50th Anniversary

Celebrating 50 Years of History.

John Hunt's vision and dedication transformed a few fields in County Clare into a magical world. Here, visitors can explore a 16th-century castle and embark on a journey back to the time of the ancient Celts.

1974

The Grand Opening

Craggaunowen was formally opened in June 1974 by John Hunt, John Hunt Jnr, Mr John Kelly (Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach), and Mr Brendan O’Regan (founder of Shannon Airport).

Speeches were made by John Hunt and Brendan O’Regan, having been introduced to the crowd by Mr Paul Quigley (General Manger of SFADco). Afterwards, all guests were brought on a tour of Craggaunowen, with a visit to the Crannogs, the Ring Fort, and the Castle.

The opening day of Craggaunowen saw the arrival of over 1000 visitors, 700 children and 400 adults. By October of the same year, Craggaunowen had seen the arrival of over 10,000 visitors.

1960s

Craggaunowen Castle and the surrounding land was purchased and restored by John Hunt in the 1960s. Hunt added an extension to the ground floor, which for a while housed part of his collection of antiquities. This collection now resides in the Hunt Museum in Limerick City.

Following the restoration of the castle, Hunt reconstructed an open air museum, including a Bronze Age Dwelling, a Crannog, and a Ring Fort. Hunt wanted a museum where people could come visit and witness first-hand how our ancestors lived and survived in pre-historic Ireland.

Hunt had created an extraordinary world in county Clare, where people could explore the castles of the 16^th century whilst also taking a trip back to the times of the ancient celts.

Castle Restoration

2024

Craggaunowen Castle and Crannog Celebrates 50 Years!

2024 marks a golden anniversary for Craggaunowen Castle and Crannog! It's been 50 years since these historical sites opened their doors to the public, offering a glimpse into Ireland's rich past.

To commemorate this momentous occasion, a special event was held on June 9th at Craggaunowen. We were honored to have members of the Hunt family and the Hunt Museums Trust join us for this celebration.