Looking for rainy day activities for kids in Clare? Need some ideas to keep everyone happily occupied when it’s wet outside? We’ve pulled together some great suggestions across the county, from cosy indoor play centres to castles, caves and cinemas, to make your job a little easier.
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Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
At Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, everywhere is open for you to explore. The Castle is one of the most complete and authentic medieval fortresses in Ireland. Built in 1425, it was restored in the 1950s to its former medieval splendour and now houses a fine collection of 15th and 16th century furnishings, tapestries and artwork that bring the period to life.
Bunratty’s 19th century Folk Park recreates the homes and rural environment of Ireland over a century ago, with more than 30 buildings set out in a “living” village. Visit the farmhouses and cottages to watch the tasks of rural Irish life, and don’t miss the griddle bread being baked over the open fire, ready to taste warm with fresh creamery butter.
Indoor Play Centres
Dennis’ Den Funworld
Let the kids run off some steam at Dennis’ Den Funworld in Clonroad More, Ennis. Open seven days a week, it has soft play areas for both toddlers and over 5s, including a ball pool, slides, mazes and bridges. The kids can burn off energy while you relax with a coffee in the café.
Planet Family Entertainment Centre
At the Planet Family Entertainment Centre in Ennis, kids are sure to have a great day out with a wide range of indoor activities. There’s ten-pin bowling with family-friendly options, including smaller balls and ramps for younger children, plus a soft play area, an astroturf pitch and Quasar for older kids.
Kids Town, Corbally
Kids Town is a large indoor soft play centre with ball pits, castles, tunnels, ball swings, giant Lego, slides and a sports area, along with much more. They also run ‘Splat Town’, a low-impact kids’ paintball session using fully supplied gear, suitable for children aged 8 and up.
Barneys Kidz Club
Barneys Kidz Club in the Gort Road Business Park, Ennis, is a great indoor soft play venue that blends learning into play through its Interactive Toddler Area. There’s also a separate baby and toddler area with a toddler slide, ball pool and Roller Racer Stadium, plus a three-tiered adventure frame with a three-lane wavy slide tube.
Visit the Theatre
glór in Ennis is a lively concert and events venue in Cappahard, and the perfect retreat whatever the weather. It runs family-friendly events, workshops, children’s camps and art classes throughout the year, along with a rolling programme of gallery exhibitions worth a visit. Afterwards, stop by the glór café for scones, soups, light lunches, desserts and coffee.
Catch a Movie
Who doesn’t love popcorn and a good film on a wet afternoon?
- Empire Movieplex in Clonroad Beg, Ennis, has seven screens and runs a regular Kids Club on Saturday mornings.
- Eclipse Cinemas at the Three Rivers Centre in Lifford is a family-owned, multiscreen cinema with regular ticket offers and homemade popcorn.
Alternatively, why not enjoy all the fun of the cinema without leaving home by setting up your own home cinema experience? Get the kids involved in arranging seating, making tickets and choosing snacks, then sit back and relax.
Related: Make Your Own Home Cinema
Get Reading at the Library
Your local library is a great option for a rainy afternoon. Every branch has a junior section, so you can settle in for a read together or take part in one of the free events and activities that run throughout the year. Clare has a good network of library branches across the county, with plenty of books for readers of every age.
The Burren Perfumery
The Burren Perfumery is a family-run business in Carron, Co. Clare, making perfumes inspired by the landscape around them. There’s a free audiovisual exhibition on the flora and fauna of the Burren, a shop, and perfume-making workshops to try. Afterwards, relax in the rose-covered Tea Rooms for lunch or a snack, and kids can watch some of the products being hand-made. If the weather brightens up, the surrounding gardens are lovely to explore too.
Go Swimming
Swimming is a great way for kids to burn off energy, and it’s the perfect retreat when the rain sets in. Ennis and the wider county have a good choice of child-friendly pools:
- Active Ennis Leisure Complex has a 25m swimming pool and a separate kiddies’ pool, along with dedicated gym hours for teens.
- Kilkee Waterworld in Dough, Kilkee, has geysers, gushers, bubbles, a slide and a lazy river ride.
- Shannon Leisure Centre in Tullyglass, Shannon, has a kiddies’ pool and 25m pool, plus a playground, climbing wall, astroturf and dance studio.
- Lahinch Seaworld and Leisure Centre has a 25m heated pool and a kiddies’ pool with a small slide, with food available afterwards at the on-site café.
Aillwee Cave
Located in the heart of the Burren, Aillwee Cave is one of the oldest caves in Ireland. Expert guides lead you on an underground journey through beautiful caverns, past bridged chasms, striking rock formations and a thunderous waterfall. Kids will love spotting the frozen waterfall and the hibernation chambers once used by long-extinct brown bears. There’s also a café, cheese shop and gift shop to browse afterwards.
Get Outside
Sometimes you’ve just got to get out and get wet. Pop on the raingear and wellies and head out for a walk in the rain — most kids love splashing in puddles, and it’s a great way to release pent-up energy after being cooped up inside.
Warm up afterwards with a hot bath or shower, dry clothes and a hot chocolate. Then pull out a board game or snuggle up on the couch with a movie for a perfect end to a wet day.
Related: 50 Fun Rainy Day Activities for Kids | What to Do on a Rainy Day | Activities for a Rainy Day
Frequently Asked Questions
What can we do with kids in Clare on a rainy day?
Clare has plenty of indoor options for wet weather, from soft play centres like Dennis’ Den Funworld and Barneys Kidz Club in Ennis, to Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, the theatre at glór, local cinemas, libraries, the Burren Perfumery and Aillwee Cave.
Is Bunratty Castle worth visiting on a rainy day?
Yes — the Castle and Folk Park are largely indoor or under cover, making them a great choice when the weather turns. You can explore the medieval castle interior and the reconstructed 19th century village buildings without worrying about the rain.
Are there indoor play centres in Ennis?
Yes, Ennis has several soft play and family entertainment centres, including Dennis’ Den Funworld, the Planet Family Entertainment Centre, and Barneys Kidz Club, all offering indoor activities suited to different age groups.
Is Aillwee Cave suitable for a rainy day trip?
Yes, Aillwee Cave is a fully underground guided experience, so it’s unaffected by weather and makes a memorable option for a wet day out with kids.
Related Articles
- 50 Fun Rainy Day Activities for Kids
- What to Do on a Rainy Day
- Activities for a Rainy Day
- Make Your Own Home Cinema
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