Things to do with kids in County Offaly
Offaly's family days centre on water and bog: the Grand Canal greenway through Tullamore, Lough Boora's sculpture trails, and Clonmacnoise's ancient monastery by the Shannon.
Ideas here work for families in Tullamore, Birr, Edenderry and Clara.
Popular with families in County Offaly: Lough Boora Discovery Park, Clonmacnoise, Grand Canal greenway at Tullamore.
Toddlers & preschoolers (2–4) in County Offaly
Short, sensory and close to a toilet and a snack. Buggy access matters more than distance.
Lough Boora Discovery Park
OutdoorsFreeFree sculpture park on a cutaway bog with bike hire and waymarked trails — art, wildlife and space to roam in one place.
Grand Canal greenway at Tullamore
OutdoorsFreeFlat towpath for bikes and buggies with locks and boats to watch — easy to shorten or extend.
Birr Castle Demesne & Science Centre
IndoorsGardens, the historic Leviathan telescope and a science gallery — gardens for the youngest, science for the oldest.
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 Offaly
Big enough for playgrounds and trails, still happiest with a clear task and a bit of story.
Lough Boora Discovery Park
OutdoorsFreeFree sculpture park on a cutaway bog with bike hire and waymarked trails — art, wildlife and space to roam in one place.
Clonmacnoise
OutdoorsAncient monastic site with round towers and high crosses above the Shannon — short enough for children, remarkable enough for teens.
Grand Canal greenway at Tullamore
OutdoorsFreeFlat towpath for bikes and buggies with locks and boats to watch — easy to shorten or extend.
Birr Castle Demesne & Science Centre
IndoorsGardens, the historic Leviathan telescope and a science gallery — gardens for the youngest, science for the oldest.
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 Offaly
Ready to lead the map, take on a challenge and be given real responsibility.
Lough Boora Discovery Park
OutdoorsFreeFree sculpture park on a cutaway bog with bike hire and waymarked trails — art, wildlife and space to roam in one place.
Clonmacnoise
OutdoorsAncient monastic site with round towers and high crosses above the Shannon — short enough for children, remarkable enough for teens.
Grand Canal greenway at Tullamore
OutdoorsFreeFlat towpath for bikes and buggies with locks and boats to watch — easy to shorten or extend.
Birr Castle Demesne & Science Centre
IndoorsGardens, the historic Leviathan telescope and a science gallery — gardens for the youngest, science for the oldest.
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 Offaly
Give them a role that isn't babysitting — photography, navigation, or a proper physical challenge.
Lough Boora Discovery Park
OutdoorsFreeFree sculpture park on a cutaway bog with bike hire and waymarked trails — art, wildlife and space to roam in one place.
Clonmacnoise
OutdoorsAncient monastic site with round towers and high crosses above the Shannon — short enough for children, remarkable enough for teens.
Grand Canal greenway at Tullamore
OutdoorsFreeFlat towpath for bikes and buggies with locks and boats to watch — easy to shorten or extend.
Birr Castle Demesne & Science Centre
IndoorsGardens, the historic Leviathan telescope and a science gallery — gardens for the youngest, science for the oldest.
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 Offaly
- Lough Boora Discovery Park — Free sculpture park on a cutaway bog with bike hire and waymarked trails — art, wildlife and space to roam in one place.
- Grand Canal greenway at Tullamore — Flat towpath for bikes and buggies with locks and boats to watch — easy to shorten or extend.
Rainy day in County Offaly?
Birr Castle's science centre and Tullamore's leisure centre are the reliable indoor options.
Getting there
Trains to Tullamore from Dublin; Lough Boora, Clonmacnoise and Birr are best by car.
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 Offaly, and the party planning FAQ if there's a birthday coming.
Find activities for your ages