Despite Met Éireann forecasting an unsettled Easter, we still have the longer evenings to enjoy, especially when the kids are off school. With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of fun activities for families over the coming weeks. There are plenty of Easter-themed hunts for the younger members of the household, as well as a few outings to keep the parents happy.
Something for the family
Fota House and Wildlife Park
Co Cork
Fota Wildlife Park is presenting an extensive line-up of Easter events including face painting, daily wildlife talks, a panoramic wheel and a blue imagination playground. Learnit, an Irish family-owned company that partners with Lego Education in Ireland, will hold workshops teaching children about science and engineering through Lego and robotics. Workshops run throughout Easter Saturday and Sunday. Fota house will have an Easter egg trail and other fun activities from Saturday 19th to Monday 21st, 11am - 4pm. fotawildlife.ie, fotahouse.com
Luggwoods Enchanted Forest
Crooksling
Co Dublin
Step into the Enchanted Easter Forest and follow the Easter spring trail at Luggwoods forest in the foothills of the Dublin mountains. Along the way, you’ll meet the Easter Bunny, who will have a delicious chocolate egg for all children. A petting farm is on site with llamas, pigs, goats, chickens as well as pony rides. From April 12th-21st. luggwoodsevents.com
The Easter Express
Oakfield Park, Co Donegal
About a 20-minute drive from Letterkenny, Co Donegal lies a family adventure at Oakfield Park. On Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, a small open-air train – otherwise known as the Easter Eggspress – will take families through an enchanted forest. Activities in the park include the carrot toss challenge, bunny hop races, Easter egg painting, make your own bunny ears and crazy golf. oakfieldpark.com
Zoorassic trail at Dublin Zoo
Dublin Zoo invites visitors into two incredible worlds this Easter. Running until Monday 21st of April, the zoo will be home to the Zoorassic Trail. Enjoy an Easter-themed adventure with interactive games, face painting, and an exciting Easter egg hunt. Meet the Easter Bunny, take part in arts and crafts, and explore the zoo’s regular wildlife exhibits. dublinzoo.ie
Slieve Aughty riding centre
Loughrea
Co Galway
Every day up to April 27th, there will be family-oriented events such as a walk through the Enchanted Forest, an expedition into the organic garden or meet the pot-bellied pig, Winnie at Slieve Aughty Riding Centre, near Loughrea, in Co Galway. You can hire a donkey and have a picnic by the Duniry river. Children over five can get their face painted, make crafts at fun workshops and ride on the horses and ponies. Running 12-6pm daily, entry is €20 per child, €5 per adult. slieveaughtycentre.com
Limerick Greenway
The 40km Greenway path through Limerick’s countryside follows the old Limerick to Kerry railway line through countyside, towns and villages. The walking and cycling route passes through Rathkeale, Newcastle West, Abbeyfeale and Listowel. limerick.ie/greenway
Shannon Blueway
Ireland’s blueways run on and alongside lakes, canals and rivers which you can explore by canoe, bike or on foot. On the river Shannon, there are eight different sections of the designated blueway with opportunities to kayak, paddle-board, canoe and windsurf on the various lakes. From Drumshanbo right down to Lough Ree power station, there are plenty of spots to rent some kit to traverse the river. If you’d rather stay dry, bike trails straddle the river. waterwaysireland.org/things-to-do/blueways
Something for the evenings
Sober Rave
The Complex Gallery & Studios in Dublin 7
This sober event takes place at The Complex Gallery & Studios in Dublin 7, where organisers want to “promote rave energy without the need for alcohol or drugs. Dance the early evening away at be home in bed like Cinderella well before midnight. eventbrite.ie/clubloosen
Something different ...
Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark, Co Cavan and Co Fermanagh
Visitors can dive into the area’s 895 million-year history with a visit to the geopark’s glorious waterfalls, forests and its famous Marble Arch Caves. cuilcaghlakelands.org
Aristochicks
Rockfield House, Co Meath
Rockfield House is from the Murtagh family, who also run the ever-popular Causey Farm in Co Meath. Opened in 2023, the Aristochicks is an opportunity for hen parties – or groups looking to spice things up over the Easter break – to finally live out their Bridgerton and Downton Abbey fantasies. At a recently renovated Georgian estate in Co Meath, guests dress up and role play as Victorian aristocrats upstairs and get up to servantly high jinks downstairs. rockfieldhouse.com
Something to make from Mark Moriarty ...
What I love about Easter in Ireland is it usually lands among an abundance of brilliant seasonal ingredients. Traditionally, lamb is the showpiece as the first lambing season of the year has begun. For many, lamb doesn’t float their boat, it has a very distinctive flavour that changes depending on the age of the animal.
Recipe: Slow roasted and glazed leg of lamb with lemon and pepper
