Top 10 Things to do Good for Kids in County Offaly, Province of Leinster

For great Equestrian Holidays in Ireland, with lots of horse riding available in all disciplines, particularly show jumping, cross-country and dressage, with full board accommodation or just bed and breakfast. Situated just outside Tullamore County Offaly in the heart of Ireland, Annaharvey Farm has it all.

Birr Equestrian Centre has been catering for riders and horse enthusiasts for over forty years under the direction of Noel Cosgrave and his team of dedicated instructors. The centre is open 7 days a week to cater for your every need and there are a range of services from entertainment to sales and breeding. Birr Equestrian Centre is A.I.R.E. and Board Failte approved and all instructors are certified by the British Horse Society. Located in the Midlands we offer riding lessons; cross country treks and tuition; hourly, half day and full day trekking in the Slieve Bloom Mountains; trekking holidays in conjunction with local accommodation providers; pony camps and much much more! Carriage Driving, Archery, Laser Shooting and Clay Pigeon Shooting are also available on site.

Prepare to be amazed by the extraordinary achievements of the Parsons family who have a global reputation for their ground-breaking inventions and feats in the fields of science, engineering, photography, astronomy and botany. For over 400 years, this remarkable family has resided at the romantic and inspirational setting of Birr Castle Demesne that is now home to the 7th Earl and Countess of Rosse. Set in the heritage town of Birr on 120 acres of parklands and gardens, this castle demesne boasts a rare collection of over 4000 trees and plants, wonderful wildlife, and peaceful walks along rivers, waterfalls and lake. Suited to nature lovers, gardening enthusiasts, scientists, historians, family groups and photographers.

Charleville Castle, the Masterpiece of Francis Johnston, once derelict, vacant, closed-off and decaying, has been rescued from near ruin by volunteers of the Charleville Castle Community. Built originally as a dramatic Power Center in the Midlands - a most important Irish symbol of the Union with Great Britain 1801 - it is a project of the Peace Process - authenticate, intact and "of the people". The long avenue to the forecourt is now fully open - some areas require supervised access or guides [set donation] - Volunteers rotate on duty 24/7 - 365 days a year - sharing actively with the public. It is famous for its ghosts stories and unique architecture - it is not a state-funded project and depends entirely on volunteers and supporters - the local community and many thousands more openly express love and support for the Castle. Come visit - we hope you will get a real feeling of what it is to keep a big Castle like this alive - hopefully your visit can be enhanced by a guided tour.

Lough Boora Discovery Park is made up of more than 2,000 hectares of cutaway boglands have been rehabilitated to provide a world class resource of scale which is open access for people to enjoy 365 days a year. It is a haven of flora and fauna for nature lovers, the Sculpture Park provides a platform for international artists to use the park as inspiration for their works of art while off-road cycling and walking tracks provide families with a safe recreational area to enjoy the tranquillity and vastness of the open space. The lakes provide local angling clubs with the perfect location for fishing. The park provides local employment and a venue for clubs and groups to host their events alongside visitor centre organised events such as family days.