Orla C
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You're not far from the seaside village of Ballybunion, go to Listowel first, then head for Ballybunion. Great beach there for kids, with lifeguard. Also interesting cliffs with blowholes, so you can show them what happens when the sea eventually erodes the land.
Go a little further to Ballyheigue and Banna Strand, where Roger Casement got caught trying to smuggle guns into Ireland for the freedom fighters back in 1916, I think it was. Fantastic beach there.
Near the small town of Castleisland is the Crag Cave, never been there myself but have heard good things about it.
Inland, go to nearby Ballingarry and walk up Knockfierna to see the reconstructed famine village. On a good day you can see for miles, the Burren in Clare, the mountains of West Kerry, North Cork, the Galtees and even Slievenamon way off in the East, it's about 20 miles from Waterford.
Very close to Knockfierna, on the way to Croom, is the Buttercup Farm petting zoo, nice for city kids who normally wouldn't get a chance to get close to farm animals.
Rainy day - you can take the kids to the pool at the University of Limerick sports centre, it's open to families also. There are also the cinemas at the Castletroy and Dooradoyle shopping centres.
Also, Limerick Printmakers in the city centre do art workshops for kids, you'd need to contact them to see what they have to offer. And the Limerick city gallery does these Family Days also, usually on Saturdays.
Do take them to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, it's well worth a visit, even if it is a bit on the expensive side. Go early in the day, you don't want to miss the interior of the castle. On occasion there are battle reconstructions taking place there, so give them a call.
A great day trip is a drive over to Clarina, go up to Carrigogunnel castle and if you have a clear day, admire the view down the Estuary, it is magnificent. Then meander down the N69, and you can stop off in Curraghchase National Park, it's lovely, a great place for a picnic and lots of people bring their dogs and kids there. Go on towards Tarbert, you can stop off at Glin if you like, but you can't visit the castle as it's a private high-end luxury hotel. Take the Shannon Ferry over to Killimer, and you can then turn right and head back towards Ennis, Limerick and on to other places like Craggaunowen (where the ancient artificial island is constructed) and other castles that are open to visitors in Clare, or you can turn left and head to Kilkee via Kilrush. Dolphin-watching is available at Carrigaholt.
Also in County Limerick is Lough Gur, which is nice but I think the kids might find it a little boring. There is a storytelling festival there, when exactly I'm not sure.
Gokarting in Abbeyfeale.
You could also ask around about local sports events. Limerick is GAA country so there will be lots of hurling and Gaelic football and camogie around, so if you ask local people where kids can go to play these sports, and what they'll need, I'm sure they'll be delighted to help you out. |
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