From the outside, you’d never guess what awaits visitors inside King John’s Castle. The 13th century military fortress is so well-preserved that you expect to walk across a drawbridge over a moat and into a castle guarded by knights. But the interior of this newly-renovated castle is as high-tech and modern as can be. It is now an innovative, interactive museum that explains what was going on during the siege of King John’s castle and what life was like there in medieval times.
As soon as we walked in, I wished my son were there with me. My son — but not the 24-year-old man that he is now. I wanted to travel back in time and visit King John’s Castle with my son as his 9-year-old self. This place was made for him.
Mac was the kind of kid who was always interested in military history. We would have walked into King John’s Castle and he would have understood the significance of the castle and its place in history right away. He would have immediately gravitated toward the holographic exhibits of Normans and masons who explained what their roles were in the castle and/or the village of the time. Then he would have run (and I do mean run — 9-years-old, remember) to the cannonball-firing game and would have played it until he’d not only mastered it but until he’d set his own new records.
He would have laid the stone for the window arch as the mason explained it. He would have picked up the cannonball to see how heavy it was. He would have tried on the robes of the King, despite the fact that King John never actually lived in this castle. Mac would have done it all.
He would have stopped to read every placard and watch every film. Then he would have added all his former knowledge of the Viking era and the 1642 Siege that took place in Limerick. Every fact that he accumulated there would be forever embedded in his military mind.
I would have lead him outside, where we would have discovered a whole new museum experience. Here were costumed characters interpreting what life was like for the Irish citizens who took refuge in the castle during the Siege. We got to see what their living conditions were like, what the blacksmith did, and explore the battlements and corner towers. Mac and I could have climbed to the top of the castle and looked out over the River Shannon. We would have spent hours out there, and then Mac would have dragged me back inside to see it all again.
Nine-year-old Mac would have loved this place. I think most children would. It made me miss my son both while I was there, and made me miss the son who’s all grown up now. The now 24-year-old man would love this museum, too. The military history buff inside him has only grown.
Have you been to an historical site that kids would love, too?
Browsing The Atlas 
I hate to admit it but I’ve never been, however maybe I will rectify that in the next few months. Great post, sounds as though you are very close to your son.
Thanks. I am very close to him. Always have been. The castle made me nostalgic for his childhood. Ah, the memories… 🙂
It sounds like they’ve really gone to an effort to make it accessible.
That said, nothing’s as important as genuine enthusiasm. I’ve heard one person say Pompeii was perfect for her archeology-mad 6yo daughter, and at the same time another parent labelled Pompeii as “not for kids”.
Being able to walk around and get your hands onto things never hurt, though.
Very true. Different strokes for different folks. I do think making it such a hands-on, interactive museum will be a hit with adults and kids alike. My guess is kids 7-13 would like it more than smaller ones, just because they’d understand more about the role of the castle.
Those castles are perfect places for time traveling. That’s so nice that you could picture his nine-year-old self running around and playing with everything there.
I love the way you phrased that. Castle are perfect places for time-traveling! They almost require it, don’t they?
Yes! I can’t remember the names of the castles we went to, but some of them were in places like Kilkenny, Killarney, and Cashel. I loved just standing there while imagining knights rampaging around.
This looks like such a wonderful place to visit, Juliann. Yes, I often wish I could have my small son back again, so full of wonder and excitement. I guess he’s enjoying the same thrill when he takes his own children to such places, and watches their faces taking in the sights and sounds. 🙂
I look forward to being a grandmother someday and watching my son with his own children. I hope it allows me to relive his childhood in some small way. It went by so fast.
We share the same love and wonder for our children. My 27-year-old daughter continues to move me to soft tears whenever I dwell upon the blessing that she is to my husband and me.
I love the way you phrase this: “Soft tears.” They’re always kids to us, aren’t they?
Definitely want to go to a castle like that! I went to a couple in Germany and Prague that took my breath away. I don’t have kids, but I love everything you said about your son…so beautiful. : )
Thanks, Britt! My son and I have special connections to the German castles, too. Especially Neuschwanstein. He painted a picture of it for me last Christmas. Ah….that kid. 😉
Sounds wonderful Juliann. I love the wistful tone of this post 🙂
Thank you, Madhu. “Wistful” — that’s exactly how it felt.
The day I visited King John’s Castle there was a boisterous group of schoolboys – aged about 9 or 10 – also visiting. You are absolutely right about it appealing to kids (especially boys, I think) – they were having a wonderful time!
My son would have fit right in.