From whimsical to cultural events, there are many exciting options for creating family fun
over the Easter school holidays.
The Easter holidays are fast approaching, and to slightly frazzled parents they seem to be hot on the heels of the mid-term break. Many mums and dads will admit that these breaks in the school year can be a little challenging, not to mention that funding family activities is often rough on the wallet. A trip to the cinema will leave you with little change from a hard-earned fifty euro note! So before you give in to back-to-back episodes of Ben and Holly, consider some of these fun options:
1. The Ark
This cultural centre in Temple Bar creates opportunities for children and their families to discover art in various forms. Their recent self-portrait workshop explored ways to create and design your own ‘selfie’ with pencil, not a smart phone! There are currently a variety of workshops running and tickets are available through their website www.ark.ie.
2. Dublin Zoo
We all love a trip to the zoo but could there be a better time to plan a trip than right now, when they have just announced the birth of an Asian elephant calf? Proud mum, Dina gave birth on March 13 th after a 22 month gestation period, putting our own long pregnancy woes into the ha’penny place! Family tickets and annual passes are available at Dublin Zoo or through their website www.dublinzoo.ie.
3. The Cinema
Sometimes going to the cinema is the only option. There have been some fantastic kids’ releases this year, such as ‘Beauty and The Beast’, starring Emma Watson. The actress claims to have brought feminist values to the character of Belle from the Disney classic! Look out for the reasonably priced Kids Clubs in cinemas across the country, they tend to run in the mornings and can cut the cost of a trip to the flicks considerably. RTE.ie/Cinema.
4. The Botanic Gardens, Drumcondra.
The Botanic Gardens in Drumcondra really shine at this time of year. The spring flowers are in bloom, the walled garden is gorgeous and the glass houses are full of exotic plants, providing the additional bonus of giving cover during Irish rain showers. www.botanicgardens.ie.
You could also pop over to Glasnevin Cemetery while you’re in the vicinity. Although the 1916 commemoration of last year is over, the cemetery is still a good place to capture your little one’s imagination and introduce them to an interest in history. www.glasnevintrust.ie.
5. Olive’s Room at St. Anne’s Park
The recently refurbished Olive’s Room in St. Anne’s Park, Raheny has been outdoing itself with adorable family activities. They have tapped into a slightly old-fashioned style of event, such as the delightfully simple Santa Claus visit at Christmas. Occasional events like ‘Storyio’, an interactive storytelling experience featuring favourites like ‘The Gruffalo’, take place alongside regular events like Art Exploration Classes with local Clontarf artist, Miriam Dowling. www.olivesroom.ie .
6. The Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt (In aid of Barnardos Children’s Charity)
Friday April 14th and Saturday April 15th marks the fourth Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt in Merrion Square. This family event is more like a mini-festival in its scope of entertainment. There are music workshops, face painting, carnival games and a petting zoo amongst the plethora of activities. There is no shortage of chocolate with everyone receiving a Cadbury’s Easter Egg on completion of the hunt!
Barnardos is a charity which works to support children and their families. Mary Gamble, Head of Fundraising at Barnardos, said they face continuous pressures on funding, especially due to our current housing crisis. A huge part of the problem, according to Mary, is logistical. Families housed in emergency accommodation, are frequently located at a considerable distance from the child’s school, creating a tiring
commute first thing in the morning. Barnardos run Breakfast Clubs in various centres and schools. This affords children a hearty breakfast in a warm and safe environment before school begins. They also provide necessary practical and emotional support for the overwhelmed parents.
More information and a host of other programmes is explained on their website www.barnardos.ie.
A family ticket for The Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt costs €20 and is an absolute steal, there are no booking fees or ticketing charge and 100% of the ticket price goes directly to Barnardos. Last year was a sell-out so buy your tickets early to avoid disappointment at www.ticketweb.ie/cadburyEEH.
While The Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt should be locked into the diary of anyone looking to have a fantastic and chocolate filled day out with the family, you can still support Barnardos if you are unable to make the event by texting BARNARDOS to 50300 to donate €4. 100% of your donation goes to Barnardos across most network operators. Some operators may apply VAT which means that a minimum of €3.25 will go to
Barnardos. Service Provider: LIKECHARITY. Helpline: 0766805278.
