There’s no shortage of things to do in Tipperary with kids — it is, after all, Ireland’s biggest inland county! We’ve narrowed it down to our top 10 things to do in Tipperary with kids, covering castles, heritage centres, playgrounds and great outdoor spots across both the North and South of the county.
Tipperary is packed with culture, adventure and sights to see on a family day out. We’ve rounded up some favourites below, and it’s worth checking Tipperary.com too for more ideas on things to do in Tipperary with the kids.
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Jump to an entry:
#1 The Glen of Aherlow · #2 Brú Ború, The Bolton Library and The Rock of Cashel · #3 Roscrea Castle and Damer House · #4 Cahir Castle and Swiss Cottage · #5 Nenagh Heritage Centre · #6 Fethard Folk Farm and Transport Museum · #7 Celtic Plantarum Dundrum & Marl Bog · #8 A Lough Derg Drive · #9 Ballina · #10 The Devil’s Bit
Family-Friendly Things to Do in Tipperary
#1. The Glen of Aherlow
The Glen of Aherlow Nature Park has a series of family-friendly loop walking trails, with information panels on the flora and fauna of the area and plenty of picnic tables along the way. Take your time having a ramble through the stunning natural woodland at your own pace.
Entry is from the viewing point at the Christ the King Statue, which gives you a panoramic view of the valley before you even set off.
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#2. Brú Ború Heritage Centre, The Bolton Library and The Rock of Cashel
The Rock of Cashel is huge, complex and iconic — there’s nothing else quite like it anywhere in the world, and it sits right in the heart of Tipperary.
Brú Ború is a national cultural centre at the foot of the Rock of Cashel, built as a cultural village around a village green. The centre includes a folk theatre, a genealogy centre, a restaurant and other amenities.
The Bolton Library began as the private collection of Archbishop Theophilus Bolton. The collection covers a wide range of subjects, with many rare and unusual works and maps, including pieces by Dante, Swift, Ortelius and Erasmus.
#3. Roscrea Castle and Damer House
Roscrea Castle is a stone castle made up of a gate tower, curtain walls and two corner towers dating from the 1280s.
Damer House was built in the Queen Anne style in the 18th century and is an example of pre-Palladian architecture. Its rooms host temporary exhibitions, and one room is furnished in period style.
The Castle and Damer House form part of the Roscrea Heritage Complex, which also includes Black Mill, a restored mill displaying the original St Cronan’s high cross and pillar stone, plus a Round Tower.
Bring your swimming gear and head to Roscrea Leisure Centre afterwards for a swim with the kids — it has family changing rooms, a café and a slide the kids will love.
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#4. Cahir Castle and Swiss Cottage
Cahir Castle appears to grow straight out of the rock it stands on, and it has been the scene of sieges and bombardments for centuries.
The Swiss Cottage is an ornamental, thatched chalet within the Kilcommon Demesne, an 800-acre walled park at the heart of the Butler of Cahir estate. A fully restored National Monument, it has been open to the public since 1989.
While you’re in Cahir, it’s worth visiting the Sensory and Mobility Garden on Church Street. It was specially created to be accessible and enjoyable for everyone, particularly people with disabilities, with scented plants, sculptures, water features, Braille signs and pathways of different textures — a peaceful spot to unwind.
Round off your visit with a trip to the playground at Duneske Leisure Centre.
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#5. Visit Nenagh Heritage Centre
Housed in an interesting mid-19th century building that was once the County Gaol Governor’s House for North Tipperary and the prison itself, this centre lets you learn about the history of the buildings and step back into old rural Ireland — even following in the footsteps of the condemned prisoners.
The Heritage Centre contains a model of the North Tipperary Gaol, a recreated 1913 schoolroom, a recreation of the original gaol kitchen dating from the mid-1800s, and an Irish dairy display showing the stages of butter-making and the farming utensils once used.
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#6. Fethard Folk Farm and Transport Museum
The Fethard Folk Farm and Transport Museum specialises in transport as well as folk and farm life, with more than 1,200 exhibits on display. It’s an ideal day out for the family during the spring and summer, with a particular focus on making the visit fun and educational for children.
The grounds include a café, picnic facilities, toilets, disabled access, a playground and parking.
#7. Celtic Plantarum Dundrum & Marl Bog
The Celtic Plantarum at Dundrum is a magical combination of plants, shrubs and trees, some rare, alongside quaint water features. The display includes reconstructions of ancient field monuments drawn from Ireland’s past, all set among pathways with ever-present birdlife.
Bring a picnic and a fishing rod and head to Marl Bog, a woodland and man-made lake just 2km from Dundrum. There’s parking on site and existing forest and lakeside trails, and the lake is stocked with brown trout, managed by the Dundrum Fisheries Group.
#8. Go on a Lough Derg Drive
Here’s one mum’s suggested family itinerary:
“Start off in Dromineer, feed the swans, watch the boats and have a play in the playground. Next, head to Garrykennedy, go for a forest walk, have a play in the playground, and grab lunch in Larkins or picnic in the lovely BBQ and picnic areas. If little ones are due a nap after lunch, head towards Ballina, stopping at The Lookout to take in the amazing scenery.”
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#9. Ballina
The twin towns of Killaloe/Ballina are among Ireland’s most picturesque spots, linked by a 13-arch bridge that joins not just the two towns but the counties of Clare and Tipperary.
Ballina has a lovely riverside park and a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, so bring the kids’ swim gear for a dip. There are plenty of moorings for cruisers to stop off and explore, and you can fish off the jetty. At Ballina playground, you’ll also find an outdoor gym.
Anything left in the picnic basket? Round off your day dining al fresco on one of the picnic benches along the Shannon bank.
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#10. The Devil’s Bit
The Devil’s Bit mountain sits a few miles from The Ragg, near Thurles. Tipperary has beautiful, lush mountain scenery, and the most famous of these hills is known as the Devil’s Bit.
Legend has it that the devil took a bite from the mountain and broke a tooth in the process, letting the bit fall from his mouth and land in Cashel — forming the Rock of Cashel, once the seat of the Kings of Munster.
There’s a 5km marked loop with forest and hillside paths for a pleasant hill walk. The loop doesn’t go all the way to the summit, but you can take a short spur to the top, where views on a clear day stretch across eight surrounding counties.
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Do you have a favourite place to visit or things to do in Tipperary with kids? Leave a comment below and let us know — we’d love to hear from you!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Tipperary with kids?
Tipperary has something for every kind of family day out — historic sites like the Rock of Cashel and Cahir Castle, heritage centres in Nenagh and Roscrea, nature walks in the Glen of Aherlow and around the Devil’s Bit, and playgrounds and swimming spots in towns like Ballina and Roscrea.
Is the Rock of Cashel suitable for a family visit?
Yes, the Rock of Cashel is one of Tipperary’s most iconic family attractions. Combine your visit with the Brú Ború Heritage Centre at its foot, which has a folk theatre and other amenities for a fuller day out.
Where can kids go swimming in Tipperary?
Roscrea Leisure Centre has family changing rooms and a slide, while Ballina has a seasonal outdoor swimming pool by the river Shannon — both handy stops if you want to combine sightseeing with a splash.
Are there free or low-cost things to do in Tipperary with kids?
Yes — spots like the Glen of Aherlow walking trails, Marl Bog and the Devil’s Bit loop walk are free to enjoy, and Nenagh Heritage Centre has traditionally offered free admission and guided tours (worth checking current details before you go).
More Ideas for Family Days Out
- Best Outdoor Spots for Families in Tipperary
- Rainy Day Activities in Tipperary
- Fun Playgrounds in Tipperary to Take the Kids To
- Free Things to Do in Tipperary with Kids
- 11 Top Activities, Adventures and Things to Do with the Family in Tipperary
- Some of Our Favourite Spots for Outdoor Swimming
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