With indelible memories of a visit several decades ago, I planned a return to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, where Irish lore and history is preserved in a lovely landscape setting. Rescued and restored by Lord and Lady Gort in the 1950s, medieval Bunratty Castle – ancient seat of the O’Briens and Macnamaras – is surrounded by a picturesque history park that was launched to preserve an antique home threatened with demolition during runway extension at nearby Shannon Airport.