If you are searching for activities for kids on a rainy day, things to do to keep them entertained when it’s wet outside? Then we have lots of suggestions of things to do in Mayo to make your job a little easier!

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Paint some Pottery

Commons Clay Cafe is a pottery painting studio and restaurant and is great fun for all ages! You can paint your own mug, car, animal or anything you can imagine, really – the selection is great. You can paint on the day and then pick up the item in a few days’ time when it has been fired. Each item is priced individually, with a range of between €5 – €12. Things look great and the kids get a real kick out having painted something themselves!

Playcentres in Mayo

Why do kids always seem to have more energy when they can’t go outside? A great idea to burn off the excess energy and keep them entertained is taking them to a Play Centre. We are spoiled for choice as there are some great ones all around Mayo!

Westport House & Pirate Adventure Park – The Pirates Den

At Westport House & Pirate Adventure Park, if the weather is bad and you can’t experience their great range of outdoor activities, why not check out the Pirates Den? The Pirates Den is a great indoor soft play spot for the younger ones. They even have a babies play area for those under two years and a brilliant climbing frame. Parents can have a well-deserved tea or coffee at Gracy’s Bar & Café while the little ones run around. There is also an indoor karting track.

Mayo Leisure Point

Mayo Leisure Point is a fun-filled amusement centre and a great spot for the kids to be entertained on a rainy day! Nokey’s Adventureland is an indoor adventure play area for kids from 2 – 10 years. It’s built over 3 levels with 6 individual interactive sound effects. There is a Bouncy Nokey, Spiral Serpent Slide, 2 Ball Ponds and an under 4’s section with many more activities. It costs €4 for children under 2 and for older kids, prices depend on the time.

Why not try out some of their other brilliant indoor activities, such as Laserworld or their arcade games? There is a diner if the kids get hungry and also 8 bowing lanes to keep kids of all ages entertained!

Tumble Jungle

Visit Ireland’s largest indoor play centre located at Bunree Road, Ballina. They have an amazing 13,500 square ft jungle themed play area. They have lots of bouncy castles, a climbing frame, jungle run and a special toddler area. For two hours of playtime, it costs €7.00 for kids over 2 and for under 2’s, it costs €5.00. Parents can have a tea or coffee in their T.J.’s café.

Pots of Fun

Pots of Fun indoor play centre in Claremorris is a brilliant spot for the kids to run around in on a rainy day. They have a 3-level play structure for children from 5-12 years and a smaller 2-level play structure for children from 2-5. Their Tiny Tots area is perfect for toddlers. It costs €6 per child per hour. They also have a Baby Ballpond and a Soft Ball Court. They run Parent and Toddler Mornings every Tuesday from 11.00 to 12.30 for €5 with a free tea or coffee. 

Funster Playcentre

Located in Breaffy Road Business Park in Castlebar, Funster Playcentre is brilliant indoor softplay venue of over 8,000 square ft with a huge climbing frame, tube slide and football area. They also have a Tiny Tots and Toddler’s area.

Gateway Leisure

Gateway Leisure in Belmullet, co. Mayo is a great family indoor entertainment centre. They have a fully air conditioned complex with 10 pin bowling lanes, mini golf, pool tables, air hockey tables, a playcentre and amusements. Make sure to check out one of Ireland’s largest activity playframes known as “Kid Island”. For parents, there’s a coffee dock to relax while the kids are playing and a restaurant also.

Museums in Mayo

National Museum of Ireland – Country Life

The National Museum of Ireland – Museum of Country Life, located in Turlough Park, Castlebar, is another great rainy day activity that can be enjoyed by the whole family. It shows the traditional way of life that existed in Ireland since 1850 and houses a national collection of fascinating historical objects. Hear unique stories and experience the rich heritage and fascinating cultural traditions of our rural ancestors!

Join one of their regular family events and exhibitions which they run throughout the year. Entry is free. They have lots of stuff going on over the summer months for all the family to enjoy. Stop for lunch at the café and if the rain stops you can enjoy the wonderful gardens of Turlough House, which include woodland walks, an ancient Round Tower and a lake.

Davitt Museum

The Michael Davitt Museum is a heritage museum located in Knockagarraun, Strade. It contains a large collection of documents, photos, letters and postcards and lots of other items connected with Michael Davitt’s life. There is also a great audio-visual presentation which adds greatly to the physical exhibition. Entry costs €5 for adults and €3 for children.

Céide Fields Visitor Centre

The Céide Fields are the oldest known field systems and the most extensive stone age monument in the world – over five and a half millenia old. Located an hour and a half’s drive from Mulranny, this is a great spot for the history buff in the family!

The Visitor Centre has exhibitions, an audio-visual show and tearooms. Discover a buried wall for yourself using a centuries old method of probing. You can take a guided tour and explore the site, and discover a buried wall for yourself using a centuries old method of probing. It’s open from 10am – 6pm from June to September and till 5pm other months.

Clew Bay Heritage Centre

Situated in a 19th century building 2 kilometres from the centre of Westport, the Clew Bay Heritage Centre traces the history of Westport and the Clew Bay area from pre-Christian times to the present. You can see artefacts, documents and photographs which give an insight into local history, customs and traditions. They have a “hands on” experience, and visitors can actually touch the artefacts on display! Entry to the Centre costs €5 per person.

Jackie Clarke Collection

Located in Ballina, Co Mayo, the Jackie Clarke Collection showcases one of the world’s leading collections of historical Irish material.  Discover 400 years of Irish history through the self-guiding family friendly interactive touch screens. In the memory pod you can record and share your stories and memories.  Discover something new about your family history by searching the in-house census and eviction records. Admission is FREE and you can enjoy lunch in cafe after your visit.

Libraries in Mayo

A great rainy day activity is a visit to your local Library! All libraries in Mayo provide a dedicated children’s reading area catering for kids of all ages where they can get lost in the magic of books. Enjoy reading with them or browse for your own book to take home.  See the Mayo County Library website for details on library events across the county.

Go Swimming

When it’s raining, how about getting wet? A trip to the swimming pool is a great way to burn off excess energy on a rainy day. There are plenty of public pools around Mayo and some great hotel ones – here’s a few:

• Ballina Swimming Pool is located on Cathedral Road in Ballina.
• Claremorris Leisure Centre has a 25 metre, 6 lane swimming pool. It is located on Dalton Street in Claremorris.
• The Leisure Complex at Lough Lannagh, Castlebar.
• The Westport Leisure Park has a 25m pool and a children’s fun pool.