'Fantastic day out': New national dog show comes to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park

DOG LOVERS in Limerick have a new date to mark in the calendar, as just out the road, there is a new national dog show set to take place.

Bunratty Castle and Folk Park is set to host the inaugural Bark in the Park event on Sunday, June 8, from 12pm to 5pm.

This “light-hearted competition” for canines of all shapes, sizes, and temperaments will see dogs compete across 16 categories, with prizes for the Smallest Dog, Best Biscuit Catcher, Most Handsome Dog, Waggiest Tail, Veteran Dog, and Best Fancy Dress, among others.

Young dog lovers won’t be left out either. The Young Handlers category will give children a chance to showcase their connection with their four-legged companions, demonstrating both skill and confidence in the ring.

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“We are thrilled to introduce Bark in the Park, which will provide a fantastic day out for families and dog lovers,” said Marie Brennan, Events Manager at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. 

“Dogs have always been part of the Bunratty story, our Irish Wolfhounds are a living link to the castle’s medieval past. Bark in the Park carries that tradition forward in a fun, modern way.”

Tickets are available for Bark in the Park now. 

The popular Co Clare attraction, known for its medieval castle, recreated 19th-century Irish village, Victorian Walled Garden, and 26 acres of farmland and woodland, will also use the event to shine a light on the vital role service dogs play in Irish society.

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Visitors will have the opportunity to meet representatives from the Clare branch of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, who will share stories of how their dogs support people with visual impairments and families of children with autism.

Irish Dogs for the Disabled will also be on hand to showcase their work in providing trained assistance dogs to people with physical disabilities.

Adding an extra touch of history to the day will be Bunratty’s own Irish Wolfhounds, Rían and Míde, who took up residence on the site in 2023. Rían, aged two, and Míde, aged three, continue the long-standing tradition of wolfhounds roaming Bunratty Castle, as they did during the venue’s medieval banquets in the 1960s.

2025 marks the 600th birthday of Bunratty Castle, one of Ireland’s most authentic and complete castles. A special event marking the landmark anniversary will be held during the summer.