Bunratty Castle and Geocaching

We decided to test out Boy's swanky new car seat today by taking a spin down to Bunratty Castle in Co. Clare. This is a lovely day out for all ages, though to be honest we rarely set foot inside the actual castle. The best part for us - especially on a sunny day like today - is the Folk Park where 19th Century  life is recreated with cottages and a typical village street.

It is easy to spend a whole day wandering around Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, but at this time of year it is very quiet and not as much atmosphere as there is during the busier months. The cheaper entry fee reflects this. A Shannon heritage family membership is a true bargain - currently only €100, a membership includes admission and parking to all 7 Shannon Heritage sites as well as a 10% discount at the giftshops and tearooms and discounted admission for guests. Membership is valid for 12 months from date of purchase. Since we know we can come back at any time, we let Boy lead us where he wants to go (straight to the tea room, naturally, which was closed, followed by any muddy puddles he can find) and leave happily before an hour is up as he is clearly ready for a nap.

The babies enjoy looking at the animals -ducks and geese roam freely, and horses, pigs and other animals can be found round each corner. Boy is always especially enamoured by the old schoolhouse. I think it's the sound of his feet on the old wooden floorboards, and he loves to sit at the old desks. I hope he loves school this much when it is no longer optional. There is also a doctor's house, drapery, printworks and grocer among the many buildings, but most of these are closed for the winter season. In summer the shops open and you can actually buy bits and pieces in most of them (including the pub!). Halfway up the village street we bump into a friendly man taking the Bunratty Irish Wolfhounds on a stroll. These dogs are HUGE but so gentle and friendly that the babies don't bat an eyelid. The man stops to chat and gives us the lowdown on these fabulous hounds and their history. There is a lovely wooden playground too, but Boy is happy to leave before we reach it.

Somebody asked me about geocaching yesterday, and I realised we haven't been on a cache hunt for months and months. On consulting the iPhone app we discover a quick cache just a few hundred metres from the entrance to the castle, and stop to find it on our way in. I will definitely write about geocaching in more detail another day, but now I'm off to dream about Irish Wolfhounds and toddlers who don't think rolling in mud is the height of a cultural day out.