Brought to you by Red Bull Flugtag.
Spring is here and summer is looming, and so it’s probably time to plan a few little daily excursions with the kids.
The weather might be a bit hit and miss over the next couple of days so instead of jumping straight to the rural getaways, we’re opting to stay that little bit closer to home, and head for Dún Laoghaire.
For those living in Dublin, there are few places so near the city centre (and the suburbs) that offers such a huge amount of activity.
First off, if you’re looking for something different, exciting and entertaining for ALL ages, the Red Bull Flugtag competition is taking place in Dún Laoghaire on Sunday, May 20.
People have applied to participate in the event by designing and building their very own flying machine, the aim being to have it fly successfully off the makeshift 9-metre-high ‘runway’ (or pier) above the water. The competitor that sees their flugtag go furthest will win.
Although our little ones won’t be participating, they’ll no doubt be laughing, giggling, gasping and maybe even conjuring up a few of their own ideas for their future flugtag experience.
Who knows? You might have a future engineer, mechanical designer or future aviation enthusiast on your hands.
That’s the highlight of the season for sure, but here are some other options for you and the kids while moseying about Dún Laoghaire.
1. We all Scream For Ice Cream!
First stop on a sunny day is Teddy’s Ice Cream! Generations of Dubliners have been avid fans of the scrumptious and unbeatable 99. It’s delectable, authentic and the ultimate classic that never fails to please. They’ll happily make little versions for our little tots too.
The other ice cream parlour option is Scrumdiddly’s. It’s sure to catch the eye of kids eager to get their mitts on all the colourful and chocolatey extras that can be combined with the various ice creams, so beware of giddy goats in the aftermath! None the less, it’s another perfect treat to keep the kids happy.
2. Biking
Physical activity is essential, for the mind, for the body and because it’s super fun! You can rent bikes and mosey about the seaside town. It’s the perfect way to reach your chosen destinations, whether that be Dún Laoghaire pier, the Forty Foot or further on to Sandycove. Head to Dublin Loves Bikes, the bike rental service on York Road.
3. Water Babies
A sunny day calls for a dip! The Forty Foot might be most famous for its Christmas Day swimming, but it’s also fun for dipping tiny toes too. Sandycove beach, which is just a 10 minute walk from Dún Laoghaire pier is ideal if you’re planning on building sandcastles too. The small and secure spot tends to be busy on sunny days so you’ll see lots of passer-by’s and plenty more with their pooch too.
4. The National Maritime Museum
Kids love to learn and parents love to find something that keeps kids entertained. Open 11am to 5pm, Monday to Sunday, The National Maritime Museum of Ireland is a super spot for kids to learn all about maritime history, explorers, navigation, deep-sea tech, nature, wildlife, and yes – it will have them eager beavers to hit the sea and head off on their own maiden voyage! There’s even a photo op with a seafaring, treasure-hunting pirate. Family tickets cost €12, general admission costs €6 per person, and kids under 12 years of age get in for €3.
5. The Pavillion Theatre
Since 2000, the Pavillion Theatre has been entertaining locals and audiences from all over the world with superior art and cultural performances in cinema, dance, music and theatre. There’s always something on that’s entirely worth seeing. On Saturday, May 20, Pixar’s animated feature film, Coco, will be on show at 2pm. You’ll also be able to see a Spoonful of Sherman (the Sherman brothers wrote oodles of songs we know from Disney films) over the June bank holiday weekend – a stunning performance that the kids will take LOVE singing along to.
Brought to you by Red Bull Flugtag.
