Emerald Isle is certainly an apt description of the landscape around Ireland. It is profusely green with stretches of winding fields and hills, dense vegetations and colorful flower farms. With showers of rain drenching the wide expanse of greeneries, magical tales of fairies and leprechauns came into being. Who knows what magic Ireland’s many castles, forest parks, planetariums, aquariums, kid –friendly museums will bring to kids as they discover enchanting Ireland.
For starters, Dublin has many places for kids. Hop off to the Book of Kells in Trinity College. The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript of the gospels. Letters and pages are decorated with fascinating creatures, angels and religious characters outlined in a kaleidoscope of colors. Each page glows like magic. Kids would surely be entranced.
Saint Stephens Green is a good picnic ground. The Victorian-style park is covered with green grass, shaded trees, an artificial lake and a gazebo for mini concerts.
Step into the Natural History Museum, a kid-friendly museum that houses animals of Ireland – extinct giant Irish deer, Irish foxes, seals, otters, birds and a lot more.
Dublina provides hands-on history of medieval Dublin. Kids get to step into a replica of a medieval town – pass by a clothing stall and try on clothes, stop by a spice stall and guess the spice and play a drum. Lastly, climb the Saint Michael’s Tower and get a bird’s eye view of Dublin.
Dublin Castle is an 800 year old decayed castle with birds roosting in the eaves.
Adjacent to the castle is the Dubh Linn Gardens, a wide expanse of grassy land with park benches.
Muckross Traditional Farms in Killarne, County Kerry provides kids with a taste of farm life in the 1930’s. Kids get to discover what it is like to live in cottages with no electricity, bake bread on open fire and farm with horses, cows, sheep and ducks. Kids also learn how to milk cows and make butter.
Kids will surely love a ride in a “jaunting car”, a horse-drawn cart. Ride through lakes and woods. Jaunting cars are stationed in the center of Killarney town and at Muckross House.
Kids can also drop by the Killarne Museum of Irish Transport. Everything on wheels – cars, bicycles, horse carriages, antique cars, fire engines are on display.
Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium in County Kerry is a great way for kids to experience marine life. Enter an ocean tunnel filled with eels and fish. At the Touch Pools, hold starfishes and silk rays and look for camouflaged flatfish in the sand. In another tank, sea bass, spider crabs, dog fish and rays, aquatic species at Dingle Harbor can be found.
Kids can go dolphin watching in County Kerry. The kids can ride the waves in search of Funghi, Dingle’s resident dolphin who hangs around near the Kerry coastline.
At Louis Mulcahy Pottery Workshop in Dingle, kids are taught how Irish pottery is made, glazed and painted. Best of all, kids can try their hand at pottery-making.
Tralee in County Kerry is home to Tralee and Dingle Steam Railway. Kids can hop on a ride from Tralee to Blennerville on a steam train. Right after; tour the 18th century Blennerville Windmill. Find out what it takes to grind grain powered by energy from the wind.
In County Kilkenny, canoe adventures for the whole family await. Ride the rapids and paddle along a serene river.
At County Cork, children can ride the Dursey Island Cable Car which traverses the whole of County Cork.
Shell Planetarium, the only planetarium in Ireland showcases star exhibits.
Children can also take a stroll around Foto Wildlife Park in Cork and “rub elbows” with cheetahs, penguins and much more.
Cocos Adventure Playground in County Down, Northern Ireland is a large indoor playground for children under fourteen replete with slides, activity playgrounds, ball pools and a play area for toddlers.
Lagan Valley LeisurePlex also in County Down is one large busy leisure facility with an eight-lane swimming pool.