Every child I know, my own included, love going to the playground. But if you’re looking for something a bit different from the usual playground with swings, seesaw and slide, then these particular playgrounds in Ireland are amazing!
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If your child loves heading to the playground for some outdoor play then these particular playgrounds are guaranteed to make them squeal with delight!
Some playgrounds are always open, but others may have set opening times. To avoid disappointment, please do check before visiting any playground, that it is open.
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Playgrounds in Ireland That are Amazing
Amazing Playgrounds in Carlow
Oak Park Forest Park
Oak Park Forest Park has an accessible playground with swings including a wheelchair swing and slides. After a play, you can head off for a walk in the park, there are colour-coded trails, with wheelchair-accessible surfaces, including a looped boardwalk.
Here are more Playgrounds in Carlow the Kids will Love to Explore
Amazing Playgrounds in Cavan
Con Smith Memorial Park playground, Cavan Town
An excellent modern playground, with swings, slides, bridges and benches for us too! Parking is available on the road. There’s something for everyone. There’s also an adult fitness park next door, so you can burn off some energy too!
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Amazing Playgrounds in Clare
Cratloe Woods Playground, Cratloe
You’ll find Spraoi sa Choill playground in Cratloe Woods. The playground is perfectly integrated into the woods and extends to over an acre. There eco-friendly slides, climbing frames and swings made from wood. Kids will also enjoy playing outside the playground and exploring the woods.
O’Regan Park, Newmarket on Fergus
At O’Regan Park in Newmarket on Fergus you’ll find a Playground, Nature Trail and Storytelling Area. There are beautiful riverside picnic spots as well as individual play areas for children of varying ages. The playground includes a Pirate Ship for wee ones, and a larger adventurous piece for order kids. You’ll find climbing areas, slides, ropes, poles, mini-diggers, and more.
Lahinch Playground
A state of the art playground which has clearly defined Junior and Senior areas with various play surfaces and equipment including a Net-Scape and Cableway.
Here are more Playgrounds in Clare The Kids Will Have a Ball at
Amazing Playgrounds in Cork
Ballincollig Regional Park
Head to Ballincollig Regional Park to visit the big playground, where you’ll find plenty for kids of all ages, with forts and ropes to climb on and double slides. There is a big green area outside the park ideal for games or for having a picnic.
Doneraile Wildlife Park
The kids playground at Doneraile Park offers a wide range of equipment for all ages, from younger kids to pre-teens, including mini zip wire and monkey bars. There are picnic areas and several walking routes in the Park so you can bring a picnic and make a day of it.
Fitzgerald Park, Cork City
Ashley recommended Fitzgerald Park in Cork, she says, “The playground is phenomenal. Lots of sensory things and a huge wooden castle structure with ladders, bridges and slides. Its location is beautiful and the park has a cafe. Perfect for families.”
This disability-friendly playground is wheelchair accessible to most of the sensory equipment, there’s also a wheelchair roundabout.
Here are more Fun Playgrounds in Cork to Take the Kids To
Amazing Playgrounds in Donegal
Ballymacool Park, Letterkenny
This large modern playground, located grounds of Ballymacool House, offers great play equipment for toddlers, preschoolers and older children. The equipment is well spaced out, and it has a couple of accessible play items. You can enjoy beautiful walks in the grounds.
Rathmullan Playground
At Rathmullan there is a large, enclosed and colourful playground beside the beach.
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Amazing Playgrounds in Dublin
Corkagh Park
Home to a natural wooden playground, fairy trail, fishing lake and rose garden, Corkagh is a one-stop-shop on a warm summers day. Pack a picnic and some spare clothes and cool down in the middle of the beautiful woodlands behind the rangers office at one of the little streams that run through the grounds.
Malahide Castle
Here you’ll find a huge playground catering for all ages and abilities. The playground is divided into two sections, a toddler area and preteens play area. Equipment includes a bespoke tower unit with two slides, a vertical rock wall, internal platforms and a rope bridge. There is also an adventure trail, six-metre-high rope net, a cableway and a sand play area with a multi-play unit and diggers.
Newbridge House
Tucked into the woodlands a few minutes walk from the house, sits a five-star playground perfect for all age groups. For the younger kids, there are various balancing structures, a playhouse, springers, swings and slide. For the older kids, there is a cool balancing unit, a zip wire, climbing structures and much much more. While at the demesne you may enjoy a stroll of the parklands, visit the farm or visit the fine Georgian Mansion.
St Catherine’s Park Playground
Let the kids run off some steam around the hedge maze, along with the wooden obstacle courses or the biggest sandpit a park has ever seen. There is ample parking adjacent to the much-loved wooden activity park, a ranger hut with public toilets and plenty of green space and picnic tables.
Griffeen Valley Park Playground
Stroll along the riverside and enjoy a sensory and fairy trail before heading to the enclosed natural play park with a mix of activities for different age groups. Climb the giant troll hiding under a 1.4m high mound, whiz your way around the obstacle course, jump your way through the trampolines or let the sand between your toes at the uber-cool pit perfect for little ones to be creative in a large social setting. Bring your scooters and skateboards for the skatepark, which is a much used and popular amenity.
Ardgillan Castle
The playground at Ardgillan Castle and Demesne is set in spectacular parklands overlooking the Irish Sea. The colourful playground has over 30 pieces of play equipment from cradle swings and castles for little ones to a large climbing space net for older kids. In addition, you can enjoy a free fairy trail, visit the walled gardens or Ardgillan House, itself, where you will find a café and toilets.
Rathfarnham Castle
A popular South Dublin playground bursting with extraordinary climbing frames, multi-play units and an inspiring castle fit for any king or queen. Also, nearby is a pond, woodland walkway and several wooden climbing structures to keep the kids entertained whatever the weather.
Marlay Park Playground
This park has two playgrounds, but we personally recommend the large play area accessible from College Road. It would be impossible to list all the play equipment, but there is something to suit all ages, from toddlers to teens. It is kitted out with super-slides, large climbing frames, sandpits and even an aeroplane, and just a short walk away is the famous Fairy Tree carved into a large stump. Scooters and helmets are a must.
St Anne’s Park
Located in Clontarf, St. Anne’s is a firm favourite with locals and features a wobbly crocodile, spider web climbing equipment and a Viking Ship. Just a short stroll from the playground is a Rose Garden best viewed during the summer months. A food market runs every Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and a little train operates and brings children up and around the garden and playground.
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Amazing Playgrounds in Galway
Abbeyknockmoy Community Playground
Abbeyknockmoy Community Playground is well worth the trip if you are in and around Galway, it’s a 30 min drive from the city. This new state of the art playground hosts a zip line, digger with sand, hiding tunnel, wooden train, bongo drums.
Posted by Abbeyknockmoy Community Playground on Saturday, 9 February 2019
Clonbur Woodland Park
The Spraoi sa Choill playground at Clonbur Woods has something for older and younger kids. You can enjoy the playground and then head into the woods for a walk.
Doughiska Playground, Galway City
Doughiska Playground offers a wide variety of equipment for all ages. For smallies there is an enclosed area with swings, slides and a sand section with diggers. The equipment is well spaced out over the playground area and includes a tyre swing, a “nest” swing, a cage that spins, two zip lines, in-ground trampoline, see-saws, climbing pyramid and 2 slides built in to the side of the hill – and our family favourite, the “hamster wheel”.
Rinville Park near Oranmore
Rinville Park is located five minutes’ drive from Oranmore. It is a wonderful amenity with paved walks suitable for buggies and bikes, a woodland walk with fairy trail, a lovely playground within the old walled garden. You’ll find tunnels, climbing forts, a long slide on a hill, a willow tunnel and more. There’s often a coffee/ice cream van near the playground and toilets so you can grab a treat after a play.
Here are more Galway Playgrounds the Kids Will Love to Explore
Amazing Playgrounds in Kerry
Ballyseedy Garden Centre, Tralee
At the Ballyseedy Garden Centre in Tralee, you’ll find an amazing children’s playground with everything from a boat to a bus, climbing castle, swings, a shop, a post office, towers, slides, seating, a school, outdoor kitchen and more.
Rathmore Playground
Rathmore Playground, on the Kerry/Cork border and a 20 min drive from Killarney has really nice climbing equipment including monkey bars. There is a smaller kids section and then another unit for older kids. Parking at the front of the playground.
Amazing Playgrounds in Kildare
Eadestown GAA, Naas
At Eadestown GAA there’s a lovely playground with multi-play units and an adventure trail as well as the usual swings and slides.
Clane Village Playground
Located just off the Main Street, Clane village playground has two designated play-areas for toddler and younger children, and one for older children. The toddler area features a pirate boat along with all the usual equipment, while the older children’s area features some challenging climbing frames. In 2019, Kildare County Council installed a wheelchair swing and keys are available from Country Market and Discount Store.
Here are more Playgrounds in Kildare to Visit
Amazing Playgrounds in Kilkenny
Castlecomer Discovery Park Timber Tumbles Playground
Set at the entrance to Castlecomer Discovery Park, the Timber Tumbles Playground offers a fun adventure play area suitable for children aged 2-14 year-olds. The playground reflects the coal-mining theme of the local area and includes a mini zip-wire, climbing wall, swings and slide. There’s also a truck cart, tunnel conveyor belt, and an amphibian creature to play with.
Graiguenamanagh Playground
The playground in Graiguenamanagh is divided into two sections for smaller and younger kids, with timber equipment. There is a fun wooden pirate ship as well as a large sand pit, benches and picnic tables.
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Amazing Playgrounds in Laois
Ballylinan Playground
At Ballylinan playground you’ll find a zip line, diggers, nets for climbing, tunnel, towers. No dogs are allowed so no need to watch your step.
Full Steam Ahead, Stradbally
Full Steam Ahead at The Green in Stradbally is a playground suitable for 1-12 years. Kids can enjoy a tunnel, slide, climbing wall/web, 30m cable run, water and sand play area for younger children, springers as well as see-saw, roundabout, swings and a picnic area.
Mum Niamh says, “My kids love to go to it, there is equipment to suit all ages. It also has plenty of green area and benches for picnics. It’s gated and secure and once you have finished playing you are able to stroll to the local shop for tasty ice creams.”
Portarlington Playground
The playground at Portarlington town park has a musical section, climbing web, wishing well balancing beams, flying fox, a sand and water play area, swings and springers and a picnic area. You’ll find toilet facilities at Portarlington Leisure Centre.
Durrow Playground
“Darú na nÓg” is most probably one of the coolest playgrounds in the Midlands and can be found next to the Old Boys School on the Kilkenny Road. The playground has many unique features from spring a toddler multiway, spring rocker, a sandpit with diggers, water play unit, a bucket swing, a spinning basket, a standing seesaw, a cable runway, large swing rope and standing swing.
Mountmellick Playground
This children’s state-of-the-art outdoor gym located at the Irishtown is a well-maintained playground with the latest equipment. Here you will find a 30-metre cable run, play ship, play tables and extensive sand and water play area for younger children, rockers, springers, basket swing and a picnic area.
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Amazing Playgrounds in Leitrim
Glencar Playground
Glencar Playground, named one of the Irish Times’ Top 50 Playgrounds, is located in the scenic valley where you’ll find Glencar Waterfall. It’s really a younger kids playground but older kids will enjoy the walk up to the waterfall, and the path is buggy and wheelchair-friendly. The Teashed located by the playground offers teas, coffees and snacks.
Amazing Playgrounds in Limerick
Mungret Playground
Mum Aisling says “Mungret Playground is my number 1 playground. It has wheelchair accessible swings, roundabouts and bouncy bridge, sensory activities, areas for small and bigger kids, zip line, and much more. There are also outdoor gym & exercise machines, picnic benches and walking, cycling paths in adjacent Park area. Also, an automated public toilet which is so necessary and notably missing in many playgrounds.”
Manor Fields, Adare
The award-winning playground at Manor Fields in Adare is the first All-Abilities Playground in Limerick City and County, specifically designed to encourage inclusive play.
You’ll find wooden climbing frames, sand area, zipwire, wheelchair friendly trampoline., balance beams, swings, play tables and more. Bring a picnic to enjoy afterwards.
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Amazing Playgrounds in Longford
Aughnacliffe Playground
The playground at Lebeen Park in Aughnacliffe is a little hidden gem. The equipment is timber frame and includes zip wire, climbing frames and swings. There’s also a fairy garden, walking loops, nature trails, and a boardwalk by the lake. Picnic area available.
Newtownforbes Playground
Equipment includes a hill slide with platform and crawl tunnel and a four person seesaw.
Amazing Playgrounds in Louth
Stephenstown Pond
The playground at Stephenstown Pond offers wooden climbing frames, tunnels to climb through, musical play equipment and more. Set in the nature park with lakeside walkways, woodlands, you can have a family day out, enjoy a picnic, feed the ducks and take part in a nature quiz.
Kilkerley Playground
The enclosed Kilkerley playground outside Dundalk has a wide selection of equipment including swings, springers and a four tower climbing unit where kids can enjoy sliding, climbing and sliding.
Amazing Playgrounds in Mayo
Turlough Park Playground
Outside the National Museum Ireland – Country Life you’ll find a gem of a playground which includes what mum Caroline’s two kids refer to as “an ‘Epic’ slide”. There is plenty of fun natural play equipment for smallies and bigger kids in this beautiful natural setting, and ample benches for parents and others to sit and chat while the kids play.
Find more playgrounds in Mayo to enjoy with the kids
Amazing Playgrounds in Meath
Trim Playground
Situated on the Jonathan Swift Road, a stone’s throw from Trim Castle, this newly refurbished playground has everything for toddlers to preteens. The enormous wooden adventure playground features drawbridge-style climbing equipment, a rope-lattice roundabout, a zipline, slides built in the hills as well as a sensory wall and wheelchair swing. Adjacent the enclosed inclusive playground is a pay and display car park with for roughly 60 cars.
Kells Playground
This large spacious playground came to life with thanks to the hard work of local not-for-profit organisations and the generous support of local businesses. It has various climbing equipment, merry-go-round, zipline and some wheelchair-accessible and sensory equipment.
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Amazing Playgrounds in Monaghan
Muckno Park
Muckno play park in Castleblayney is a fantastic park with a great selection of equipiment including a tall climbing tower with a twisty slide attached. There is a separate toddlers’ area with swings, sandpit, springing horses, playhouse with slide, shipwreck with ropes, climbing and balancing pole.
Rossmore Forest Park Playground, Monaghan
Rossmore Forest Park Playground was opened in 2019. Mum Elaine says “it is a fantastic park, just redone last year with amazing wooden structures, zip lines and even a giant’s head that you crawl through his ear!”
Find more Playgrounds in Monaghan
Amazing Playgrounds in Offaly
Birr Castle Demesne Treehouse Playground
Kids will adore the Treehouse Playground at Birr Castle Demesne. Complete with Ireland’s largest tree house, the play area is open from 9.00 until 18:00 daily in the summer and until 16:00 from Oct – Jan. Along with the amazing tree house, there are sand pits, climbing frames, slides and much more. There is also a lovely cafe on site.
Kinnitty Playground
Kinnitty Playground has a multi play unit, a climbing frame, swings, slides and a see-saw. When you’ve finished have a wander through the village and see if you can find the Kinnitty Pyramid!
Tullamore Playground
At Tullamore Town Park playground you will find a choice of climbing frames, zip-wire, swings, and slides for ages 2-14. There’s a picnic area next to the playground and you can enjoy walks through the Town Park which has a spectacular water feature, grass terraces and pathways.
Find more Fun Playgrounds in Offaly to Take the Kids to
Amazing Playgrounds in Roscommon
Lough Key Forest Park Adventure Playground, Roscommon
The Adventure Play Kingdom at Lough Key Forest Park is a dynamic, colourful and safe environment that’ll keep kids both young and old, entertained for hours. Discover a magical land of exciting activities for children of all ages, from climbing apparatus to trumpets to yell into. NB it costs €5.00 per child for an all day pass, parents/guardians accompanying child go free. The playground at Lough Key is currently closed but they are hoping to re-open in September 2020.
Here are More Fun Playgrounds in Roscommon To Visit
Amazing Playgrounds in Sligo
Doorly Park Playground
Across from Cleveragh Road Retail Park is the Doorly Park Playground which includes a diverse range of play equipment including an interactive technology zone and extensive climbing equipment and nets, as well as swings.
Mum Karen recommended the playground and says it is suitable for younger children and teens.
Find more Fun Sligo Playgrounds To Take The Kids To
Amazing Playgrounds in Tipperary
Clerihan Playground
The award winning Clerihan Playground near Clonmel is a natural playground with little hills with built in slides, and lots of places for kids to explore. The mostly timber equipment includes climbing beams, web, tunnel, swings, seesaw and a sand play site.
Templemore Park
As well as being a “better than average” playground this one deserves a mention because the park it’s located in is fabulous. You will find a lake and fairy trail. The playground is right next to the car park.
Amazing Playgrounds in Waterford
Fenor Play Park
Fenor Play Park is a super cool playground which was cleverly built to use the landscape including the boulders, which create access to hill slide, seating and play features. There’s a big mound with a specular unit including a large slide, fun climbing equipment, slide set on top of the boulders, zipline and sand play area. There’s also equipment for children with special needs.
Tramore Inclusion Park Playground
The Tramore Inclusion Park Playground includes many pieces of equipment, set around a spectacular wooden shipwreck. The timber equipment includes two different ziplines, a rope ladder and crow’s nest, and plenty of tunnels, slides and swings to clamber in and out of. There’s also a wheelchair-accessible swing.
Amazing Playgrounds in Westmeath
Mullingar Playground
At Mullingar Playground you’ll find a variety of quirky wooden play equipment including climbing frames and playhouses. Kids will love the “tractor” playhouse and slide which incorporates tractor wheels sunk into the ground!
Dún na Sí Playground
The playground at Dún na Sí Amenity Park in Moate offers separate junior and senior playgrounds and features wooden climbing equipment, balance beams and swings. After you finish playing kids will enjoy exploring the “Art in the Park” project around the parkland, see if you can spot all the fairy doors!
Amazing Playgrounds in Wexford
Kiltealy Playground
The Kiltealy Community Park was mostly designed by children of the parish and includes slides, sculptures and playground equipment including climbing frames and tunnels to enjoy.
Duncannon Playground
The playground in Duncannon has some great equipment including lots of pirate themed ships, climbing frames and a huge long slide to whizz down.
Min Ryan Park
The Min Ryan Park in Wexford offers not only a playground and picnic area but also walking track, water features, dog park, play spaces, wildflower meadows and art/sculpture displays. The new playground has a wide variety of fun play equipment for all ages to enjoy. Kids will love the trampoline set into the ground, a huge sandpit with bucket lift, climbing area and wooden houses.
Enniscorthy Playground
The playground in Enniscorthy beside the Riverside Park Hotel has a swing for wheelchairs, a zip line, a little tunnel and a few other unusual bits, along with the normal swings, slide etc.
Find more Wexford Playgrounds The Kids Will Have A Ball In
Amazing Playgrounds in Wicklow
Greystones South Beach Playground
This all-inclusive playground which caters for children of all abilities is a long-awaited facility for the local community that has finally come to fruition. The playground features zip lines, a toddler play area, a musical play area, an extensive activity set with climbing frames and tube slides, swings, and an ability swing, a sensory path and a wheelchair-accessible sand factory.
Laragh Playground
Nestled in the grounds of the Brockagh Resource Centre, the newly built and much-anticipated colourful playground in Laragh includes a stand-up see-saw, and a satellite carousel, a butterfly spring rocker, flower jumping plates and a multi-purpose Kilimandscharo unit.
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Have your say! Any other amazing playgrounds in Ireland that should be on our list? Tell us in the comments below.