Castles And Museums

Castles and Museums

Ireland is home to many family-friendly castles and museums, offering a mix of history, adventure, and interactive exhibits.

One of the best castles to visit is Bunratty Castle & Folk Park in County Clare. This well-preserved medieval castle features a recreated 19th-century village, farm animals, and engaging activities for kids. Blarney Castle in County Cork is another popular destination where families can explore lush gardens and kiss the famous Blarney Stone. Dublin Castle offers an easy-to-navigate historical site in the capital, while Cahir Castle in Tipperary is a fairytale-like fortress with towers and hidden passageways that children love.

For museums, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin is highly interactive and uses modern technology to tell the story of Irish emigrants. Nearby, Dublinia brings Viking and medieval Dublin to life with hands-on exhibits. The National Museum of Ireland – Natural History, known as the “Dead Zoo,” is a favorite for kids fascinated by wildlife. In Belfast, Titanic Belfast offers an immersive experience about the famous ship.

These sites provide an exciting blend of education and fun, making them ideal for family outings in Ireland.

Sligo Abbey

Known locally as the Abbey, this Dominican Friary was founded in the mid – 13th century by Maurice Fitzgerald.

Sligo – Model Arts and Niland Gallery Sligo

The Model Arts and Niland Gallery is a virbrant centre for the arts in Sligo, hosting work from all over the world.NOTE: TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR REDEVELOPMENT,

Westmeath – Athlone Castle Visitor Centre

This Norman Castle dominates the town centre and commands the traditional gateway to the West of Ireland.

Westmeath – Lockes Distillery

At the Locke’s Distillery Museum visitors can take a step back in time and visit the “oldest licensed pot still distillery in the world”, established in 1757.

Wexford – Dunbrody Famine Ship and Irish Emigrant Experience

The Visitor Experience provides a unique insight into a period of history which shaped modern day Ireland and America. Open Daily, Year Round.

Wexford – Duncannon Fort Visitor Centre

Duncannon Fort is a star shaped fortress on an important promontory in Waterford Harbour.

Wexford Arts Centre

Wexford Arts Centre is perfectly located for a lunch time visit and is just a moments stroll from the Bull Ring and Main Street Wexford

Wexford – Dunbrody Abbey

Dunbrody Abbey was founded in 1170 on the instructions of Strongbow, by Herve de Montmorency (his uncle), after the Norman invasion of Ireland.

Wexford – Irish National Heritage Park

Enter a special place, where Ireland’s heritage comes alive with sights and sounds that shaped a country and helped to shape the world.

Wexford – National 1798 Centre

The award winning National 1798 Centre offers a fascinating insight into the birth of modern democracy in Ireland.

Wexford – Tintern Abbey

A Cistercian abbey, founded c. 1200 by William, the Earl Marshall, and named after Tintern in Wales.

Wexford – Irish Agricultural Museum

The Irish Agricultural Museum is located within the extensive ornamental grounds of Johnstown Castle Estate. It displays a vast array of artefacts relating to a bygone era.

Wexford – Hook Lighthouse

Hook Lighthouse is a unique example of an almost intact medieval lighthouse. Its one of the oldest operational lighthouse in Ireland and hosts many attractions including art classes and a cafe.

Wexford – Ballyhack Castle

The castle, a large tower house, is thought to have been built c. 1450 by the Knights Hospitallers of St. John, one of the two great military orders founded at the beginning of the 12th century.