Things to do in Ireland over Easter | 2024

Hop into Easter with our guide to egg-citing events for the whole family!

From egg hunts to bunny-tastic Easter camps to indoor activities and events, it's time to crack into the fun.

As Easter is early this year, the celebrations are timed with the reopening of many outdoor venues, unlocking a whole new season of adventure and excitement for the whole family.

Support your local businesses and have fun!

Easter Week Fun | Brigit's Garden | Galway

The very popular Easter Egg Hunt in Brigit's Garden is on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday from 12pm – 4pm. Younger children can take part in a Mini Hunt and older children can enjoy the Mighty Hunt around the Gardens.

Follow the egg clues around the trail – solve the Easter-themed puzzle and go to the Marquee to get your reward! Every child receives little chocolate eggs as a prize. There’s lots of additional Easter fun too! Meet the Easter Bunny as well as enjoy Easter-themed crafts, face-painting, games, ball-fishing and more.

If you can’t make it Sunday or Monday, the Easter Egg Hunt is available as a free extra with regular garden admission (just without the additional activities) the rest of the week. A visit makes a great day out for all the family over the break!

Easter Event | Newgrange Farm | Meath

Don't miss out on the popular annual Easter eggstravaganza at Newgrange Farm with lots of seasonal fun & games on Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday & Easter Monday. Tickets are limited so book early to avoid disappointment. The farm will also be open every day over the Easter holidays.

Alice in Dinoland | Jurassic Newpark | Kilkenny

Over Easter, Jurassic Newpark will host an Alice in Dinoland themed event for all the family to enjoy featuring Dino Talks in the Dino Den by The Mad Ranger, Dinosaur themed fun and games for all to enjoy, access to enchanted fairy trail and playground, Alice in Dinoland themed Easter Egg Hunt and lots more.

Easter Activities at Airfield Estate | Dublin

Visit Airfield Estate - Dublin’s only working Urban Farm - this Easter for family fun. There is a scavenger hunt, Easter activities, story time and face painting to enjoy. Keep an eye out for the Easter Bunny, who'll be hopping by on Saturday, March 30th, Sunday, March 31st, and Monday, April 1st. Stop by the coffee shop for hot chocolate—it is Easter after all!

The fun doesn't stop there and you can enjoy the sheepdog trials on Monday, April 1st and get up close and personal with their adorable alpacas on Saturday, April 6th.

Wildlife Talks | Fota Wildlife Park | Cork

Open daily from 09:30, over the Easter break, from Saturday the 23rd of March until Sunday 7th of April, you can also enjoy wildlife talks delivered by the education department team on Penguins, Lions, Cheetahs, Spiders, Penguins and more.

Also, the animal feeding at Fota Wildlife Park each day includes the ever-popular Cheetah run and twice-daily feedings of the penguins. Feeding times have remained a firm favourite with visitors throughout the years it’s a great way to see exactly the type of work that goes on at Fota Wildlife Park and see up close the Ranger’s daily care of the animals.

Greenan Maze | Wicklow

Set among the stunning Wicklow hills, near Rathdrum and only an hour south of Dublin, Greenan Maze reopens this Saturday, March 23rd until Sunday 7th April; every day for the Easter school holidays

The treasure hunt and fairy tree trail are great fun activities for kids and getting lost in the maze helps you find your love of nature. Greenan Maze is a delightful escape for families and nature enthusiasts alike where you can xplore two captivating mazes, immerse yourself in nature walks, woodlands, and ponds, and get acquainted with friendly farm animals.

Discover the charm of three museums, showcasing the rich heritage of rural life with traditional furniture, utensils, and fascinating artifacts. The coffee shop opens every day and sells gourmet organic coffees, snacks, sandwiches and cakes aswell as a selection of hand-made crafts, local and global crafts, antique bottles, gifts and environmentally friendly stationery.

GAA Teidi Tours | Dublin

If you go down to Croke Park today, you're sure of a big surprise! The Teidí Tours are back for the Easter break!

Teidí Tours are specifically for our younger visitor and each child who visits will make their very own GAA Museum sports teidí to take home. Teidí Tours include a teidí making workshop and a family friendly guided tour of Croke Park.

Tickets are extremely limited, so book online in advance to avoid disappointment. There will be tours from Tuesday 26th - Friday 29th of March at 10.30 and 13.30. Tours will last approximately two hours.

Easter Egg Hunt | The Ark, Puddenhill | Meath

 On Saturday 30th, all kids get a treasure hunt map and clues; once they collect all the clues (indoors & outdoors) they win an Easter Egg. The Easter bunny will also make an appearance on the day and each child gets a free Barrel train ride.

Over the rest of the holidays, they are open everyday 10:00 - 17:30 (except closed Easter Sunday and Monday)

Tearaway's Pet Farm & Activity Centre | Tipperary

Tearaways provide indoor and outdoor activities to keep all the family happy and active this Easter, whatever the weather with a purpose built 6,000 square foot indoor activity centre with slides, crawling tunnels, ball pits and a separate toddler area. There is also a coffee shop for you to relax in whilst your kids play and have fun. Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday (except Easter Sunday) and daily from April 1st - April 7th.

Easter Family Fun Day | Malahide Castle | Dublin

There will be entertainment, competitions, games and maximum fun for children and parents on Easter Saturday on the West Lawn of Malahide Castle.

Celebrate the spring holiday together against the dramatic backdrop of a castle and the magical winding lanes of the West Lawn. A whole array of activities for all ages from babies to 10 year olds… and of course, not forgetting the adults!

Kick the school holidays off with a bang and come enjoy some quality time with your family. We will have music, face painting, games, arts & crafts, food trucks, a spring trail, and enough merriment to create a carnival atmosphere. Tickets must be booked in advance.

Easter Egg Hunt | Sligo Folk Park | Sligo

Enjoy the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Sligo Folk Park on April 1st with animal corner, face painting, arts & crafts, Easter games and a special visit to the Hoppy Grotto ot meet the Easter bunny and friends. There is also a prize for the best Easter Bonnet / Top Hat

Easter Bowling and Indoor Fun |  Leisureplex | Dublin, Cork

Leisureplex offers you the ultimate bowling experience with kiddie ramps and ball walls for the youngest bowlers so they can strike out too!

Also, the Zoo Playland soft-play adventure zones is a perfect spring day out offering a maze of slides, tunnels and ball pools with comfortable seating areas for parents to relax and watch the kids while they run off some of their extra Easter egg fuelled energy! (Zoo Playland not available in Cork)

Dino Roar | Emerald Park | Meath

Budding dino-enthusiasts can stomp on down to Emerald Park this Easter to take part in Dino Roar, an interactive, dinosaur meet and greet event!  Embark on a jurassic adventure and meet a range of prehistoric friends along the way. Chat with expert rangers and be sure to ask them some fun facts about your favourite dino species.

Access to Dino Roar is included free with all park entry tickets between Saturday March 23rd – Friday March 29th. The event will take place in the Junior Zone and Dino Dash area between 12:00 – 16:00 daily. 

Irish Famine Exhibition | Dublin

Reopening on April 1st, the Irish Famine Exhibition is centrally located in the centre of Dublin on the second floor of the Stephens Green Shopping Centre at the top of Grafton Street and provides an informative look at one of the defining events in Irish history through rare 19th century photographs, witness accounts, contemporary sketches as well as maps and statistical information

The Big Dig | Dublinia | Dublin

Dig for ancient Viking treasure at the Dublinia Big Dig. Put your hard hat on and get your hands dirty to experience life as an Archaeologist, wiht the Irish School of Archaeology!

Join the Big Dig in the grounds of Dublinia from the 4th to the 6th of April, where visitors will get to take part in our very own simulated archaeology excavation. It promises to be a fun packed family event where children will get a chance to discover how archaeologists excavate and hopefully find some artefacts and treasures of their own.

Dig Times are at 10.30am/11.30am/12.30pm/2.30pm and 3.30pm. No booking is necessary and entrance is part of the normal admission price.

Secret Valley Wildlife Park | Wexford

There will be plenty of fun in the sun in the fantastic Secret Valley Wildlife pak where there is lots to see and do including a new bouncy castle obstacle course.

Open daily over easter they have a special Breakfast with Ruari Rabbit and friends on March 30th for a fun morning of food and eggs with Ruari Rabbit, Bertie Badger and Sally Valley! Also, keep an eye out for special coupons where a child goes free with a paying adult over Easter!

Easter Eggs-ploration at The National Reptile Zoo | Kilkenny

The Researcher's Hub will be open all across Easter weekend for eggs-plorers who want to come and learn about and see real tortoise, snake and insect eggs and learn all about baby reptiles! There will be egg colouring, Zookeeper talks and much more all weekend, and entry is free with general admission! They are open 10am - 6pm all over Easter midterm, including bank holidays.

Easter Egg Hunt | Blackwater Open Farm | Wexford

The farm is open every day over the Easter break from 10:30-17:30 but on Easter Saturday and Sunday there is a complimentary Easter Egg hunts every hour from 12 to 3. Booking is advised for these days.

Funderland | Cork

The popular funfair moves to a new location at the former Tedcastle Yard on Centre Park Road near Pairc Ui Chaoimh. One things that has not changed though is there is still lots of thrills and adventure to suit all the family thoughout the Easter holidays every day from 22nd March to 7th April.

GoQuest | Dublin

Having recently just celebrated their 5th birthday, GoQuest continues to provide a fun day out - regardless of the weather - with 27 unique challenge rooms for you and your family or friends to to complete and compete!

Navan Adventure Centre | Meath

Fantastic Easter event for all the family on March 30th, 31st & April 1st from 10am to 5pm It is suitable for ages 3 to 12 years with parents/guardians enjoying an action packed family session featuring seven different activities including egg hunt, obstacle course, inflatables and more.

Birr Castle Demesne | Offaly

Birr Castle Demesne will satisfy your quest for adventure this Easter with activities including the much loved Easter Quest. Collect your Quest sheet and pencil from reception upon arrival, and head off on your Easter Adventure! Follow the egg clues along the trail, unravel the Easter-themed puzzle, and head back to reception to claim your well-deserved reward!

Each child will receive a small treat for completing the Quest. The Quest is included in your general admission ticket. 

Easter Pottery Workshop | The Painted Pot | Limerick

Enjoy some Easter fun with with a difference in an Egg-Cup Pottery Workshops!

Make your own egg cup from clay, decorate it with Easter themes and take it home to use every Easter!  Limited slots available, reserve your spot for March 30th at 14:30 or April 1st 10:30. €25 for 1 child with additional children €20 each.

Newgrange Farm Archaeological Park and Newgrange Monument Tour

Anthony Murphy will lead a tour of the archaeological monuments and their associated mythology on Newgrange Farm. The tour includes a visit to the Newgrange monument chamber with OPW guides. Tour participants will see some of these monuments, and hear all about the thrilling discovery of ‘Dronehenge’ from its discoverer, on a specially modified and covered trailer. The tours will take place twice a month from April until August, with the first one scheduled for Tuesday April 2nd.

Happy Day Play Centre | Cork

If you are looking some kids fun, food and frolics in Fermoy then pay a visit to Happy Days Play Centre. Featuring an extensive indoor play area, it is the perfect safe space for your egg-cited little ones to burn off some extra energy! Open 9.30-5.30 Wednesday to Friday and 10.30-6.30 Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday 

Nature Camps | Festina Lente | Wicklow

Nature wonderland adventures and activities for all learning styles and curiosities in the amazing Festina Lente Walled Gardens. Activities include a feast of fun sensory, practical and wellbeing experiences and lots of takeaways to build botanical memories! 

The single day camps run from 10am until 1pm from Tuesday 2nd April to Friday 5 April. Suitable for children ages 4 - 11, places are limited and you can book single days or all four as each day will be fresh and varied.

Castleview Open Farm | Laois

The giant rabbits will be in their element as the Easter bunny is a good friend of the farm and is sure to pay a visit. Get you face painted to blend in with the bunnies while enjoying some Easter themed baked goods from the cafe. There will also be lamb and calf feeding demonstrations and lots of new furry, hairy and wooly faces!

Easter Camp | Spraoi Funworld | Dublin

Spraoi is the Irish word for fun and sport and it's what your child will have at the Easter activity camp featuring thirty minutes of supervised play before Spraoi opens to the public and then a full morning of activities including arts & crafts, football skills, baking & decorating and much more. They will also be open daily for general play time.

Kbowl | Kildare

Are you looking for some family fun over the Easter holidays?

KBowl Naas offers you the ultimate family bowling experience with kiddie ramps and Wacky World Soft Play Area for smaller kids so everyone can have fun !! KBowl offers 12 lanes of Ten Pin Bowling, Wacky World Soft Play Area, Arcade Games and KDiner where you can relax and enjoy delicious food.

Easter Camps | Discovery Park | Kilkenny

Easter adventures awaits at Castlecomer Discovery Park. As the vibrant colours of Spring begin to bloom around the Park, they are hosting an exciting Easter Camp for young adventurers aged 5-8 and 9-12 from April 2nd to April 7th.

Children will embark an exciting journey filled with adventure, nature exploration and delightful craft activities!

Easter Event | Stonehall Visitor Farm | Limerick

The farm is open 10:00-17:00 daily over the Easter holidays with a special Easter Event on Easter Saturday, Sunday & Monday with a fun bunny trail hunt, you can meet the Easter Bunny as well as a few more surprises.

Kia Ora Farm | Wexford

A family run open farm in Gorey, Co. Wexford with lots of animals, the very popular fire engine ride, maze, go karts, sandpits, milking cow and even real diggers!  Open daily over Easter.

Dublin Zoo | Dublin

Hoppy Easter is coming to Dublin Zoo on Saturday March 30th and Sunday 31st with some egg-cellent Easter celebrations. There will be DJ on the lawn and kids disco with special appearances from the Easter Bunny. There will also be special keeper talks on Dublin Zoo’s resident bunnies, face painting, arts & crafts, egg hunts and lots more fun.

Easter Eggstravaganza | Clonfert Pet Farm | Kildare

The fabulous Easter Eggstravaganza at Clonfert Pet Farm is taking place from March 23rd to 31st and includes a fun fair, treasure hunt, kids entertainer and disco as well as all the usual animals and farm activities. If that's not enough to whet your appetite, there’s also a chocolate egg for all the kids, but I'm sure they will share!

Pirate's Cove | Wexford

There is something for everyone this Easter in Courtown where you can enjoy bowling, adventure golf, bumber boats and lots more.

Carlingford Adventure Centre | Skypark | Louth

This Easter holiday sees the return of the Carlingford Adventure Camp, with residential and non-residential options available for the two weeks of the Easter break. Activities include all the favourites like laser combat, ziplinning, target sports and survivor challenge. Skypark is also open for family adventures with their aerial adventure course and plenty of fun adventures on the ground too. On Easter weekend they will have their famous Easter Egg hunt and lots of other surprises too.

First published in RTE Lifestyle

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