6 Great Ways to Keep the Kids Entertained in Limerick

  • Boy playing with flight simulator at Foynes Flying Boat Museum. Photo: Paul Corey

Keeping the kids busy during holidays is no small task, so we've rounded up an arsenal of ideas to beat the boredom!

1. Find a fairy!

If you go down to the woods today you will be in for a fairy big surprise! Did you know Limerick's fields and forests are home to fairies?! Head for County Limerick and try to find their magical, miniature houses!

For more about fairies in County Limerick click here.

2. Visit an attraction

Limerick has an array of family-friendly attractions across the city and county just waiting to be discovered! 

  • A visit to the 13th century King John's Castle is enjoyable and educational! The remarkable archaeology and 21st century technology combine to help your family discover the history of Limerick and King John’s Castle!
  • Stonehall  Wildlife Park hosts a wide variety of rare and domestic animals at Curraghchase!
  • The story of the role played by Foynes in the establishment of passenger flights across the Atlantic is excitingly captured at Foynes Flying Boat Museum.
  • Only a short spin from Limerick City takes you to Craggaunowen - an award-winning archaeological open-air museum centred around a 16th century tower house!
  • Magical, mythical Lough Gur is a must-see for families this summer! One of Ireland’s most important archaeological sites, Lough Gur is the perfect place to visit on a sunny summer's day with a scenic lake and informative visitor's centre. The magical fairy trail and superb Solstice Playground are also sure to enthral the younger folks!
  • The Hunt Museum exhibits one of Ireland's greatest private collections of art and antiquities, and regularly hosts child-friendly events!
  • In the heart of the Georgian Quarter you'll find the Limerick City Gallery of Art - one of the leading contemporary art galleries in Ireland. The Gallery welcomes visitors of all ages and entry is free.

3. Go on an adventure!

Whether you're looking for an easy going or adrenalin-fueled adventure, you're sure to find it in Limerick!

  • Basecamp Action Adventure Park offers a range of activities including forest 3D archery, adult paintball, teenage paintball, splatball, survival challenges and bushcraft. They cater for ages 8+. 
  • Limerick Greenway is perfect for a family day trip exploring the countryside by bike or on foot on the safely enclosed Greenway pathways. Each of the towns has shops, cafés and restaurants, as well as public parks and children’s playgrounds.
  • Limerick's go-karting facilities offer an unrivaled racing experience so buckle-up and put the pedal to the metal! 
  • A family cycle is a healthy and fun way to spend quality time together, and helps tire them out for bedtime! Ballyhoura Trailriders have routes and trails to meet all abilities!
  • The University of Limerick Adventure Centre and Kilfinane Outdoor Education Centre both offer everything your little adventurer needs to have an exhilarating, variety-packed day outdoors! 
  • Try something a little out of the ordinary at the Suas Indoor Rock Climbing Centre in Corbally, Limerick! The Centre is family friendly catering for children as young as six years of age as well as adults of all ages.

4. Learn something new

Education doesn't stop at the school gates! With so much time to fill, the summer holidays offer the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill or hobby.

Check out our list of clubs and classes here, and don't forget there's plenty of summer camps throughout July and August.

5. Rainy day inspiration

We get our fair share of rain here on the Emerald Isle, so it's always a good idea to have something up your sleeve to keep the kids happy when the clouds roll in!

  • An old faithful when it rains - go to the cinema! With new releases out so often there's always something to see, and let's face it, sometimes we enjoy the animated flicks more than the kiddies!
  • Help them continue their reading with a trip to the local library. Make the visit more exciting by getting involved in the Summer Stars Reading Programme, which aims to help children read 10 books during the holidays. Find a list of local libraries here.
  • Limerick has a wide selection of fun centres, guaranteed to delight kids and provide parents with the opportunity to sit back and relax!
  • Family favourite bowling is a must on a damp day! Along with bowling lanes, Funworld has an entertainment area with arcade games! Or try bowling like you’ve never seen before! Arena 5 is Irelands only UV Bowling experience. Boasting 8 ultra violet lanes and glow in the dark bowling balls to give you the best bowling experience in the country.
  • It can be hard to keep them active when stuck indoors, but two of Limerick's venues are fixing that! Jumplanes is a great big indoor trampoline park and Rollerjam roller disco is a blast from the past activity all ages love!

6. Explore the outdoors!

While it might rain here, when the sun shines there's nowhere better to be than Limerick!

  • Pack a picnic basket and head to one of Limerick's many parks!
  • Take in the scenic riverbank walk and cycle path - a three-kilometre route from the University of Limerick right into the heart of the city centre
  • You can't beat swings and slides! Limerick has plenty of playgrounds to visit this summer.
  • Have a little friendly competition and take in a round of pitch & putt!
  • Curraghchase Forest Park allows plenty of room to roam with 313 hectares of mixed woodlands, park land and lakes!
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Treaty Stone Limerick. Photo Piotr Machowczyk