National Print Museum

The National Print Museum, on Haddington Road, collects, documents, preserves, exhibits, interprets and makes accessible the material evidence of the printing craft and fosters associated skills of the craft in Ireland.

It runs some interesting looking events and workshops for families and kids such as the Family Guided Tour, children's interactive guided tour, birthday parties, arts and crafts workshops, family days and activities in the education area. It also runs activities for older kids.  

It will run storytelling for 4-7 year olds on 6th July from 2-3pm.  

Groove Festival Kids Area

The Groove Festival in Kilruddery next weekend (6 and 7th July) has loads of things happening to keep the kids entertained.  There is a special kids area, which will have kiddie friendly activities, including the chance to take part in an orchestra, workshops, the Shielbaggan Outdoor Adventure Centre climbing wall, animals, giant board games and sand pit.  Every adult can bring a child under 12 for free on their ticket.

Ingenious Ireland Free Family Activity Trails

I am loving the look of the fabulous Free Activity Trails in Dublin for Families on the Ingenious Ireland website.  These free PDF walking trails with a geeky twist are suitable for ages 6 plus.  There are three different Dubl1n by Numb3rs Trails which include counting, measuring and calculating activities to help kids discover the world of algebra, shapes and spaces.  Each trail takes 60-90 minutes.  Each pack includes a map and full instructions.  

There is also a Dublin Metropolis Trail which aims to encourage kids to discover how the city works and the things around us are engineered.  

There are guided tours too which have got great reviews on Tripadvisor but these might be aimed more at adults.

IMMA Summer Events

This summer IMMA is running loads of cool events.  From the Teencreate and Studio 8 Summer Programmes, to artlab, from one off drop in "You Know?" sessions in the National Concert Hall to the art trails in the Royal Hospital Gardens in Kilmainham, there is something for everyone.  Even a wander around the gorgeous gardens and a break in Itsa Bagel is worth a go.

TCD's Zoological Museum Guided Tours

Fancy getting your picture taken through the jaws of a shark or feeling the might of a crocodile’s teeth? Then a guided tour of Trinity College’s Zoological Museum over the summer months might be for you.  The 250-year old collection houses 25,000 specimens, representing all of the animal phyla. While the main purpose of the museum is to provide undergraduate training in animal systematics, biodiversity and taxonomy, the museum will be open to the public from Monday, June 24th, 2013 for a limited period only.Visitors will be given a guided introduction to the world of extinct creatures, exotic beasts and glass models of marine animals. The tours will be given by zoology students and staff.
Bookings can be made at the Zoological Museum booth outside the Book of Kells Exhibition, The Old Library, Fellows Square, Trinity College.Opening Times: Monday to Friday, 10am – 4pm, via guided tourAdmission: Combined entry for Zoological Museum and the Book of Kells: Adults €15, Family €30, OAP/Student €12. Entry to the Zoological Museum only: Adults €8, Family €15, OAP/Student €7.

Fair Weather Fun in Dundrum this Summer!

Lots of stuff to amuse the kids in Dundrum this Summer.  Check out Fair Weather Fun in Dundrum this Summer!

Parks Tennis Camps

Parks Tennis runs tennis summer camps all over Dublin for kids from 5 and a half to 12 plus.  

Hourly lessons are given every day for the month of July and it just costs €40!  

The Festival of Curiosity 2013 Programme | The Festival of Curiosity

This looks sooooo cool
The Festival of Curiosity 2013 Programme | The Festival of Curiosity

Dun Laoghaire

We love going to Dun Laoghaire for a family outing.

On Sundays, we often go for a walk/scoot down the pier, followed by a wander around the farmer's market in the People's Park where we grab some lunch (kids love the hot dogs) and then the kids have a play in the playground.

During the week, I sometimes take them down the pier and then the kids have a play in the small playgound by the shops/restaurants beside the Pavillion Theatre (which often has cool things on for kids).

Other times, we park by the Dublin institution of Teddy's and scoot down towards Sandycove Beach and then walk around the forty foot and pop into the James Joyce tower for a clamber up the stairs and a look at the view from the top of the martello tower it is housed in.  Kids love poking their noses into the rock pools too.

Steeple Sessions

Steeple Sessions 2013 features a series of acoustic candlelit folk and traditional music concerts.  Every Tuesday and Thursday over the summer, the series is held in the Unitarian Church on St Stephen's Green.  According to the website, the concerts and child friendly and alcohol free.

Paperbelle

Paperbelle looks like a lovely theatrical performance for kids aged 2-5 years and their families, friends etc.  It is running in the Pavillion, Dun Laoghaire on Saturday 6th July for three performances at 12pm, 2pm and 3.30pm.  It is being produced by Frozen Charlotte, which is one of the leading companies producing work for children in Scotland.  

Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane

Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane houses one of Ireland's foremost collections of modern and contemporary art. The original collection, donated by the Gallery's founder Sir Hugh Lane in 1908, has now grown to include over 2000 artworks, ranging from the Impressionist masterpieces of Manet, Monet, Renoir and Degas to works by leading national and international contemporary artists.  Admission is free.

Children and families can participate in a variety of learning opportunities that explore the collection and temporary exhibitions in the Gallery’s children’s area and Learning Resource Centre. A lively education programme includes activities such as the Kids Club workshops. You can sign up to the Kids Club newsletter here.  This summer workshops include the following:-

30th JuneSunday Sketching for 7+ year olds "Stars and Stripes", (3-4pm)

15th August

Paint the Town Red! Primary Colours Workshops for all ages, (11am-12pm)

22nd AugustGot the Blues! Primary Colours Workshops for all ages, (11am-12pm)

29th AugustMellow Yellow!Primary Colours Workshops for all ages, (11am-12pm)

It is also running lots of really cool summer camps for kids from as young as 18 months to 14 years plus, such as a yoga camp and design your own comic book.  

The Hugh Lane's website is a great resource.  You can download a kids guide to the Francis Bacon Studio or instructions on how to make a cubist collage 

Glenroe Farm

Glenroe Farm in Kilcoole, Wicklow is a great place to pass a few hours with your munchkins.  It is not very big so you can keep an eye on little ones very easily.  There is a pets corner where kids can hold hamsters, guinea pigs etc so your kids will get a real kick out of that.  There is a thatched cottage which acts as a small museum and there is also a nature walk, but that did not interest my lot that much.  There is an outdoor wooden playground, which the kids love and will keep them amused for a good while.  There is plenty of picnic areas and also a coffee shop. Family ticket is €22 and adults and kids cost €6.

@dublinmunchkins tweets

You can follow me on twitter @dublinmunchkins I retweet things of interest that I may not get a chance to blog about and put links up to any new blog posts I write, so you may want to check it out if you are a tweeter.

Dublin City Council: Free Family Fun Fest in Father Collins Park

Dublin City Council: Free Family Fun Fest in Father Collins Park

Fort Lucan

Fort Lucan is an outdoor adventure playground which caters for kids from 2-14. We went last summer and the kids had a ball. Friends from overseas have been there too and also loved it. 

There is a big outdoor play area which has wooden towers, high walkways, suspension bridges, slides and a maze, which is enough to keep most kids occupied. 

Then there is another area, which has two massive waterslides with big bends, twists and drops called "the raging river ride" and there is the "waterfall" which drops you 40 foot down into a pool of water - not for the feint hearted.  If you go on these you will get really wet so wear clothes you don't mind getting wet and dirty eg a t shirt, shorts and crocs.  Bring a change of clothes!  

There are also pedal push go karts and a crazy golf area. 

Under 2s are free. Kids cost €9.50 (includes one free go in the Waterfall or Crazy Golf and an adult is €3.50 (incl a free tea or coffee).   Individual tickets for the Raging River Ride are €3 PER RAFT (capacity 2 persons per raft and if I remember correctly the raft has to have two people on it to go). Entrance fee does not include this extra cost.  If you think your kid will want a load of rides on the waterslides then get a wristband for €6.50 which allows them unlimited access to the waterslides and the crazy golf area.  Kids need to be 1m to go on the raging river ride but if smaller, they can be accompanied by an adult.  

There is a cafe which sells the usual fare of chicken nuggets, sausages, chips, sandwiches, cookies etc.  You can also bring a picnic as there is loads of room to sit on the grass or on the plastic tables and chairs if you can get a free one.  

Dublin City Council: Opera in the Park

As part of its on-going success in outdoor opera, Dublin City Council is introducing a new series of operatic performances for the month of June in Merrion Square Park.  ‘Opera in the Park’ will showcase 4 concerts, with performances taking  place  at 1 p.m. each Friday in June starting on the 7th June with La Bohéme. On Fri. 21st June the performance will take place at 8 p.m. celebrating Midsummer. More info at 
Dublin City Council: Opera in the Park

Dublin City Council: Local BioBlitz 2013

some great events for families and kids at Dublin City's Local BioBlitz in St Anne's Park on 7 and 8th of june. See Dublin City Council: Local BioBlitz 2013 for more info.

Dublinia

Dublinia is located beside Christchurch cathedral and it is a sort of heritage centre where you can learn all about Viking and Medieval Dublin.  It is mostly a self-guided experience and a family ticket to Dublinia costs from €23.00 (2 Adults & 2 Children).  You can get a special discount ticket if you want to visit Dublinia and Christchurch Cathedral. 

At specific times during the summer, there will be family themed events taking place, such storytelling sessions, history to life programme, demonstrations, treasure hunts, art workshops, special tours and dig workshops for kids, which are included in the admission price.  They have a family activity sheet for all the family to take part in.  You can also download instructions on their website to make a Viking axe or shield, which your munchkins can make and bring with them on their visit.  We have not been yet, but aim to try it out over the summer.

Summer Events include:-

Be an Archaeologist! Dig Workshops for children, Dublinia (11am – 12pm and 2pm-3pm) 22nd/23rd and the 29th/30th of June

 

First Family Saturday, Dublinia 

6^th of July – Viking Craft Workshop  (11am. 11.45, 12.30, 1.15, 2)