A growing, hand-checked directory of Irish home education. Find your people, see what's on, and discover places worth the trip.
Right now it's strongest in the West of Ireland — Mayo, Galway, Sligo, Roscommon and Leitrim — alongside national support groups. It grows with every submission, so if your area is quiet, add what you know.
Listings are shared by the community and checked before they go live — but times, prices and details can change. Please double-check with the organiser using the contact details in a listing if you're unsure.
National organisations, regional Facebook groups, libraries and interest groups.
Main support and lobby group for home educators in Ireland. Helps parents exchange ideas, hosts meetings, newsletters, and operates a library service.
Community of 20+ home education groups across Ireland. Parents volunteer to run Facebook groups, answer calls, and host Zoom meetings.
Sarah Mc Loughlin - unschooling family in Connemara. Wellness coach & former secondary teacher. 4+ years home ed experience.
Anna - bilingual (Russian/English) family in Sligo 9+ years. 2 boys (home ed from start). Eclectic approach from curriculum to unschooling.
Support and information for Christian home educators in Ireland.
Very active, helpful general homeschooling Facebook group.
Supports classical homeschooling with personal support, lesson plans, and books.
Maintains register of home educated children. Provides assessment and registration services.
Official guidance on home education rights, requirements, and processes in Ireland.
Free educational visits to heritage sites for home educators. Guided tours and resources available at sites like Céide Fields, Rathcroghan, and more.
Active regional Facebook group for home educators in Mayo and Sligo. Great for local meetups and advice.
Facebook group specifically for families with younger children (under 8) who are home educating.
Facebook group for home educators in Leitrim and surrounding areas.
Facebook group for home educators in County Roscommon.
Free library membership. Summer Stars reading programme, Children's Book Festival, dyslexia-friendly resources, C-Pens, makerspaces, citizen science kits.
Facebook community group for home educators in County Mayo.
FREE membership. Branches in Castlebar, Ballina, Westport, Ballyhaunis, Belmullet + 12 more. Weekly Storytime sessions. Summer Stars reading programme. Children's Book Festival (October). Sensory room (Ballina). Musical instrument lending (Castlebar). Reusable party kits available.
Central directory of all home ed groups across Ireland. Find local Facebook groups, WhatsApp groups, meetups. Regularly updated. Essential first stop for finding your local community!
Support group specifically for families home educating children with special needs.
Support for families dealing with school refusal and anxiety - many transition to home ed.
Community for families following an unschooling/child-led approach.
Using board games for learning! Great for maths, strategy, social skills.
Support specifically for home educating teenagers and their parents.
For families with children in the tween years (roughly 9-12).
Connecting home ed families for camping trips and outdoor adventures together.
Community of 20+ home ed groups. Email HEN for invite link to this WhatsApp community.
Buy, sell and swap curriculum, books, resources between home ed families.
Recurring groups, classes and get-togethers run for home ed families.
Events and activities specifically for autistic children. Parents can connect with each other. Highly recommended.
Surf camps, beach camps, woodland activities. Campfire and s'mores! Children make great friends.
Home ed free play & gymnastics sessions. IAGA certified. Contact Lorraine Cronin.
Regular forest school sessions in woodland setting.
Regular home education social meetup.
Welcomes homeschoolers for social meetups. Often has free guided activities for young children. Right by the beach!
Bubble tube, fibre optic lights, padded mats. For relaxation, learning, sensory play. All ages.
Multisensory world, messy play & music for little ones. Ages 10 months - 4 years. Book with Magda - fills up fast!
Taekwon-do for children & adults. Great for discipline, fitness, confidence. New members welcome.
Ireland's flagship children's arts festival. 50% subsidised tickets for home ed groups! Theatre, dance, circus, workshops. Contact schools@baboro.ie to book as a group.
Museums, heritage sites, forests, beaches and rainy-day spots — by county.
Explores traditions of rural life in Ireland through interactive exhibits and hands-on activities.
World's oldest known field systems (5,500+ years). Guided tours explain prehistoric farming and neolithic life.
18th-century mansion with 300 years of history. Guided tours, pirate queen stories, Greek artifacts.
400 years of Irish history through interactive touchscreens. EDUCATION PROGRAMME: school/group tours, workshops, History Week activities. Memory pod for family history research. Census & eviction records. Contact education team for home ed group visits!
Ireland's longest off-road cycling/walking trail along the Atlantic coast.
Bowling, cinema, soft play, laser games. Good rainy day option.
Art exhibitions, theatre, live music, film screenings, workshops. Dedicated children & families programme and annual Roola Boola Children's Arts Festival.
Traditional farm life experience in unspoilt countryside.
Rural heritage experience and traditional crafts.
Clean, safe beaches with information panels about coastal ecology.
Annual children's arts festival. October bank holiday weekend.
Beaches, cliffs, deserted village, outdoor activities. Surfing, kayaking available.
Ireland's holy mountain. Hiking with stunning views. Visitor centre at base.
Events and activities for autistic children. Great way for parents to connect. Highly recommended by local families.
After school sessions, camps, surf and beach camps. Campfire activities. Children make great friends.
Recreational gymnastics for ages 1-14. Pre-school (3-4), Junior (5-7), Senior (8+) classes. Floor, bars, beams, trampolines, vault, acrobatics. School tours & PE curriculum available. IAGA certified instructors. Also: home ed free play sessions fortnightly Tues 2-4pm €8/hr.
Weekly forest school sessions. Wednesdays 12:30-2:30pm. €15 per child.
14-acre farm with indoor & outdoor activities. Animals (llamas, goats, puppies), go-karts, bouncy castles, sandpit, paddle boats, pony rides, Gruffalo walk. Restaurant on-site. Open 7 days year-round. Great wet weather option.
Ireland's largest net park! Zip lines, aerial trekking, 10m climbing towers, giant swing, Quarry Edge Leap, swan pedalos, disc golf, playground. Toddler area available. Within historic Westport Estate grounds.
Multi-level adventure play for under 4'9". Tube slides, indoor football/basketball, under-5s area, excellent sensory room. Large café. Birthday parties from €7. Tue-Sun 10am-6pm (Fri to 7pm).
FREE! Weekly Storytime (Castlebar, Westport, Ballina, Ballyhaunis, Belmullet). Borrow musical instruments (bodhrán, harp) from Castlebar. Sensory room in Ballina. Summer Stars, Children's Book Festival, craft events. Party kits to borrow.
Calm, engaging sensory space with bubble tube, fibre optic lights, padded mats. Perfect for relaxation, learning or sensory play. Available 7 DAYS A WEEK - book your session anytime!
Wild West themed indoor playground for toddlers to 10-year-olds. Climbing frame, slides, ball pit, basketball, soccer, tunnel slide. Dedicated SENSORY ROOM with bubble tube, infinity mirror, fibre optic lights, projector - calm space for sensory play. Café & party rooms. Term time: Thu-Sun. School hols: daily 10am-6pm.
35-acre community woodland with FAIRY VILLAGE trail - sculptured waymarkers encourage kids to explore! Oak, beech & horse chestnut trees. Well-laid paths, benches, picnic tables, interpretation boards. Connects to Tóchar Phádraig pilgrim path. Separate playground on Mayo Abbey Road. FREE.
Multisensory world - messy play - music for toddlers. Mondays 10:15am. €45 for 4-week term. Ages 10 months - 4 years. Popular - book early!
Taekwon-do classes every Thursday 6:30pm. New members welcome - FREE TRIAL available. Great for discipline, fitness and confidence.
Atmospheric 18th-century ruins on Lough Carra shores. Home of novelist George Moore & 1798 President John Moore. Forest trails, walled garden, PLAYGROUND, toilets. Lesser horseshoe bat habitat (don't disturb coach house!). FREE entry, open year-round.
11,000 hectares of wilderness! FREE interactive exhibition, outdoor classroom, scavenger hunts. WILD CHILD CLUB (summer Tue & Thu) - FREE! Claggan boardwalk (1km, family-friendly). Ireland's first DARK SKY PARK - stargazing! Café, gift shop. Free shuttle bus to Westport (summer). Open Feb-Nov 10am-5:30pm.
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 project). RED SQUIRREL sanctuary. Duck pond (bring grapes, oats - not bread!). Riverside walks along River Moy. Historical features: hermitage, Knox-Gore Monument. Where Tonnta Adventure runs sessions. FREE.
Atmospheric ruined 18th-century 'Big House' hidden in trees. Unique architecture with pediment on all 4 facades. Home of Blake family - where Mayo GAA flag originated (1885). Lesser Horseshoe Bat sanctuary. Ask permission at cottage before visiting. Near Moore Hall for a history-themed day out.
Small engaging museum about Grace O'Malley 'The Pirate Queen' in former church. Film, interactive exhibits, Famine history upstairs. Even teens get absorbed! Adults €5, seniors/students €2.50, CHILDREN FREE. Mon-Fri 10am-5pm.
Multiple BLUE FLAG beaches! Old Head: sandy beach, rock pools (natural aquariums!), pier jumping, views of Croagh Patrick. Cross & Carrowniskey: surfing. SUP, kayaking, coasteering available. Wild Atlantic Leisure for equipment hire. BigStyle Surf School on Cross Beach.
30+ years outdoor education experience! 20+ activities: kayaking on Killary Fjord, zip-lining, coasteering, archery, abseiling, raft building, climbing. DELPHI DYNAMOS (ages 3-7): FREE kids club with nature walks, mini-bushcraft, arts & crafts. Summer camps (ages 8-17): 5-day €629, 7-day €809. Day activities from €17.50/child. School/homeschool group packages available - customised programmes!
5km Clare Lake loop + 3km Mayfield Lake loop (opened 2021). LAND OF GIANTS sculptures at McMahon Park entrance. 600m boardwalk, fishing spots, wooden bridges, wildlife signs, KM markers. Flat, multi-access - suitable for wheelchairs, buggies, young children. Newly renovated PLAYGROUND at Mayfield. 218,000 visitors/year! Access from town centre or Lakeview Estate. FREE.
Ireland's first outdoor education centre (since 1971)! 20+ activities: surfing, kayaking, coasteering, abseiling, cycling, hill walking, archery, orienteering. On magnificent 3km Keel Beach. School/homeschool residential programmes with curriculum-based activities. Ages 7+. Summer bus from Westport to Keel beach (June-Aug). Builds confidence, teamwork & outdoor skills.
Unique 1889 causeway over tidal salt marsh - watch it flood at high tide! Orchids, sea lavender, Brent Geese in winter. BLUE FLAG beach with lifeguards (summer), safe swimming. Causeway Loop (4.7km, easy) or Cushlecka (9km). On Great Western Greenway - safe cycling for all family. Views of Croagh Patrick, Clew Bay, Clare Island. FREE.
Native woodland with hazel, birch, oak. Short easy trails (1.5km loop, ~30 mins) with tree/plant info signs. WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE multi-access trail. Monument to Marie Browne O'Donel (1809). Plenty of seating with great views. Rare plants: red campion, lungwort lichen. Dogs welcome. Good car parking. FREE.
7-screen cinema with KIDS CLUB every Sat & Sun morning (11:20am) - reduced prices + treat tray! Also: 'Movies with Baby' screenings, sensory-friendly screenings. Family rates available. Free parking. Great rainy day option. 25+ years serving Mayo!
Mayo's longest-serving indoor playground (since 2007)! Modern facilities. Private party room - hot food party package only €12 (sausages, nuggets, chips, ice cream, drink). Good central Mayo location.
Independent bookshop - great for curriculum resources, children's books, educational materials. Support local!
Charming thatched cottage with rare & second-hand books, antiques. Treasure hunt for book lovers! Combine with Mulranny Causeway walk for a day out.
Independent bookshop in the heart of Louisburgh. Children's section, local interest, curriculum support. Combine with Granuaile Centre & beach day!
Art studio & café on the Great Western Greenway. KIDS CAMPS during school holidays (Easter, summer). Creative activities packed with colour! Perfect stop on a Greenway cycle. Book: 085 721 1863
All-in-one family entertainment! 10-pin bowling, cinema (Mayo Movie World), soft play area, laser tag, arcade games. Café on-site. Free parking. Great rainy day option - spend a whole day here!
FREE admission! 3 floors at Spanish Arch. Exhibitions: Sea Science, Medieval Galway, The Claddagh, Galway Hooker boat, Revolution 1913-23. 'Galway in Objects' schools programme encourages learning through creativity. Tue-Sat 10am-5pm.
Ireland's largest aquarium with 170+ species. Touch pools, ray pool, ocean tank, fin whale skeleton. Summer Science workshops (11 years running!), Virtual Aquarium Tour with worksheets (English & Irish). Quiet Nights for sensory-sensitive visitors. Online booking cheaper than walk-in.
Indoor and outdoor activities - climbing, adventure courses, nature trails.
Pet farm, self-guided walks, arts & crafts, toddler playground, Enchanted Forest.
Ancient woodland with Queen Maeve's legendary burial place. Trails and folklore.
Woodland walks with streams for splashing. Nature exploration.
Forest trails with playground. Coastal views.
Forest walks with castle ruins to explore.
Fairy and gnome trail through woodland.
Unique cultural experience, ancient forts, Irish language, cycling.
Visitor centre, walking trails, nature activities. Diamond Hill climb.
Award-winning Celtic gardens in 11 acres of woodland & meadows. SFI Discover Science Centre with STEM trail. Seasonal school workshops (pond-dipping, seed sowing, nature trails). Roundhouse, nature playground, café. Non-profit focused on environmental education.
Quiet Man filming location! Forest trails (30 mins to several hours). CAVES to explore: Teach Aille, Pigeon Hole (descend into earth!). Climb 85 steps up GUINNESS TOWER for forest canopy views. Wildlife: pine martens, otters, red squirrels, badgers. Safe off-road cycling. Cong Abbey nearby. FREE.
One of biggest village playgrounds in Galway! In old walled garden at entrance to Clonbur Woods. Tunnels, climbing forts, LONG SLIDE on hill, willow tunnel. FAIRY TRAIL in woods. Paved walks for buggies/bikes. Outdoor exercise equipment for adults. Coffee/ice cream van often there. Toilets. Links to 12km trail to Cong. FREE.
Ireland's FLAGSHIP children's arts festival! 29 years running. Theatre, dance, circus, puppetry, visual art, workshops for newborns to teens. SCHOOLS PROGRAMME with 50% subsidised tickets! Free exhibitions & storytelling. Inclusive workshops (e.g. for deaf/hard of hearing). Children's Panel shapes programming. Contact: schools@baboro.ie
Ireland's LONGEST-RUNNING community arts festival (49 years)! Children's workshops, storytelling, live performances. Flutter-Bop for toddlers/pre-schoolers. Creative writing, music, theatre, film workshops in local schools. Tiny Mutiny - FREE family event celebrating young Galway artists. September 17-27, 2026.
One of Ireland's largest and oldest megalithic cemeteries. Visitor centre with exhibitions.
17 caves in limestone hillside with prehistoric and mythological significance.
10,000 sq ft indoor adventure! Pirate-themed play frame, 10m slide, trampolines, air cannons, sports cage. VERTIGO: 7m climbing wall (4 lanes), 5m high ropes, electric go-karts, laser quest, target paintball. Under-2s soft play area. Sleepover packages for groups (30-150). Tue-Sat 10:30am-7pm, Sun 12-7pm.
Popular beach for surfing lessons and coastal walks. Voya seaweed baths nearby.
Historic house with gardens. Constance Markievicz connection. Tours available.
Beautiful waterfall in scenic valley, immortalised by W.B. Yeats.
Ireland's largest sanctuary for birds of prey. Flying displays and interaction.
Mountain walk to Queen Maeve's Cairn. Panoramic views of Sligo.
Regular home education meetup on 2nd and 4th Monday of each month from 10am. Great for socialising.
350 hectares of woodland. Tree canopy walk, Boda Borg adventure, ZipIt, kayaking, Adventure Play Kingdom.
Celtic Royal Site. Learn about Iron Age Ireland, cave of the Otherworld (Oweynagat).
Underground mine tours led by ex-miners. 400 years of mining history.
Georgian mansion with National Famine Museum. Important Irish history.
Animals to pet and feed, playground, fairy trail, indoor and outdoor areas.
6,000+ items showing Irish rural life. Largest private rail collection in Ireland.
Restored Georgian mansion with interactive exhibits on local history.
Ireland's oldest and only working windmill in the West.
13th century Norman castle ruins. Park with playground, crannog, nature trails. Free.
Kayaking, canoeing, pier jumping, raft building, archery, climbing wall.
Traditional Irish cottage life and farming history.
Real working visitor farm. Hand-feed animals (alpacas, llamas, donkeys, hens, emu), tractor barrel rides, straw dives, pony rides, playground, indoor sandpit. Rural Life Museum. 3-hour educational school tours with Farmer Matt. Easter & summer camps.
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