Unleash your adventurous side in the west of Ireland!
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Bundoran Beach, Co Donegal
If you’re visiting areas in or near the northwest of Ireland this summer, make sure you don’t leave without trying some of these fun, unique – and even once-ina-lifetime – family activities The northwest of Ireland is a region of infinite variety – a paradise for outdoor explorers, hillwalkers, sporting enthusiasts and those with an appreciation for the true beauty of nature. However, not only is the region aesthetically pleasing, there’s also an exciting new experience to be discovered around every corner. So, whether you’re staying in Co Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Mayo or Galway, you’re bound to find
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an activity which will help make lasting memories for the entire family over the sunnier season.
CO DONEGAL Surf’s up
If there’s one water sport you try in your lifetime, make that surfing. It’s difficult to get the hang of at first (or, in some cases, always difficult), but you’ll still have plenty of fun trying to see who can stand on the surfboard the longest or, indeed, who can stand up on the board first! Along the length of the Wild Atlantic Way (www. wildatlanticway.com), you’ll find many surf schools which cater for kids as well as adults, such as Finn McCool Surf School in Rossnowlagh. Or, learn with TurfnSurf on Bundoran beach, Rossnowlagh or Strandhill. You don’t need to be an expert in the water, but you do need to have a sense of adventure, basic level of fitness and a swimming ability. Park for free at the TurfnSurf lodge, from which you’ll be transported to the beach. Visit www.turfnsurf.ie for more details.
Adrenaline rush For a fun-filled day out for all the family, Letterkenny Activity Centre is a good call. Three miles outside Letterkenny, the centre has a choice of exciting and
challenging activities including karting, archery, airsoft, high ropes and zip lining. The centre’s footy golf will induce buckets of laughter among players. Played on the pitch and putt course, footy golf is like golf but played with a football. A game costs €7 per person. For more information on all activities and prices, visit www.lkaactivitycentre.com.
canvas bag design, while you can also create personalised gifts or keepsakes for special occasions such as weddings and communions. Or, for something more thrilling, visit Sligo’s only paintball complex – Sligo Extreme Paintballing. Situated in Hazelwood, approximately a 10-minute drive from Sligo Town, the centre caters for a minimum of two people and upwards.
CO SLIGO
CO LEITRIM
If you’re travelling along the Wild Atlantic Way, golf lovers are well catered for, as some of the world’s very best links courses are found there. But if you want to enjoy golf with young children, you’ll need to think of something different – and the Crazy Golf Centre at Enniscrone, Co Sligo, is just the ticket for budding Rory McIlroys. There’s a much-loved playground there too, located in a natural hollow close to sand dunes.
If your child has always dreamed of owning their very own pony (or if you have!), then a visit to Moorlands Equestrian Centre in Co Leitrim is as good as. Set between Sliabh an Iarainn and the Arigna mountains, the centre provides horse riding lessons with qualified instructors, pony camps for children, treks with scenic views, and exhilarating rides and outdoor jumping for the more experienced of riders. The centre also caters for riders with various disabilities. Visit www.moorlands.ie for more details.
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Get crafty Ready to get immersed in paint, both figuratively and literally? Hullabaloo (www.hullabaloo.ie) in Sligo Town is an exciting and fun place to get creative with family and friends and paint your very own pottery. Other activities include jewellery making, t-shirt design and
Horsing around
Bowled over It comes as no surprise that the weather in Ireland isn’t always dry, so on rainy summer days, it’s good to have a back-up activity. Kidz Kingdom and Bowling (www.kidzkingdomandbowling.com) at
Irish Independent I 31 May 2017
Get creative this summer
the Mulvey Centre in Carrick-on-Shannon is a fantastic adventure centre for all ages. Who will be the bowling champion?
CO ROSCOMMON What’s mine
Go back in time and discover what coal mining life was like at the Arigna Mining Experience, Co Roscommon, since its beginning in the 1700s until the mine’s closure in 1990. An educational experience for both children and adults, visitors will see what it was like to work in some of the narrowest coal seams in the western world during an underground tour. Old methods used to extract the coal are demonstrated, while lighting and sound effects add authenticity.
Woodland adventure Approximately a 20-minute drive away from the Arigna Mining Experience is the Lough Key Forest Park in Boyle, where families enter a world of adventure with electric bike trails, woodland segways, boat tours of Lough Key, orienteering, an adventure play kingdom, and more.
CO MAYO
Shiver me timbers With the new ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’
31 May 2017 I Irish Independent
in cinemas now, why not go on your own pirate adventure? A treasure trove of family fun, the Pirate Adventure Park in Westport provides the full pirate experience, without the need to travel the seas to some secluded island. Activities include rides such as the Cannonball Run Slide and the Pirate’s Plunge (Ireland’s only log flume ride), go-karting, real-life dungeons in Westport House, a pirate’s playground, and much more. To avoid queues, book your ticket online at shop.westporthouse.ie/shop/, where you can get 5pc off.
Sail away One of the fastest-growing water activities right now is stand-up paddling – or SUPping, to those in the know. An off-shoot of surfing, it was developed in Hawaii and has really taken off on more sheltered parts of the Wild Atlantic Way coastline. Harbour Sup & Sailing Club will help you get the hang of it and they operate at two bases – at the Quay, Ballina, Co Mayo and Enniscrone Pier, Co Sligo. For more information, visit www.harboursupsail.com.
CO GALWAY Secret garden
Winner of the Georgina Campbell Family Friendly Destination of the Year Award
Salthill, Co Galway
2017, Brigit’s Garden will take you on a in Salt Hill, but not just through a visit magical journey into the heart of Celtic to its popular beach – visit Galway heritage and mythology, and will appeal Atlantaquaria (www.nationalaquarium.ie) to gardening aficionados of all hues. At too. See and learn about the variety of the garden – which is located close to species of fish and their Oughterard and is approximately habitats; plus, if you a 25-minute drive from Galway plan your visit during City – there are also all feeding time, you ies manner of activities tailored may even get an y activit ds n a m e r e to children. A discovery opportunity There a interests, ne west rth r all trail, playground, and an to hold a to cate vels in the no elling y le trav it e il ancient ring fort (fairy starfish! Adult b ’r a u o d y an if ind you’ll f nd, and fort) will not only keep admission is of Irela Atlantic Way, ine both b d the kids happy, but will €12, while m il o W c l e e th cap t wil ing tha help them feel at one a child d lands someth ul scenery an For more if with nature. For costs €7.50. ! t t u n a e e the joym the b more details, visit A family of ns of en tivities along o t h it c w a www.brigitsgarden.ie. four (two friendly , visit family- astline route y.com adults and two o a c w ic t n ildatla Sea life children) is €33. www.w Experience the world of Parking is available water along the Promenade on location.
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