Things to do with kids in County Clare
Clare gives you some of Ireland's biggest family sights — the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and long Atlantic beaches — plus a lively town in Ennis, so a day out can mix one wow moment with easy free stops.
Ideas here work for families in Ennis, Shannon, Kilrush and Lahinch.
Popular with families in County Clare: Cliffs of Moher visitor experience, Lahinch beach and promenade, The Burren at the Burren Centre, Kilfenora.
Toddlers & preschoolers (2–4) in County Clare
Short, sensory and close to a toilet and a snack. Buggy access matters more than distance.
Cliffs of Moher visitor experience
OutdoorsPaved cliff-edge paths with barriers and an indoor visitor centre — keep small children close, and let older ones do the exhibition.
Lahinch beach and promenade
OutdoorsFreeLong sandy beach with a flat prom — sandcastles and paddling for the youngest, surf-watching and bodyboarding for teens.
Ennis town and the River Fergus walk
OutdoorsFreeCompact town with a friary, riverside path and cafés — an easy half-day when the coast is too wild.
Activity ideas that work for this age here
- Pizza production line — Everyone gets a station — dough squashing, sauce spreading, topping design — and dinner sorted at the end.
- Cardboard city — Build a whole town from boxes — towers, roads, a river of blue paper.
- Garden obstacle course — Cushions, hoops and a stopwatch — the classic that works for every age at once.
Young children (5–7) in County Clare
Big enough for playgrounds and trails, still happiest with a clear task and a bit of story.
Cliffs of Moher visitor experience
OutdoorsPaved cliff-edge paths with barriers and an indoor visitor centre — keep small children close, and let older ones do the exhibition.
Lahinch beach and promenade
OutdoorsFreeLong sandy beach with a flat prom — sandcastles and paddling for the youngest, surf-watching and bodyboarding for teens.
The Burren at the Burren Centre, Kilfenora
IndoorsShort interpretive centre and marked walks over the limestone — an otherworldly landscape that older children find genuinely strange and interesting.
Ennis town and the River Fergus walk
OutdoorsFreeCompact town with a friary, riverside path and cafés — an easy half-day when the coast is too wild.
Activity ideas that work for this age here
- Pizza production line — Everyone gets a station — dough squashing, sauce spreading, topping design — and dinner sorted at the end.
- Cardboard city — Build a whole town from boxes — towers, roads, a river of blue paper.
- Garden obstacle course — Cushions, hoops and a stopwatch — the classic that works for every age at once.
Older children (8–11) in County Clare
Ready to lead the map, take on a challenge and be given real responsibility.
Cliffs of Moher visitor experience
OutdoorsPaved cliff-edge paths with barriers and an indoor visitor centre — keep small children close, and let older ones do the exhibition.
Lahinch beach and promenade
OutdoorsFreeLong sandy beach with a flat prom — sandcastles and paddling for the youngest, surf-watching and bodyboarding for teens.
The Burren at the Burren Centre, Kilfenora
IndoorsShort interpretive centre and marked walks over the limestone — an otherworldly landscape that older children find genuinely strange and interesting.
Ennis town and the River Fergus walk
OutdoorsFreeCompact town with a friary, riverside path and cafés — an easy half-day when the coast is too wild.
Activity ideas that work for this age here
- Pizza production line — Everyone gets a station — dough squashing, sauce spreading, topping design — and dinner sorted at the end.
- Cardboard city — Build a whole town from boxes — towers, roads, a river of blue paper.
- Garden obstacle course — Cushions, hoops and a stopwatch — the classic that works for every age at once.
Teens (12–15) in County Clare
Give them a role that isn't babysitting — photography, navigation, or a proper physical challenge.
Cliffs of Moher visitor experience
OutdoorsPaved cliff-edge paths with barriers and an indoor visitor centre — keep small children close, and let older ones do the exhibition.
Lahinch beach and promenade
OutdoorsFreeLong sandy beach with a flat prom — sandcastles and paddling for the youngest, surf-watching and bodyboarding for teens.
The Burren at the Burren Centre, Kilfenora
IndoorsShort interpretive centre and marked walks over the limestone — an otherworldly landscape that older children find genuinely strange and interesting.
Ennis town and the River Fergus walk
OutdoorsFreeCompact town with a friary, riverside path and cafés — an easy half-day when the coast is too wild.
Activity ideas that work for this age here
- Pizza production line — Everyone gets a station — dough squashing, sauce spreading, topping design — and dinner sorted at the end.
- Cardboard city — Build a whole town from boxes — towers, roads, a river of blue paper.
- Garden obstacle course — Cushions, hoops and a stopwatch — the classic that works for every age at once.
Free things to do in County Clare
- Lahinch beach and promenade — Long sandy beach with a flat prom — sandcastles and paddling for the youngest, surf-watching and bodyboarding for teens.
- Ennis town and the River Fergus walk — Compact town with a friary, riverside path and cafés — an easy half-day when the coast is too wild.
Rainy day in County Clare?
Use the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre or the Burren Centre indoors, then retreat to Ennis for a swim or soft play session.
Getting there
Trains run to Ennis from Limerick and Galway; the coast and the Burren are easiest by car, with visitor car parks at the main sights.
Nearby areas
Planning for two very different ages?
Tell the matcher your children's ages and it finds activities where each one has a real job — plus check the partner directory for family discounts near County Clare, and the party planning FAQ if there's a birthday coming.
Find activities for your ages