Easter activities: 12 family-friendly days out and events to enjoy over the holidays

With Met Éireann forecasting a relatively dry Easter holidays – but there will be showers – and a grand auld stretch starting to appear in the evenings, we’ve gathered 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 gigs to keep the parents sane.

Something for the family

Fota House and Wildlife Park

Co Cork

Fota Wildlife Park has plenty for the family to get stuck into on any normal day, but with an extensive line-up of events to mark its 40th anniversary, there’s more than enough for a full day out over the Easter break. Garden designer Peter Dowdall will hold a 50-minute walk-and-talk workshop at 1.30pm on Wednesday, April 5th, talking about plant and animal biodiversity and their role in supporting pollinators. Learnit, an Irish family-owned company that partners with Lego Education in Ireland, will run workshops at Fota teaching children about science and engineering through Lego and robotics. Workshops run throughout the Easter holidays. At Fota House, an Easter Egg hunt will run on Holy Saturday, April 8th, and Easter Sunday, April 9th, for all ages; adults go free. fotawildlife.ie, fotahouse.com

Luggwoods Enchanted Forest

Crooksling, Co Dublin

Outside the grey city landscape of Dublin lies Luggwoods forest in the foothills of the Dublin mountains, and an opportunity to get out with small children (up to about the age of 12 or so) for a day. Rumour has it the Easter bunny enjoys visiting children at the Magical Easter Spring Trail, decorated with all things Easter. Fairy tale characters are on hand to help find the clues to crack the Easter puzzle and a petting farm is on site with llamas, pigs, goats, chickens and more. luggwoodsevents.com

The Easter Express

Oakfield Park, Co Donegal

About a 20 minute drive from Letterkenny, Co Donegal is a family adventure at Oakfield Park. Each day from April 7 to 10th, a small open air train – otherwise known as the Easter Eggspress – will take families through the enchanted forest to Grandmother’s cottage for a puppet show. Children will receive clues to track down the Easter bunny in the spacious green gardens, and there just might be a treat for children lucky enough to track her down. Families can enjoy face painting, games and meet characters along the way. Tickets are selling fast. oakfieldpark.com

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Mud Bugs Welly Adventures

Lough Key Forest Park, Co Roscommon

The ever-exciting Lough Key Forest Park, Co Roscommon, is bringing back its popular Mud Bugs adventure. Children will go on a welly adventure with their guide, Jessica, and receive an adventure kit too. Explore the woodland trails with walking, adventure, nature inspired crafts and activities. There are two 90-minute sessions per day on April 13th and 14th, suitable for ages 5-10 (€12 each). Contact 071 9673122 to book your spot or email bookings@loughkey.ie.

For the older kids, Lough Key is famed for its bike trails, ziplining and boat tours on the lake. loughkey.ie

Spring festival

Slieve Aughty riding centre, Co Galway

For the horse lovers in the family, Slieve Aughty Riding Centre, near Loughrea, in east Co Galway, will celebrate the start of the season with a Spring Festival. Every day up to April 16th, 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. With more than 2,000 acres of forest beside the centre, longer walks and cycling routes are possible for the more adventurous – you can even hire a donkey and have a picnic by the Duniry river. Children over 5 can get their face painted, make crafts at fun workshops and of course, ride on the horses and ponies. Running 12-6pm daily, €7.50 per child. slieveaughtycentre.com

Limerick Greenway

One of Limerick’s most popular amenities will reopen temporarily for the Easter Holidays for families to take advantage of that – hopefully – dry weather. A section of Limerick Greenway, which spans 40km on the old railway line between Limerick and Tralee, has been closed in recent months for works. The walking and cycling route passes through Rathkeale, Newcastle West, Abbeyfeale and Listowel. A small portion of the route has been undergoing construction work to redevelop the amenity, which has been paused to allow the public to access the full route during the Easter break. The 1.1km section of the greenway will close again from April 17th until May 5th when the works are due to be finished. limerick.ie/greenway

Shannon Blueway

If you’re more comfortable on water than on land, Ireland’s blueways might be your cup of tea. 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’s plenty of spots to rent some kit to traverse the river. If you’d rather stay dry, bike trails straddle the river and on a nice day, there’s nothing like it. bluewaysireland.org

Something for the evenings

Martin McDonagh’s Hangmen

Gaiety Theatre, Dublin

Hangmen from acclaimed playwright Martin McDonagh is showing at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin until Apreil 8th. This is the Irish premiere of his 2015 play, which reveals itself as a taut theatrical thriller that leaves aside the tired tropes of his early comedies for a deeper psychological study of guilt and grief, and a convincing debate about the ethics of the death penalty. You might think you can predict it, but McDonagh is determined to surprise. You can leave the faux Oirishness behind for this one, as McDonagh justifies his status as a great storyteller. gaietytheatre.ie

The Magical Music of Harry Potter

Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin

The best music of the Harry Potter films will be played at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre for audiences young and old. One for fans of the books, films and the five-time Oscar winning composer John Williams. There’s a matinee and evening show on Tuesday, April 11th. ticketmaster.ie

Sam Smith

3Arena, Dublin

Sam Smith brings their Gloria tour to Dublin for two nights towards the end of the holidays, playing the 3Arena on April 14th and 15th. Smith is riding the wave of his highly successful single Unholy – with just shy of one billion streams on Spotify and counting. After Smith’s eighth number one single, they show no sigs of stopping. ticketmaster.ie

Nathan Carter

Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin

If you’re not sick of Wagon Wheel yet, Nathan Carter is playing two shows in Dublin (April 14th and 15th) over the Easter break. Promoting his new album, Carter is sure to deliver as Irish country’s leading heart-throb on the scene. With his six-piece band, Carter is celebrated for his charismatic persona and music for all ages. His latest album includes the singles such as This Journey, Keg Of Brandy, The Morning After (after which the album is named), and a collaboration with one of Ireland’s up-and-coming folk bands Ceol. Expect handclapping, foot-tapping, and some darn good accordion playing. ticketmaster.ie

Something different

Aristochicks

Rockfield House, Co Meath

Rockfield House is a new venture from the Murtagh family, who also run the ever-popular Causey Farm in Co Meath. Opened last year, 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. Dermot Henry, the resident butler leading the experience rarely breaks character, leading to a laugh-out-loud afternoon – what more can you ask for. rockfieldhouse.com