[2] The open-air museum, sometimes described as a "Living Past Experience", was started by John Hunt on the site around the castle.

It containis reconstructions of ancient Irish architecture including a dolmen, a crannog and the currach boat used in Tim Severin's recreation of "The Voyage of St. Brendan the Abbot".

[citation needed] Following his death in 1848 the lands were divided, Cullane going to one branch of his family, Craggaunowen to his niece Maria Studdert.

In the mid-19th century, the castle, herder's house and 96 acres were reported in the possession of a Reverend William Ashworth, who held them from a Caswell (a member of a family from County Clare just north of Limerick).

In 1906, a mansion house at the site was owned by Count James Considine (from a family based at Derk, County Limerick).