They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch; increasingly, there aren’t many ways to keep children entertained without spending a fortune either, unless you go on a bin-diving day out. That’s an activity and snacks sorted at no cost.
But if you think your fussy eaters would turn up their noses at a freegan diet, we’ve rounded up some other suggestions, from festivals with free entertainment to the best natural beauty spots that Mother Nature has to offer. Most are completely gratis, some are free for kids, and others just charge per car for parking, which we’ve flagged where possible.
Creative kids
The Burren Perfumery
Co Clare
The Burren is a magical landscape, with its limestone pavements and fairy trees to inspire young imaginations. The Burren Perfumery adds another dimension to a day out, with its organic herb garden free to visitors and open year-round. You can also watch perfume being filtered in the Perfume Room and learn more about the process. burrenperfumery.com
Food Explorers: A Tasty Cork Adventure for Kids!
Cork, August 16th
This fun-filled children’s workshop is perfect for smallies with inquisitive minds. This family-friendly activity will be held from 12-1pm on August 16th on St Peter’s North Main Street, Cork City. Children can discover where food comes from, play games to learn how food travels from food to fork and much more. There will be arts and crafts with a food twist and many more activities for all the family to enjoy. It is however, important for those attending to bring their imagination.
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Narnia Trail at Kilbroney Park
Rostrevor, Co Down
Although Storm Éowyn caused damage to some remote walking trails and cross-country mountain bike trails at Kilbroney Park, it has been enjoying a phased reopening over the spring. The author CS Lewis was inspired by the scenery when creating the world of Narnia featured in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The Narnia Trail begins through a wardrobe door, beyond which lies a land filled with strange and intriguing creatures – look out for the Lamp Post, the Beaver’s House and Aslan’s Table. discovernorthernireland.com
Spraoi International Street Arts Festival
Waterford, August 1st-3rd
The highlight of summer in the Déise is Spraoi International Arts Festival, attracting audiences of all ages with an exciting programme of street performers, contemporary circus, music and dance, all topped off by the unforgettable Spraoi Festival Parade and fireworks. spraoi.com
Sperrin Sculpture Trail
Co Tyrone
Make your way through the majestic landscape of the Sperrin Mountains to discover three gentle giants – sculptures by acclaimed artist Thomas Dambo. Nowanois, the Seanchaí or storyteller, recalls times and generations gone by in Glenelly Valley; Darach, the Guardian watches over the present at Mullaghcarn in Gortin Glen Forest Park; and Ceoldán the Stargazer looks to the future, and the unknown at the Dark Sky Park in Davagh Forest. giantsofthesperrins.com
Jerpoint Glass Studio
Co Kilkenny
Visitors to this family-run glassmaking studio are welcome to the viewing area for free, to see glassblowers in action. Taking fiery molten glass from the furnace at a temperature of over 1,100 degrees the glassblowers form it into stunning shapes using just their breath, a few simple tools and a lot of skill. jerpointglass.com
Galway International Arts Festival
July 14th-27th
While many events are ticketed, world class street theatre has become a hallmark of the festival and this year is no different, with acts including Six by Flip Fabrique, a high-energy show in Eyre Square on July 16th (4pm) and 17th (1pm); and Microcosmos by Planet Vapeur, featuring a giant insect roaming the city on July 18th (9.30pm) and 19th (6pm and 9.30pm). giaf.ie
Family fun
Belmont Bike Farm
Co Wicklow
Belmont Bike Farm has 15km of cycling trails that cover a range of terrains, from fast-paced woodland mountain biking to a slow climb up the foothills of the Little Sugar Loaf. You can enjoy the estate on foot too – just make sure to avoid the bike tracks. Dogs are welcome on a lead. There is a parking charge of €3 per car, but it’s completely free if you arrive on your bike or on foot. belmontdemesne.ie
Slieve Gullion Forest Park
Co Armagh
Award-winning play facilities for children, and an outdoor gym for adults – there’s something for all the family at this forest park. Follow Fionn’s Giant Adventure trail, recently reopened after Storm Éowyn damage, and download the accompanying app to magically take photos featuring the legendary Fionn Mac Cumhaill. Even on a rainy day you can enjoy the 10km Slieve Gullion Scenic Forest Drive, or take off on bikes if you’re feeling more adventurous. visitmournemountains.co.uk
Castlegregory Summer Festival
Co Kerry, July 10th-13th
The vibrant coastal community of Castlegregory holds its annual summer festival on the second weekend of July each year; one of the oldest festivals in the country, it has been in existence since 1948 and is still going strong. Expect fancy-dress parades, sandcastle competitions, treasure hunts and all sorts of family fun activities. Instagram: @castlegregorysummerfestival
Lough Muckno Leisure Park
Co Monaghan
On the lakeshore of Lough Muckno, on lands that originally formed part of the Blayney family estate, for which nearby Castleblayney is named, you can roam freely along forest trails and nature walks and avail of picnic areas. monaghantourism.com/listing/lough-muckno-leisure-park/
Westport Skate Park
Co Mayo
Right beside the Great Western Greenway at the junction of West Road and Leenane Road, you’ll find Westport Skate Park. Along with a purpose-built skateboarding area there’s a multi-use games facility with an astro turf pitch which can be used for basketball, soccer, volleyball, camogie, hurling, Gaelic football and rugby.
Lough Key Forest and Activity Park
Co Roscommon
While you do have to pay for many activities, it is possible to enjoy a day out at Lough Key enjoying its free amenities: the multi-use games area can be used for football or basketball; outdoor gym equipment is located on a short loop near the visitor centre; orienteering courses; and kilometres of walking and cycling trails through parkland and woodland. loughkey.ie
Delta Sensory Gardens
Carlow
(Adults €6, children under 13 free)
The gardens are part of the Delta Centre for adults with disabilities and were created as a therapeutic outlet for those attending the service. Kids will love the thistle fountain, the games garden and the series of waterfalls that flow into a large fishpond stocked with many varieties of fish. The sensory theatre building houses a colourfully lit indoor musical fountain in a dark mirrored room creating a magical atmosphere. deltasensorygardens.ie
Lough Boora Discovery Park
Co Offaly
Lough Boora Discovery Park covers 2,000 hectares of cutaway bog lands that have been rehabilitated to provide an outdoor resource open for the public to enjoy 365 days a year. Picnic and play areas are accessible to both buggies and wheelchairs. You can also book in for paid guided tours on biodiversity, ancient history, and the park’s art and sculpture. loughboora.com
Library events
Libraries across the country are an incredible resource. At Watch House Cross Library in Moyross, there’s a busy schedule of free children’s activities throughout the summer. On Thursdays, join library staff for a fun-filled storytime, suitable for ages two to six years. Friday mornings, it’s toddler time with songs, stories and rhymes from 10.30am-12pm. The library offers free-play art and craft for children on Saturdays from 11.00am to 4.00pm, with crafting materials provided at the front desk. limerick.ie
The Old Fort Quarter Festival
Portlaoise, June 27th-29th
On Saturday head to Dunmaise Arts Centre for a children’s art exhibition, comic village and geek market courtesy of Celtic Con (celticcon.com), and admire the work of Lego brick artist Jessica Farrell before trying your hand at some. On Sunday expect the streets to come alive with family fun; last year saw medieval heritage activities including archery and falconry, free live music and street theatre. For updates on this year’s programme see oldfortquarter.com and dunamaise.ie
Carlingford Folklore Park
Co Louth
The Folklore Park is free to enter, with seating areas, a small playground and great views over Carlingford Lough, the Mountains of Mourne and Slieve Foye. It’s dotted with storyboards, miniature replicas and art pieces depicting local myths and legends. However, if you want to join the tours of the Leprechaun Cavern and enjoy storytelling hosted by Kevin Woods the Leprechaun Whisperer, the cost is €10 per child and €5 for adults accompanying children. thelastleprechaunsofireland.com
History buffs
Loughcrew Megalithic Cemetery
The Loughcrew Megalithic Cemetery, also known as the Hills of the Witch, is made of a group of Neolithic passage tombs near Oldcastle in Co Meath. Spread over four undulating hills, the tombs date from 3,000 BC. Cairn T, one of the largest in the complex, is aligned to sunrise at the spring and autumn equinoxes, and at these times people gather there to greet the first rays of the sun. Like Newgrange, it illustrates the engineering, architectural and astronomical ability of the prehistoric people who built it, but without the entrance fee. The Hill of Tara, seat of the high kings of Ireland, is a half-hour drive away, and also free to visit, so why not combine the two sites in one day? heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/loughcrew-megalithic-cemetery
Ulster Museum
Belfast
There is plenty to see and do in Belfast’s Botanic Gardens, the 28-acre public park in which the Ulster Museum is located, before you even set foot in the museum itself. With collections encompassing art, nature and history, there is something to suit every interest; including fashion, fine furniture, crystals and fossils, ancient gold, and a cannon recovered from a sunken Spanish Armada ship. ulstermuseum.org
Queen Medb’s Tomb
Co Sligo
A monumental cairn, 11m high and 60m in diameter, Knocknarea is said to be the final resting place of the Warrior Queen. For good luck, pick up a stone at the foot of the hill and deposit it when you reach the summit, 327m above the sea. Enjoy spectacular views across Sligo Bay and of Ben Bulben to the north ... another day’s walk.
Corlea Iron Age Roadway and Visitor Centre
Co Longford
Close to the Royal Canal Greenway, this makes for an interesting stop off. At Corlea, a wooden causeway was laid across the bog more than 2,000 years ago. Preserved by the peatland environment, an 18m-long section of the original trackway, the largest of its kind ever excavated in Europe, is on display in the visitor centre. Open daily April-October, 10am-6pm. discoverireland.ie
St Patrick’s Well
Co Tipperary
There are more than 3,000 holy wells in Ireland and St Patrick’s Well is one of the largest, with an ancient stone cross standing on a small island in the middle of a large shallow pool. The roofless church ruins beside it make for a picturesque picnic setting. The calcium-rich water is reputed to cure chronic illness, stomach upsets and skin diseases. How to get there? The old saying goes, “You don’t find the well, the well will find you.” tipperary.com
Walk the walls
Derry
Built to defend settlers against the Irish, everyone is now welcome to take a leisurely stroll along the 400-year-old city walls of Derry. Lined with 24 cannons, many of which were used during the Siege of Derry, it brings history to life. This is the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples in Europe, with an approximately 1.5km circumference. The walkway offers a unique view of the original town, with its Renaissance-style street plan preserved to this day. visitderry.com
Áras an Uachtaráin
Dublin
Dublin Zoo is not the only option for a day out in the Phoenix Park. Áras an Uachtaráin opens up for several free guided tours almost every Saturday, organised by the Office of Public Works. There are also free tours of the gardens from the end of June until October. Visitors must bring photo ID. president.ie
Wild and free
Pollardstown Fen
Co Kildare
Just 3km outside Newbridge, Pollardstown Fen is composed of 220 hectares of peatland, bordering the Curragh. The nature reserve contains rare vegetation types, invertebrates and plenty of bird life to see from the boardwalk which forms a 1.1km loop trail. Dogs are welcome on a lead. discoverireland.ie/kildare/pollardstown-fen
Glencar Waterfall
Co Leitrim
“Come away, O human child! To the waters and the wild…” Visit the waterfall that inspired WB Yeats’s poem The Stolen Child – a 15m high cascade in a lush forest near Glencar lake. For once, the rain might improve your day trip, as the waterfall is particularly impressive after a downpour. Facilities on site include a car park, picnic area, public toilets, playground, and tea room. leitrimtourism.com
Cavan Burren Park
Co Cavan
Located in the Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark, the lesser-known Burren is a great example of a natural landscape with fascinating geology dating back thousands of years, providing impressive sights and educational opportunities for a day out that blends science, nature and fun. cavanburrenpark.ie
Grianán of Aileach
Co Donegal
A truly impressive sight: a restored cashel (hill fort) of 23m diameter, sitting atop a hill with 360-degree views across Lough Swilly, Lough Foyle and the beautiful countryside of the Inishowen Peninsula. On a clear day it’s said you can see five counties. discoverireland.ie/donegal/grianan-of-aileach
Cuilcagh Lakelands Unesco Geopark
Counties Fermanagh and Cavan
The Geopark straddles counties Fermanagh and Cavan; it has more than 50 sites of interest in total, including forests, mountains and caves. For the name alone, why not head for Big Dog Forest, a conifer woods, dotted with open stretches of upland landscapes and lakes, and an abundance of wildlife including red deer, herons, dragonflies and the Irish hare. Or try the Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail through one of the largest expanses of blanket bog in Northern Ireland. cuilcaghlakelands.org
Wexford Lavender Farm
Enjoy the scent of lavender lingering in the breeze as you stroll through this working lavender farm. Pick up a free map in the cafe to pick a route length that suits, up to 7km. Kids love the Fairy Walk, Enchanted Woods and the Woodland Warriors trail, a 1km looped walk with rustic playground equipment. Dogs are welcome on a lead. The farm is free to enter, but parking is charged at €6 per car in low season (April, May, September) and €8 per car in high season (June, July, August). wexfordlavenderfarm.com
Sliabh Liag
Co Donegal
The Cliffs of Moher might be Ireland’s most well-known cliffs, but Europe’s highest sea cliffs are one of our best-kept secrets. You can park at the visitor centre (4km from cliffs) at no cost or at the ranger station (2km from cliffs) at a cost of €10 for two hours, or €15 for full day parking. (Parking is permitted at the viewing area in the off season.) A shuttle service runs from the visitor centre during summer. sliabhliag.com
The Amenity Park at Dún na Sí
Co Westmeath
While you’ll need to book tickets to the Dún na Sí Heritage Park, its neighbouring Amenity Park is free. Walk through planted parklands and a wetland reserve where a specially constructed hide allows you to observe wild birds on the small lake. There’s also a children’s playground and the park is dotted with imaginative sculptures made from recycled and natural materials by students from local schools. dunnasi.ie/amenity-park
