「The restoration of Bunratty Castle commenced in 1954 when the 7th Viscount Gort purchased the ruin from local land owner R.H. Russell. Viscount Gort was a member of an Anglo-Irish family with a seat at Lough Cutra in Gort, County Galway. In 1921 he married Bessy Surtees who belonged to an aristocratic North of England family whose lineage went back to Norman times. Prior to his death in 1976, Viscount Gort bequeathed the castle and its furnishings to the people of Ireland. The castle is now managed by Shannon Development Company on behalf of Trustees.」
「The first Bunratty Castle was a wooden structure built on high ground by the Norman adventurer Robert de Muscegros (near the site now occupied by the Shannon Shamrock).」 【1250年 最初のバンラッティ城は、ノルマン系の冒険者ロバート・デ・ミューセグロスによって高台に築かれた木造の要塞でした(現在のシャノン・シャムロックのある場所に近い地点】 「In the late 13th century the lands were granted by King Edward I to Thomas de Clare who built the first stone fortress.」 【1275年 13世紀後半、エドワード1世がこの土地をトマス・デ・クレアに与え、彼が最初の石造の要塞 (石の城)を築きました。】
「1450
The O'Briens and MacNamaras continued to attack the castle and eventually drove out the Norman settlers.
The present stone castle was built by the MacNamara family in the middle of the 15th century and later taken over by the O’Briens.
The castle remained an important stronghold during the Confederate and Williamite wars until the 1700s when it declined.」
バンラッティ城の軍事的・政治的な重要性の変遷を、視覚的・時間軸的に解説。 「The Earls of Thomond
Bunratty Castle spent most of its early life in the hands of the O’Brien family –the Earls of Thomond – who eventually moved to nearby Dromoland Castle.
Portraits (left to right):
Donough O’Brien, Baron of Ibrickan (d. 1634)
Henry Fifth Earl, Bunratty, Sixth Earl (?), Henry O’Brien」
「The Castle Basement This is a fine long vaulted room with narrow windows. It was most likely used as a store or stable. Weapons and armour may also have been repaired and stored here. A murder hole over the entrance protected the inside door. A similar murder hole can be seen over the drawbridge protecting the main door to the castle. Defenders could pour boiling water down on their attackers to keep them away from the drawbridge and the main door. A second murder hole is situated on the ceiling just inside the main door and could be controlled from the drawbridge chamber. This room also houses the drawbridge mechanism.
A narrow stone stairs leads up from the basement to the Main Guard Hall, through the wall under the drawbridge, but this is far too narrow for everyday use. Modern visitors have to use the drawbridge to reach the Main Guard Hall.
The castle walls are more than three metres thick at ground level.
They may even conceal secret rooms and stairs that have yet to be discovered.
The castle foundations are even wider and contain dungeons.
These are located under each corner tower below ground level.
One dungeon is open for viewing on the next floor.
ATTACKING THE BASEMENT
The basement door could be attacked with a battering-ram but getting into the basement was not much use as it was difficult to reach the floor above.
The openings were very narrow and defenders could keep the enemy・・・・?