BUNRATTY WINERY
Bunratty Village, County Clare

Mead, also spelled meade, has long been called the drink of the High Kings of Ireland. In fact, a form of mead has been around since before the time of Christ.

Mead was first made in Ireland by monks in the Middle Ages from an ancient recipe of pure honey and natural herbs, it was believed, for medicinal purposes, as honey has an ancient tradition as a curative and has anti-bactierial properties.

Mead is steeped in tradition and folklore, and has often been referred to in Gaelic poetry. Legend has it that St. Finian ate nothing but bread and water six days a week, but on Sundays he ate salmon and drank mead. St. Bridget performed a miracle when mead could not be located for the King of Leinster. When she blessed an empty vessel it miraculously filled with mead. Even the church recognised the value of mead and its reputation spread quickly around Europe, becoming an integral part of every medieval banquet and celebration.

The term "honeymoon" is derived from the one month period of time after the bride and groom were married. Mead was served during wedding banquets and was given as wedding gifts to the newlyweds, as was salt. Newlyweds were then given enough mead to sustain them through one full cycle of the moon. This one month period became known as the honey moon...from one full moon to the next. Mead was thought to be the best way to start the marriage and was believed, along with its curative powers, to increase fertility and virility. Part of the bedding ceremony included the groom consumming large amounts of mead and then carried by his friends to the bedside of his bride. If a child was created from this union the credit was given to the mead.

Bunratty Winery is located behind Bunratty Folk Park. This is the only commercial winery in Ireland and is open Monday through Friday only from 10am to 4pm.

~ Pay attraction
~ Free car parking available
~ Easy access

http://www.bunrattymead.net