Things to do in Mayo with kids
There's no shortage of things to do in Mayo. 72 family days out here, from the museums and heritage sites inland to the greenways, forests and Wild Atlantic beaches of the coast. All loved and added by home educating parents.
Days out & things to do
66
National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
The National Museum's home for rural Irish life, set in parkland at Turlough near Castlebar. Interactive galleries and hands-on ac…
Céide Fields
World's oldest known field systems (5,500+ years). Guided tours explain prehistoric farming and neolithic life.
Westport House
18th-century mansion with 300 years of history. Guided tours, pirate queen stories, Greek artifacts.
The Clarke Museum of Irish History
The Clarke Museum of Irish History in Ballina, Co. Mayo (formerly the Jackie Clarke Collection) — 400 years of Irish history throu…
Great Western Greenway
Ireland's longest off-road walking and cycling trail, running 42km from Westport to Achill along the old railway line. It's flat,…
Linenhall Arts Centre
Art exhibitions, theatre, live music, film screenings, workshops. Dedicated children & families programme and annual Roola Boola C…
Hennigan's Heritage Centre
Traditional farm life experience in unspoilt countryside.
Keel Beach
Achill's famous three-kilometre sweep of golden sand (Trawmore) at Keel — surf, swimming and space to roam, backed by the Minaun C…
Achill Island
Beaches, cliffs, deserted village, outdoor activities. Surfing, kayaking available.
Croagh Patrick
Ireland's holy mountain. Hiking with stunning views. Visitor centre at base.
Tonnta Adventure
After school sessions, camps, surf and beach camps. Campfire activities. Children make great friends.
WhenAfter-school sessions and seasonal camps
Kids in Motion
Recreational gymnastics. Floor, bars, beams, trampolines, vault, acrobatics. IAGA certified instructors. Biweekly on Tues 2-4pm €1…
WhenFortnightly Tuesdays 2–4pm
Rewild Forest School
Wild Roots is the weekly Forest School homeschool group from Rewild Forest School, at Elemental Outdoor Learning in Ballindine, Co…
WhenWednesdays, 12:30 to 2:30pm (term time)
Graune Pet Farm & Play Centre
14-acre farm with indoor & outdoor activities. Animals (llamas, goats, puppies), go-karts, bouncy castles, sandpit, paddle boats,…
Westport Adventure Park
Ireland's largest net park! Zip lines, aerial trekking, 10m climbing towers, giant swing, Quarry Edge Leap, swan pedalos, disc gol…
Funster Playcentre
Multi-level adventure play for under 4'9". Tube slides, indoor football/basketball, under-5s area, excellent sensory room. Large c…
Balla Community Centre Sensory Room
Calm, engaging sensory space with bubble tube, fibre optic lights, padded mats. Perfect for relaxation, learning or sensory play.…
The Wild West Play Village
Wild West themed indoor playground for toddlers to 10-year-olds. Climbing frame, slides, ball pit, basketball, soccer, tunnel slid…
Balla Town Park & Fairy Village
35-acre community woodland with FAIRY VILLAGE trail - sculptured waymarkers encourage kids to explore! Oak, beech & horse chestnut…
Messy Tots (Balla)
Multisensory world - messy play - music for toddlers. Mondays 10:15am. €45 for 4-week term. Ages 10 months - 4 years. Popular - bo…
WhenMondays 10:15am (4-week terms)
GM Taekwon-do (Balla)
Taekwon-do classes every Thursday 6:30pm. New members welcome - FREE TRIAL available. Great for discipline, fitness and confidence…
WhenThursdays 6:30pm
Moore Hall & Woodland Walks
Atmospheric 18th-century ruins on Lough Carra shores. Home of novelist George Moore & 1798 President John Moore. Forest trails, wa…
Wild Nephin National Park & Ballycroy Visitor Centre
11,000 hectares of wilderness! FREE interactive exhibition, outdoor classroom, scavenger hunts. WILD CHILD CLUB (summer Tue & Thu)…
Belleek Woods & Fairy Trail
One of largest urban woods in Europe! 22,000 trees, 6 miles of trails. FAIRY TRAIL with tiny houses in trees (Ballina Men's Shed p…
Towerhill House Ruins
Atmospheric ruined 18th-century 'Big House' hidden in trees. Unique architecture with pediment on all 4 facades. Home of Blake fam…
Granuaile Centre (Pirate Queen Museum)
Small engaging museum about Grace O'Malley 'The Pirate Queen' in former church. Film, interactive exhibits, Famine history upstair…
Old Head Beach
A sheltered sandy Blue Flag beach backed by woodland near Louisburgh — calm water, rock pools like natural aquariums, a shady picn…
Delphi Adventure Resort
30+ years outdoor education experience! 20+ activities: kayaking on Killary Fjord, zip-lining, coasteering, archery, abseiling, ra…
Clare Lake, Land of Giants & Mayfield Loop
5km Clare Lake loop + 3km Mayfield Lake loop (opened 2021). LAND OF GIANTS sculptures at McMahon Park entrance. 600m boardwalk, fi…
Achill Experience / Outdoor Education Centre
Ireland's first outdoor education centre (since 1971)! 20+ activities: surfing, kayaking, coasteering, abseiling, cycling, hill wa…
Mulranny Causeway & Walks
A striking 1889 stone causeway across the tidal saltmarsh at Mulranny — watch it flood at high tide, and look for orchids, sea lav…
Raheens Wood
Native woodland with hazel, birch, oak. Short easy trails (1.5km loop, ~30 mins) with tree/plant info signs. WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE…
Mayo Movie World - Kids Club
7-screen cinema with KIDS CLUB every Sat & Sun morning (11:20am) - reduced prices + treat tray! Also: 'Movies with Baby' screening…
Rascals Play Centre
Mayo's longest-serving indoor playground (since 2007)! Modern facilities. Private party room - hot food party package only €12 (sa…
Castlebar Books
Independent bookshop - great for curriculum resources, children's books, educational materials. Support local!
The Old Thatch - Antiques & Rare Books
Charming thatched cottage with rare & second-hand books, antiques. Treasure hunt for book lovers! Combine with Mulranny Causeway w…
Books at One
Independent bookshop in the heart of Louisburgh. Children's section, local interest, curriculum support. Combine with Granuaile Ce…
Greenway Lane Art Studio & Café
Art studio & café on the Great Western Greenway. KIDS CAMPS during school holidays (Easter, summer). Creative activities packed wi…
Mayo Leisure Point
All-in-one family entertainment! 10-pin bowling, cinema (Mayo Movie World), soft play area, laser tag, arcade games. Café on-site.…
Velorail Kiltimagh
Ireland's only velorail: pedal a rail bike along a disused railway line through the Mayo countryside. The route is about 9km and t…
WhenOpen 7 days a week (seasonal) — departures 11am Tue & Thu, 3pm other days
Children's Art Workshops with Ciara & Monika
A 7-week creative art course for primary-school children (age 5+) at Ballina Arts Centre, led by Mayo artists Ciara O'Hara and Mon…
WhenWednesdays in termly blocks (autumn terms Sep–Oct and Nov–Dec), 5–6pm — with an earlier 3.40–4.40pm class in some terms
North Mayo Heritage Centre
A heritage centre on the Enniscoe Estate near Crossmolina, Co. Mayo — family-history and genealogy research, organic walled garden…
Castlebar Skate Park
A free public skatepark at Lough Lannagh in Castlebar — ramps, bowls and a rail for skateboarders, scooter riders and BMX. Recentl…
Club Ceol — Irish Traditional Music
Club Ceol is a traditional Irish music club for ages 10–18 at Claremorris Family Resource Centre — bring your own instrument and l…
Bertra Beach
A long sandy Blue Flag spit reaching into Clew Bay at the foot of Croagh Patrick, near Westport — shallow, sheltered water, lifegu…
Clare Island Beach
The sheltered Blue Flag beach by the harbour on Clare Island, out in Clew Bay off Louisburgh — clean, calm water for paddling, and…
Dooega Beach
A quiet, sheltered sandy Blue Flag beach on the south of Achill Island at Dooega — gentle water and a peaceful spot away from the…
Dugort Beach
A sandy Blue Flag beach on the north of Achill at Dugort (Silver Strand), under the slopes of Slievemore — safe swimming and rock…
Elly Bay Beach
A long, sheltered sandy Blue Flag beach on the Mullet Peninsula near Belmullet — shallow, calm water on the bay side, and a favour…
Keem Bay
A breathtaking horseshoe cove of white sand at the very end of Achill, framed by steep green cliffs and clear turquoise water — of…
Mullaghroe Beach
A pretty, sheltered sandy Blue Flag beach on the Mullet Peninsula in Erris — calm, clean water and a remote, unspoilt feel.
Mulranny Beach
A sandy Blue Flag beach on Clew Bay at Mulranny, reached by the old causeway across the saltmarsh — safe, lifeguarded swimming in…
Ross Beach
A wide sandy Blue Flag beach at Ross near Killala in north Mayo — shallow water, dunes and summer lifeguard cover, popular with lo…
Carrowniskey Beach
A wild Atlantic surf beach near Louisburgh, popular with surfers and home to a surf school — big rollers and wide sand, best for o…
Cross Beach
A sandy surf beach near Louisburgh on the Wild Atlantic Way — waves for surfing and SUP, with a surf school on site. Bracing and b…
Castlebar Library
Mayo's county-town library in Castlebar — free to join, with weekly Storytime for little ones and musical instruments (bodhrán, ha…
Westport Library
A free public library in Westport with weekly Storytime for young children, plus Summer Stars summer reading and the October Child…
Ballina Library
Ballina's free public library, with weekly Storytime and a sensory room for children who need a calm space. Summer Stars, the Chil…
Ballyhaunis Library
A free public library in Ballyhaunis running weekly Storytime for little ones, plus Summer Stars reading and the Children's Book F…
Belmullet Library
Belmullet's free public library in Erris, with weekly Storytime for young children, plus Summer Stars reading and seasonal childre…
IMC Ballina Kids Club
IMC Ballina's Kids Club — great-value weekend-morning screenings of family films at the McDermott Street cinema, an easy, low-cost…
WhenWeekend mornings (see site for films & times)
Kids & Teens Art Classes — Greenway Lane
New weekly art classes for children and teens at Greenway Lane Art Studio, near the Great Western Greenway in Co. Mayo. Small clas…
WhenTue & Fri afternoons, 8-week terms (next: 15 Sep–20 Oct 2026)
Corrib Kids Coding Club (Mayo Libraries)
Free coding clubs for children run by Corrib Kids Coding at Mayo libraries, including Westport, supported by Creative Ireland and…
WhenTerm-time clubs, starting soon
Belcarra Singing Group Lessons
Fun, interactive group singing classes for children at Belcarra Community Centre, run by Aušra every Monday. There are two groups,…
WhenEvery Monday. 4pm for ages 6 to 9, 4.45pm for ages 8 to 12
What's on in Mayo
6
Crochet for Teens
A 6-week crochet course for teens at Claremorris Family Resource Centre, Co. Mayo — 'make it, wear it,' learning to create your ow…
When14 Sept – 19 Oct 2026
Introduction to Drawing Animals with Rosie Harel-Dore
A six-week Saturday drawing course with local artist Rosie Harel-Dore. You'll pick up the basics of sketching animals, their anato…
WhenSaturdays, 3pm to 5pm
Sing-out Saturdays
Inclusive Saturday singing workshops at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar, for young people aged 7 to 18 of all abilities, wi…
WhenSaturdays 4pm to 5.30pm; seven workshops: 10, 17, 24 October and 7, 14, 21, 28 November
Raheen Barr Pumpkin Patch
A family pumpkin patch tucked in the hills outside Castlebar. Pick your own pumpkin, plus face painting, storytelling, a carving w…
WhenOpen 24, 25, 26, 30 & 31 October 2026. Sessions daily at 12pm, 1.30pm and 3pm (1 hour each).
Kiltimagh Spooky Walk
A family Halloween evening at Emigrant Park in Kiltimagh, back again on Sunday 25 October. There's a Tots' Less Spooky Stroll for…
WhenSunday 25 October (times to be confirmed)
Mayo Dark Sky Festival
Three nights under some of Ireland's darkest, clearest skies, based in Newport, Mulranny and Ballycroy. The programme mixes starga…
WhenFriday 30 October to Sunday 1 November
Groups & meet-ups in Mayo
4
Mayo Home Educators
A private Facebook group for families home educating in Mayo and the surrounding areas, whether you home school or unschool. It's…
Mayo Autism Camp
Mayo Autism Camp provides socially inclusive activities for autistic children and their families.
WhenVarious events throughout year
Board Game Club (ages 10–12)
A monthly board game club for 10–12 year olds at Castlebar Library — meet up, try new games and play. Runs on the third Friday of…
WhenThird Friday of every month, 3.45–4.45pm
Museum of Country Life Home Ed Meet-Up
A weekly home-ed meet-up at the National Museum of Country Life in Turlough, out in the playground beside the museum. Families gat…
WhenFridays from around 11am, in the playground
Looking further afield? See all home-ed groups & meet-ups across Ireland →
Know something in Mayo that's missing? Add it to the directory.
Get Mayo events by email. One short email a month with the days out, events and meet-ups near you, and the other counties you choose.