Bunratty Exterior

The earliest fortress at Bunratty (1251) was a “bretesche” or wooden tower erected on a moat. This was followed in turn by Clare’s Stone Castle (1277) De Rockeby’s Castle (1353). The present O’Brien Castle, built 1425, had undergone many alterations during four centuries of occupation, but in the restoration works (1956/58) all additions later than 1619 (the date of the decorated ceiling in the chapel) were removed and the 15th century crenelations restored. Admiral Penn was besieged here in 1646 and it is generally believed that his son, William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania, then an infant, was at the castle.