Spring is now officially here, but those April showers are just around the corner.
The schools are also closing for two weeks over the Easter holidays with parents all over Ireland looking for things to do to keep everyone entertained. Fortunately, YourDaysOut.ie has thousands of ideas for activities, Easter events,adventure days out or family breaks in Ireland.
Below are a selection of some ideas for the weekend with a few early tips for next week.
1) Daffodil Day
Daffodil Day is Friday, 23 March and thousands of volunteers around Ireland will be selling daffodil pins and flowers on streets, in businesses, homes and shopping centres; or hosting a Daffodil Day Coffee Morning to raise funds for the Society’s free, nationwide care services for those with, and affected by, cancer in Ireland.
Wells House & Gardens in Wexford host a special Daffodil Day coffee morning with plenty of treats and light bites. The barrier will be up from 10am-2pm and all proceeds go to the Irish Cancer Society.
2) The Big Dig at Dublinia
Join the Big Dig in the grounds of Dublinia from the 24th to the 28th of March, where visitors will get to take part in a simulated archaeology excavation.
It promises to be a fun packed family event where children will get a chance to discover how archaeologists excavate and hopefully find some artifacts and treasures of their own. Dig times are at 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm. No booking is necessary and it is suitable for children aged 6 and over.
3) Lime Tree Theatre
Seussical the Musical has lovingly brought to life all of the favourite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie and all of the Whos of Whoville! First debuted on Broadway in 2000, it has rapidly become a firm favourite with audiences from the youngest to the oldest.
The MIDAS company bring the magical words of Dr Seuss to life in this wonderful musical, which is a fabulous night-out for all the family.
4) Mountain to the Sea dlr Book Festival
The tenth annual Mountains to Sea - dlr Book Festival will be held from March 21st to 25th in various venues around Dun Laoighre. The programme this year includes talks, book clubs, music, conversations, school events, family sessions and more.
5) National Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Gardens continue their Irish plant folklore tour, Shamrocks and Shillelagh on Saturday afternoon. Plants have always been a key element in traditional Irish folklore. On this walk, you can hear about the magical myths and legends that have surrounded Irish plants from ancient to modern times with fascinating tales of fairies, changelings and miracle plants. Meet at the Visitor Centre at 2.30pm and the tour costs €5 per person.
On Sunday 25th and Tuesday 27th, there will be free kids activities in the dedicated Children’s Garden. Sow seeds, make seed bombs, design bug hotels and re-use everyday items to create your own piece of eco-art. Suitable for children from four and over.
6) Funderland Cork
Funderland Cork is back at their new location at Creamfields on the Tramore Road. They are open from Sunday, March 25th through to Sunday, April 8th and if you are looking for a fun day out for the entire family then an Easter visit to Funderland is a must.
7) The Ark, Temple Bar
Me & The City continues with Spires, Towers & Imaginative Structures on March 24th and What’s in a City? on March 25th with visual art workshops where your ideas, paintings, drawings, and 3D models will help create an original, mini version of Dublin that even our most famous architects would want to steal ideas from!
Easter Workshops are also available with groups planning, designing and building a model for The Children’s Quarter, a new urban development and landmark for the city of Dublin.
8) Solstice Arts Centre
Penguins is a unique and engaging show for children about friendship, fun, identity and the ever-changing meaning of family. Roy and Silo are two male Chinstrap penguins. Just like the other penguin pairs at Central Park Zoo, they walk, play, swim and dance together.
When the duo decides to try and hatch a rock in place of an egg, they find themselves on an adventure that could mean raising a chick for real! There are two performances on Saturday at 2pm & 6pm.
9) Spring Festival, Galway
The Slieve Aughty Centre host their annual Easter festival from Saturday, March 24th to Sunday, April 8th. Every day there will be plenty of activities to entertain the whole family including, an Easter bunny trail to the Enchanted Forest, arts & crafts, petting farm, family games and more.
10) FAKE | Science Gallery Dublin
From biomimicry to forged documents, from scandals to substitutes, FAKE, the new free exhibition at Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin, asks when authenticity is essential, when copying is cool, and what the boundary is between a fakery faux-pas and a really fantastic FAKE. The exhibition will run until 3rd June.
11) Easter Activities at Airfield Estate
Starting this Saturday and running until Sunday 8th April the woodland walk in Airfield Estate will be decorated with a series of oversized eggs that have lots of information and fun facts. Also, on Easter Sunday, they will have a trail fact sheet to fill in on your route through our egg tour.
12) An Tain Arts Centre
Have you always wanted to play a new instrument? Well, you can on Saturday as Grow Music will be in the foyer from 2pm for a 'Try n Play' session. Choose from the violin, cello, fiddle, guitar, ukulele, singing, piano and even drums!
13) Strokestown Park House
Fly a kite for free this Sunday in the magnificent surroundings of Strokestown Park House. Just collect a kite at the front of the house from 12pm to 4pm and make some memories. Family fun guaranteed!
14) Eel Man at Castle Espie
Learn more about glass eels from local expert Robert Rosell in Castle Espie on Sunday from 12pm - 4pm. See glass eels swimming around tanks and discover how their numbers are monitored across Northern Ireland.
15) Bundoran Adventure Park
Bundoran Adventure Park, located on the seafront in Bundoran, is a great day out for all the family.
They have a huge selection of rides and attractions for all the family and this weekend have a special EURO weekend with all rides only a EURO per ride. The Bungee trampolines, water walkers and bumper boats are only €3 per 5 min session. What a great way to start the Easter holidays.
16) Omniplex Cinemas
Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is the perfect family Easter movie and there are special screenings all weekend at select Omniplex cinemas. It's Scrumdidilyumptious!
17) Trabolgan Holiday Village
The 2018 season gets underway this weekend when the village opens following over €2 million invested in improvements including a new spectacular covered plaza that will bring amazing entertainment and a host of dining experiences, all under one roof. Visit for the day and enjoy the adventure activities or plan a longer family break.
5 things to do next week:
1) National Museums of Ireland
The National Museums have lots of activities scheduled for the Easter holidays.
The Natural History Museum has Jamie's Eggcellent Birds on Wednesday 29th from 11am - 1pm. Touch real bird eggs and feathers during this drop-in session with bird expert, Jamie Durrant! No booking required but there may be short waiting time. Not wheelchair accessible.
On Easter Sunday, the National Museum of Country Life in Turlough Park wants to know 'Are you an April Fool?' Take the April Fool's challenge and explore the Museum's collection with our fun family trail. Can you figure out what is true and what is false?
On April 5th, you can explore two Museums in one day in the Ancient Egyptian Animal Adventure. Start at the Museum of Natural History on Merrion Street at 11am, and come face to face with the animals of Africa. Then head over to the Museum of Archaeology on Kildare Street and complete the trail with ancient Egyptian animal gods!
2) Aquazone at the National Aquatic Centre
Aquazone is open every day over the Easter Holidays. The National Sports Campus also run multi-sport camps over four days from March 26th to March 29th and April 3rd to April 6th. You might be training alongside an Irish Olympian!
3) Easter at Westport House
Westport House re-open their doors this weekend for what is set to be two weeks of lots of family fun!
The Pirate Adventure Park will open from 11:00am to 18:00pm from the 24th of March to the 8th of April and the House is open every day too. They have also planned their annual egg hunt which promises lots of fun for all the family on Easter Sunday.
4) Mysterious Easter Hunt
The Easter bunnies have broken into their egg store and stolen the eggs at the Toy Soldier Factory in Macroom. They need help on Thursday 29th and Friday 30th to capture the culprits.
To be part of this forensic team you must first Make & Paint your own bunny so they can join you in solving the case. Find the thief and win an egg.
5) Easter Camp at The Dome
The DOME Family Entertainment Centre is Carlow's only bowling venue, children’s play centre, games arcade and kids party venue rolled into one. They have arranged supervised fun including Arts & Crafts, Congo Quest and bowling on Thursday 29th & Friday 30th and Thursday 5th April & Friday 6th from 11am - 3pm.
They also have an Easter Egg hunts on Easter Sunday with games, balloon animals and face painting.
