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9th August 2024
10:58am BST
Brought to you by Discover Ireland
With a whole month of summer holidays left before the kids head back to school, we’re making sure to make the most of those longer days by packing it full of fun and adventure, and enjoying a few Daycations throughout August, while staying right here in Ireland.
What exactly is a Daycation, you might be wondering? Essentially it's a whole holiday's worth of fun, packed into just one day. Thankfully, Ireland boasts so many incredible, one-of-a-kind experiences, so planning a jam-packed Daycation is super easy, one that will delight every member of your family. While there are tons of hikes, swims, farms, and natural scenery to take in, if you're more of an indoor kinda family, there are just as many incredible indoor activities to get involved in across the country to add to your Daycation.
Here we have showcased some of the very best stadiums, water parks, and climbing walls right on your doorstep that will offer your family that glorious feeling of holiday escapism, without having to battle with zipping up a suitcase (or keeping it within the weight parameters).
The perfect experience to plan your Daycation around is a trip to a waterpark, and one of Ireland's best can be found in County Louth. Funtasia Waterpark Drogheda has a little something for all age groups, including a toddlers' area filled with spray cannons and shallow water, as well as exciting slides like the Boomerang and Super Bowl for the older kids and thrill seekers. Funtasia also boasts a zipline, virtual reality games, bowling, and crazy golf for when you've had enough splashing about.
A Daycation to Cavan wouldn't be complete without a stop in at this museum. Take a tour of the museum before grabbing some refreshments ahead of your next Daycation stop.
A visit to this unique experience is a must for any Daycation in County Clare; the perfect mix of indoor and outdoor fun. Not only can you take a tour of these ancient caves, there is also a Birds of Prey Centre, where visitors can interact with falcons, hawks, owls, eagles, and vultures. The perfect beginning point of a Daycation to remember.
Ever wanted to know what it feels like to fly? One of the top attractions in the country, making it well worthy of a visit during your Daycation is the Shannon Aviation Museum. This indoor attraction tracks the history of flying where the whole family can learn about everything that it takes to fly, or live out their best Top Gun fantasy with their flight simulator.
If your Daycation destination is West Cork, you must make time for this model village, where you can see a completely handmade model of the 1940s railway line that served the likes of Clonakilty, Kinsale, Bandon, and Dunmanway. Take in the teeny tiny sights, or race remote control boats in the mini Kinsale harbour, before having a bite at the café and taking in all that West Cork has to offer.
Learn about rural 1930s Ireland, just outside Ballinamore in County Leitrim. This Connaught museum has preserved a piece of Irish history, having reconstructed an entire street scape right out of the 20th Century, and home to a private collection of over 6,000 antique, historical, and novel items from pre-Famine Ireland. You and the family will have plenty to discuss as you head off to your next experience.
Limerick has no shortage of activities to flock between for a Daycation to remember, with the University proving to be home of a state-of-the-art climbing wall in a unique 360 experience, a space that is nothing short of Olympic level standards. If heights aren't for you, or some members of the family would rather another activity, the swimming pool at UL was Ireland's first Olympic sized facility, and includes a 25M diving pool to boot.
A Daycation to Mayo is teeming with activities and experiences to get involved in, whether you're after natural beauty landscapes at Doolough Valley, or a wander around Westport, but a fantastic indoor option is the Achill Experience Aquarium. Families can get up close and personal with the local sea-life to Achill, as well as a range of tropical fish you might recognise from the likes of Finding Nemo.
For an indoor family adventure, visit the Arigna Mining Experience in Co. Roscommon. You and your family will venture underground and travel back through time, as you hear real-life stories from Ireland's mining industry. Following this experience, continue your Roscommon Daycation with a trip to Rathcroghan, the home of Queen Maeve, or a tour around Roscommon castle, with its hundreds of years of history.
Whether you're just passing through Limerick during your Daycation, or it's your destination for a couple of hours, the International Rugby Experience is a must-visit for all utterly obsessed with the sport. Celebrating rugby on an international level in its spiritual home in Munster, this is an indoor activity suitable for the whole family to enjoy, as you experience the sport as it appears in small communities, to how it captivates as a worldwide phenomenon.
Between scenic walks in Ardagh Village, or a spot of paint-balling or Midland Karting at Edgeworthstown, pop by Cloughan Farm for some family fun on your next Daycation. Ramble through the pretty surroundings, then roll up your sleeves as you and your little ones whip up something tasty during a hands-on cookery lesson.
No matter your level of adventure, this water park is ready to delight all members of the family. Small children can hang out at the Walrus Slide, while those looking for a bit more adventure can take on the Multi-Lane Slide. True adrenaline junkies however will go straight for the extreme slides such as the Twister, the Tornado, and the Whizzer. Looking to fill your Daycation with water activities?
When Daycationing in Offaly, a spot that has an abundance of different activities is Birr Castle Demesne & Historic Science Centre. As well as expansive grounds and trails to get lost in, 120 acres to be exact, the science centre plays host to an array of historic artefacts and exhibitions depicting the likes of photography and astronomy in its infancy.
There's enough indoor and outdoor activities to keep you busy all day, everything from pier jumping to cycling trails, but our top pick is The Boda Borg, an area with 15 quests that requires you and all the family to put your heads together to progress onto the next challenge. The ideal morning activity to whet your appetite for some well deserved lunch, should you make it out!
A classic indoor experience for the whole family to enjoy is a trip to an art gallery, and The Model has something to offer Daycationers of all ages. Wander round its fascinating exhibitions and let your family's curiosity be sparked by this energetic space.
Ready for the Best Daycation Ever? Plan an unforgettable day at DiscoverIreland.ie.
The Leave No Trace principles help us make as little an impact as possible on the incredible Irish landscape as we explore the outdoors this summer and beyond. Keep outdoor areas safe, clean and free from waste/hazards, and help us protect the natural environment. Love this place, leave no trace.
