Things to do this weekend: Playful Pirate Culture Trail launched in Cork

Looking for something fun to do this weekend?

A new Playful Pirate Culture Trail has launched in Cork City, Ireland’s maritime haven, for the summer months. Throughout July and August, the city’s vibrant museums, galleries and visitor attractions will add pirate fun to their offering so families can explore culture, heritage and the city’s green spaces in an imaginative and playful way. The Playful Pirate Culture Trail treasure map includes a special treasure to be found at each site, along with other challenges. It also lists 20 child friendly activities to do in the city from spotting pirate ships and cannons, to digging for hidden loot and searching for golden angels! In addition to a treasure hunt at each venue on your voyage, there will be pirate photo opportunities, fun facts, lots of pirate colouring, and suggested activities to try where X marks the spot. And above all, make sure your little pirates get a stamp at every venue to fill their maps with their bounty! Commenting on Cork City Playful Pirate Culture Trail, one of the key organisers Dr Danielle O’Donovan, Programme Manager at Nano Nagle Place, said that Cork City wants to lead the way in encouraging playful engagement in venues that may have traditionally been perceived as adult focussed spaces;

“Following the huge success of our Playful Cultural Trail in 2021, we have gone back to the drawing board to create lots more ways for children to have fun and discover the amazing riches on offer in our culture and heritage spaces. This year we want to stress that the Playful Pirate Culture Trail is for everyone, reflecting the creative, curious, interactive, inclusive, beautiful nature of play.”

The trail includes: Blackrock Castle Observatory, Blarney Castle, The Butter Museum, Cork City Gaol, Cork Public Museum, Cork Military Museum, Elizabeth Fort, Crawford Art Gallery, Nano Nagle Place, Glucksman Gallery, Old Cork Waterworks Experience, Shandon Bells and Tower, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, St Peter’s Church, Triskel Christchurch and outdoor spaces/ picnic points including Fitzgerald Park, the Lough, and the Atlantic Pond.