We have rounded up some of the fun things happening this summer in the arts & culture space. Here are some Fun Art & Culture Things to do in Ireland in August with Kids:
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You will find lots more events and happenings on What’s On For Families This Summer in Ireland and 20 Free Family Things to do this Summer
Art & Culture Events
The Ark Colour
The Ark in Dublin’s summer programme is always a big hit with families looking for creative and fun activities during the school holidays. This summer at The Ark experience a world full of Colour! They have an interactive exhibition as well as different workshops for different ages every week so check their website for more details. Workshops are €12 per child
On Sight Art Trail
This summer you can go on The On Sight Trail around the grounds of Museum of Country Life Turlough Park. The theme is ’Welcome to the Stranger: Migrant People, Places and Spaces’. On Sight is a collaboration between the Museum of Country Life, Mayo County Council Arts Office, Mayo Arts Squad and independent artists. Pick up a map for this popular art trail at Reception or online at www.museum.ie. FREE
Free Events at National Museum of Ireland
The National Museums in Dublin have lots of free family events this August including Hands on History and Drop In Activity about Celtic Kings. They also have The Museum of Archaeology’s Big Birthday taking place on Saturday 29th August which will be a day of hands-on activities, talks and demonstrations marking the 125th anniversary of the Kildare Street Museum building opening to the public and celebrating the collections of the Museum of Archaeology. For full details go to What’s On at www.museum.ie
Get Hands On at The Hunt Museum
At The Hunt Museum in Limerick you can Get Hands On weekdays during the summer and encounter artefacts in a new and exciting way! Discover more about wonderful and fascinating objects from the Hunt Collection. Learn about a different topic each week through tactile, family friendly object handling sessions. They also have a Sunday Kids’ Craft Club taking place Sunday 2nd August, 2.30pm to 4pm, that is free but advance booking recommended. Call 061 312833 or email: joni@huntmuseum.com. Family ticket €12
Film
IFI Family Festival on Tour
For the first time this year, the IFI Family Festival on Tour will bring 2 full length films Fiddlesticks and The Legend of Longwood plus a shorts programme called Short Tales and a kids’ workshop where you can learn how to storyboard, script, film, edit and produce a trailer for your own imaginary film (8-12yrs) to The Model in Sligo August 11 & 12 and Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge August 22 & 23.
Song of the Sea Exhibition
Visit the Song of the Sea Exhibition at The Butler Gallery in Kilkenny Castle, an interactive, multi-media exhibition of original drawings, prints, storyboards, animation, music and scene-realisation from the Oscar nominated movie Song of the Sea which runs until October. An Animator-in-Residence will be present in the gallery at select times during the run of the exhibition and throughout the Kilkenny Arts Festival August 7th – 16th.
Outdoor Theatre
Bring a picnic and enjoy outdoor theatre with Chapterhouse Theatre Company who are touring various venues with productions of Pride and Prejudice and The Jungle Book.
Pride & Prejudice
- Tuesday 14th July – 7.30pm Bellingham Castle – Castlebellingham, Co. Louth
- Saturday 18th July – 7.30pm Wells House & Gardens – Ballyedmond, Gorey, Co. Wexford
- Sunday 19th July – 4.00pm Curraghmore Estate – Curraghmore, Portlaw, Co. Waterford
- Wednesday 22nd July – 7.30pm Fota House, Arboretum and Gardens – Fota Island, Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork
- Thursday 23rd July – 6.30pm Mount Juliet Resort – Thomastown, Co Kilkenny
- Friday 24th July – 7.30pm Malahide Castle & Gardens – Co Dublin
- Sunday 26th July – 3pm The Gardens at Rathmullan House – Co Donegal
The Jungle Book
- Thursday 30th July – 6pm The Glebe Gardens Amphitheatre, The East Village, Baltimore, Co Cork
- Saturday 1st August -7.30pm Wells House & Gardens – Ballyedmond, Gorey, Co. Wexford
- Sunday 2nd August – 7pm Carriganass Castle- Kealkill, Co. Cork
Thursday 6th August – 3pm The Gardens at Rathmullan House – Co. Donegal - Sunday 9th August – 3pm Ardgillan Castle – Ardgillan Castle, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin
Jane Eyre
- Monday 3rd August – 7pm Bantry House and Garden – Bantry, Co Cork
Family tickets (2 + 2) €40-50 depending on venue
Lughnasa at Craggaunowen
Celebrate Lughnasa at Craggaunowen over the August Bank Holiday weekend when living history specialists to bring ‘Lughnasa’ Festival to life. Re-enactors dressed in costume spanning the Iron Age and early Medieval period to the 16th century will take part in a special ‘Lughnasa’ celebration being organised by Shannon Heritage at their Craggaunowen visitor attraction near Quin in Co. Clare.
Shannon Heritage is offering a special family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children for €21.50 and 2 adults and 6 children for €24.50.
Birr Vintage Week
Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival runs from July 31st to August 7th 2015 with free entertainment for children including music, markets and fairs, arts and craft activities and more. Birr Castle also has a very special theatre event for younger kids on 25th August, The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny, you can follow all the scrapes and escapades of Peter and his naughty cousin Benjamin in Quantum Theatre’s delightful production of Beatrix Potter’s charming tales. Tickets €7.50 children €15 adult. Concessions to members of Birr Castle Gardens.
Duncannon Sand Sculpting Festival
Duncannon Sand Sculpting Festival, with fun family events and an amazing display of sand sculpted artwork takes place in Duncannon, Co Wexford August 7th to 9th 2015. Most of the events over the weekend are free, there is a nominal charge to see the Professional Sculptures and some activities have small charges to help cover costs.
glór Summer Open Exhibition
At glór in Ennis, their Summer Open Submission Exhibition showcases both established and emerging Clare artists. This year’s exhibition has been selected by Mary Conlon, Artistic Director of the Ormston House Gallery in Limerick. FREE
Cork Craft and Design 2015
Cork Craft and Design 2015 runs in venues across the city and county from August 4th to September 5th 2015. They have an Open Studio Trail where you can visit different artists’ studios including Potters, Silversmiths, Sculptors, Furniture makers, Glass and Textile Artists and many, many more. A great way to introduce kids to different types of crafts. FREE
Titanic Connections
Titanic Connections is a special exhibition that will be taking place in August at Titanic Experience Cobh and what’s interesting about this is that they have launched a local and global search to find relatives, descendants and family friends of emigrants who boarded the Titanic or any White Star Liner from Cobh (or Queenstown as it was then known) bound for America from 1848-1950.
The Titanic Experience, which is located at the old White Star Line building in Cobh, already features many stories of the 123 passengers who boarded The Titanic at this final port of call in 1912. They are looking for anyone who has information, anecdotes or recollections from those with connections to emigrants who departed Cobh to America. The submissions will then be part of the exhibition next month. To submit a personal story and be a part of this project, please email stories@titanicexperiencecobh.ie or write to Titanic Experience Cobh, White Star Line Building, Casement Square, Cobh. Co. Cork, Ireland before the end of July. Family ticket €24 2 adults and up to 4 kids
Heritage Week 2015
Heritage Week takes place 22nd – 30th August this year with literally hundreds of free cultural events around the country. Log onto their website to look up what’s on in your county. www.heritageweek.ie FREE
Outdoor Culture
Lough Boora Discovery Park
For something a bit different how about visiting Lough Boora Discovery Park where nature and art collide. In the park you will find 24 Outdoor Sculptures. The artists, inspired by the rich natural and industrial legacy of the bog lands, have created a series of large-scale sculptures that are now part of the park’s permanent collection. FREE
The Japanese Gardens
Kids will also enjoy The Irish National Stud’s Japanese Gardens with its cute stepping stones, bridges, tunnels. The gardens were laid out by Japanese master horticulturist Tassa Eida and his son Minoru. Their aim was, through trees, plants, flowers, lawns, rocks and water, to symbolise the ‘Life of Man’.
The Japanese Gardens are a place for contemplation, meditation and reflection. Since they were first enjoyed more than 100 years ago, they have never failed to please.
Family ticket 2 adults and up to 4 kids €29.50
Brigit’s Garden Celtic Gardens
Brigit’s Garden in West Galway, located between Moycullen and Oughterard, is a magical place for families to explore. With family-friendly Celtic gardens, children’s discovery trail, willow play area and sandpit, Nature trail, ring-fort and crannog, gift shop and the award-winning, family friendly Garden Café. Family ticket for 2 adults and 3 children €24.00.
Music
Summer Sunday Series at Castletown House
The Summer Sunday Series takes place at Castletown House in Kildare, free music recitals on Sunday afternoons in June, July and August between 2pm and 4pm. No booking required but first come, first served. FREE
Ukelele Hooley by the Sea 2015
The Ukulele Hooley by the Sea 2015 takes place in the People’s Park, Dun Laoghaire on August 22nd and 23rd 2015. Sunday is the main event day of the Hooley – an eight-hour-long free concert in the beautiful People’s Park featuring some of the ukulele world’s most talented artists and groups. FREE
Hooley in the House
Hooley In The House, a musical festival and family fun day, takes place at Westport House on August 30th. Kids under 12 GO FREE and will have free access to Westport House and The Pirate Adventure Park on the day.
Some Favourite Places to Take Kids to see Art
Many of these venues have regular family tours and children’s art workshops. All are free to visit. There may be a fee for special exhibitions and workshops.
- National Gallery of Ireland www.nationalgallery.ie
- IMMA www.imma.ie
- Hugh Lane Gallery www.hughlane.ie
- Lewis Glucksman Gallery UCC, Cork www.glucksman.org
- Garter Lane Art Centre www.garterlane.ie
- Limerick City Gallery of Art gallery.limerick.ie
- Source Arts Centre www.thesourceartscentre.ie
- Visual Centre for Contemporary Art Carlow www.visualcarlow.ie
Over to you now. Have you visited or enjoyed any of these? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
