For those of you who yearn to dip into the medieval ages, you can in Bunratty Castle (but bring along your 90s wealth). Every night, it hosts banquets complete with costumed servers and medieval cheer in the form of flowing wine and grilled meat. The castle has a huge collection of tapestry, stained glass and authentic period pieces. On the castle grounds, tourists can step into turn-of-the-century Irish life in Bunratty Folk Park. A village has been recreated and is staffed with costumed docents. Modern day Limerick City has been trying to polish its image for years, and is succeeding. It is the country's third largest city with a history dating back thousands of years. King John's Castle, which John built shortly after the Normans sacked the O'Brien dynasty, looms on the banks of the Shannon River, defending the city. Since the hordes are no longer storming, the castle serves as an educational site now, with educational displays depicting history back to the Vikings.