Craggaunowen facts for kids
| Creagán Eoghain | |
Conical hut on the reconstructed crannóg
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| Established | 1965 |
|---|---|
| Location | Craggaunowen, Kilmurry, County Clare, Ireland |
| Type | open-air museum |
| Founder | John Hunt |
| Public transit access | none |
| Nearest car park | On-site |
Craggaunowen is an exciting open-air museum in eastern County Clare, Ireland. It's like a living history park where you can explore what life was like in ancient Ireland! The museum gets its name from a 16th-century castle, which is one of its main attractions.
Craggaunowen is located about 10 kilometers east of Quin village. The name Craggaunowen comes from the Irish words Creagán Eoghain, which means "Owen's little rocky hill." The site is managed by Shannon Heritage, a company that looks after many cool heritage sites in Ireland.
Contents
Explore Ancient Ireland: The Open-Air Museum
This amazing open-air museum is sometimes called a "Living Past Experience." It was started by a man named John Hunt right around the old castle. Here, you can see incredible copies of ancient Irish buildings and structures.
Imagine stepping back in time! You can explore a dolmen, which is a type of ancient tomb made from huge stones. There's also a crannog, which is a recreated island home built in a lake. You'll even see a currach, a traditional Irish boat. This particular currach was used in a famous trip that recreated "The Voyage of St. Brendan the Abbot."
The museum also features other cool reconstructions. You can see a Ringfort, which was a fortified farmstead. There are also Fulachta Fia, which are Bronze Age cooking and industrial sites. Plus, you can find a Standing Stone, also known as an Ogham Stone, which has ancient Irish writing carved into it.
Craggaunowen Castle: A Journey Through Time
The Castle's Early Days
Craggaunowen Castle was built around the year 1550. It was constructed by John MacSioda MacNamara, whose family also built Knappogue Castle. However, the castle didn't stay in perfect condition for long.
In the 17th century, around 1653, the castle was left in ruins. Its roof and staircase were removed, and its battlements (the protective walls on top) were taken down. This made the castle impossible to live in or defend, especially during a time of conflict known as the Cromwellian confiscations.
The Castle in the 1800s
The Tower House remained a ruin until 1821. That's when "Honest" Tom Steele inherited it. He was a close friend of Daniel O’Connell, a very important Irish leader known as "The Liberator."
Tom Steele decided to rebuild the castle in the 1820s. He used it as a summer house, a fun place to relax. You can even see his initials carved on one of the stones outside the castle! After he passed away in 1848, the land was divided. The castle eventually fell into disrepair once more.
Restoration in the 20th Century
Craggaunowen Castle was bought and beautifully restored in the 1960s by the same John Hunt who started the open-air museum. Hunt even added an extension to the ground floor. For a while, this extension held some of his amazing collection of ancient artifacts.
Later, this collection was moved to the University of Limerick. Today, you can see these incredible historical items at the Hunt Museum in Limerick city.
Images for kids
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Conical hut on the reconstructed crannóg
