Bunratty Visit

Today, I went to Bunratty to observe and take photos. There was a Halloween celebration for the Bank Holiday Monday, it was very busy and had a lot of families wandering around the folk park.
I took a lot of pictures and took notes on the visitors of the folk park, one thing that I noticed about the people touring the grounds was that many people did not use the map they were given on entry, for the most part people wandered the grounds on their own accord. The children climbed on everything that was possible to climb on - old farming tools etc.

Byre Dwelling
Most people I saw were very interested in the houses (Weaver's Shed, Blacksmith's Forge etc.) dotted around the folk park, wandering in and out of each, looking in each of the rooms and at most of the objects. Although the houses are numbered for reference to the map there is no information present in front of the houses about them or in them, or about the objects in them. Many people seemed to enjoy the Village Street with the Doctor's House, Foster's Printery etc.

                                       The Village Street

There were several events throughout the folk park for the Halloween event including snap apple, coin bobbing, story telling, and a competition for the best costume. There were opportunities to see snakes, lizards and spiders, and have a go on an electric bull, and a concert in the folk park. None of the events were sign posted in anyway. Visitors were left to discover the events themselves. 
I have several ideas now for a rough tour, perhaps with an AR tour the events and different attractions could be mapped out. I plan on returning soon with interviews for visitors and more observation. I want to find out if the visitors usually wander around the folk park without the map, and how do they get their information, maybe the visitors today were mostly interested in a 'day out' for the children than a historical tour. 

Inside a cottage

Mill