and loved it. I was a little worried about the seating on the benches because my husband is large (both ways!!). He sat in the middle of one of the benches and didn't seem to have a problem. Of course there was a full pitcher of meade in front of him to start with!

Merlene

Michele Erdvig · Host

Melissa,

The banquet and the ceili are very different. I have descriptions of them in my book as well as on my "Dining" page. Of all the entertainments I enjoy the ceili and Dunguaire the very best. I'm not sure if there is a cover charge at Vaughan's but if there is it won't be much.

Merle,

Mead will make anyone happy! But too much will give a royal hangover. It is really strong stuff.

Michele

Maggie L · Senior Member

I realize everyone has different tastes, but I'm with Corey on this one: I really did not enjoy the Bunratty Medieval Dinner. The people providing the music and show were okay (sort of community theatre level stuff), but it was just too contrived for me. We were jammed in so tightly (even though it was April) we could barely eat, not that it mattered much because the food was not very good. I would have much preferred eating back in Ennis and going to a pub for music. In the summer there might be something at the Glor Music Center.

That said, everyone else in my group (there were 10 of us) loved the whole thing, so it really does depend on what you like. From what Michelle has said, I might have enjoyed the Ceili more or perhaps one of the other banquets.

Maggie