CRAGGAUNOWEN PROJECT
Kilmurray, County Clare

The Craggaunowen Project is also known as "Craggaunowen: The Living Past" and was founded by noted archaeologist, John Hunt in 1960. Hunt was also a historian, antiquarian and collector. Upon his death, his collections were donated to the city of Limerick and are now housed in the Hunt Museum, originally the Customs House. It was also Hunt who encouraged Lord Gort to restore Bunratty Castle.

Getting his inspiration from his excavations along the shores of Lough Derg, Hunt established this open-air museum on the estate at Craggaunowen Castle. This unique exhibit brings to life the Bronze Age and Celtic Culture. The restored castle, built by John MacSioda MacNamara in 1550 (a descendant of Sioda MacNamara who built Knappogue Castle in 1467) now contains display pieces from some of Hunt's excavations.

Staff at the Craggaunowen are dressed in period costume and go about their business as if they were part of history. Feel free to interact with them.

Trades and exhibits displayed include --

• Crannog -- a man-made island, which contains wattle and daub houses. . . crannog's were built as a form of 'homestead defense'.
• Dugout Boats -- carving boats from tree trunks
• Togher -- Iron Age timber road, that was discovered in Longford and moved to this site for preservation
• Standing Stones, Stone Circle, Burial Chamber -- examples of originals
• Souterrain -- An underground passage
• Fullacht Fiadh -- a traditional cooking pit
• The Brendan Boat -- a leather-hulled ship built by Tim Severin in the 1970's and sailed from Ireland to America along the recorded route that St. Brendan sailed in the 6th century. The ship is housed in an A-frame glass house on this site.

~ Pay attraction
~ Free car parking available
~ Easy access from car park, limited access around the site and into buildings

http://www.shannonheritage.com/Attractions/Craggaunowen