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 21 Free Family Things to do in Ireland this Summer

Art & Culture Events

The Ark

The Ark in Dublin’s summer programme is always a big hit with families looking for creative and fun activities during the school holidays.

On Sight Art Trail

This summer you can go on The On Sight Trail around the grounds of Museum of Country Life Turlough Park. 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 Activities. 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 Sunday Kids’ Art and Craft Clubs taking place on Sundays 2.30pm to 4pm, free but advance booking recommended.

Outdoor Theatre

Bring a picnic and enjoy outdoor theatre with Chapterhouse Theatre Company who are touring various venues with productions of

A Midsummer’s Night Dream

Wednesday 11th July Markree Castle Collooney, Co Sligo
Monday 16th July Cabra Castle Kingscourt, Co. Cavan
Friday 20th July Fota House Arboretum & Gardens Fota Island, Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Tuesday 10th July National Botanic Gardens Dublin
Thursday 12th July Strokestown Park Strokestown, Co Roscommon
Friday 13th July The Gardens at Rathmullan House, Co. Donegal
Saturday 14th July Enniskillen Castle, Co Fermanagh
Sunday 15th July Powerscourt Gardens, Co. Wicklow
Thursday 19th July Belvedere House Gardens & Park, Mullingar Co. Westmeath
Saturday 21st July Battle of the Boyne Estate, Oldbridge, Drogheda, Co Meath
Sunday 22nd July Kilmokea Gardens, Great Island, Campile, New Ross, Co Wexford

Little Women

Friday 22nd June Curraghmore Estate, Co Waterford
Sunday 24th June Wells House and Gardens, Co Wexford
Wednesday 27th June Civic Square at Theatre at the Mill, Newtonabbey, Antrim
Friday 29th June Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre, Co Kilkenny

Robin Hood and his Merry Men

Saturday 28th July Mallow Castle, Co. Cork
Thursday 2nd August Belvedere House Gardens & Park, Mullingar Co. Westmeath
Saturday 4th August Castletown House, Celbridge, Co. Kildare

Sense and Sensibility

Tuesday 19th June Enniskillen Castle, Co Fermanagh
Wednesday 20th June Bellingham Castle, Co Louth
Thursday 21st June Lisnavagh House, Co Carlow
Saturday 23rd June Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens, Cork
Saturday 30th June Battle of the Boyne Estate, Drogheda, Co Meath
Sunday 1st July Hilton Park, Clones, Co. Monagha

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Wednesday 25th July The Gardens at Rathmullan House, Rathmullan, CO, Donegal

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.

Birr Vintage Week

Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival runs from August 4th til 11th with free entertainment for children including music, markets and fairs, arts and craft activities and more.

Heritage Week 2018

Heritage Week takes place 18th – 26th 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.

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.

Music

Ukelele Hooley by the Sea 2018

The annual Ukulele Hooley by the Sea takes place in the People’s Park, Dun Laoghaire on August 25th and 26th 2018. 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 

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.