Top 10 Things to do Good for Kids in Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland’s Ancient East

April 6, 2022 Diedre Savory

Discover the best top things to do in Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland including Derryglad Folk & Heritage Museum, Waterford Greenway, Terra Nova Fairy Garden, Medieval Mile Museum, Nano Nagle Place, Kilkenny Castle, Russborough House, King John's Castle, Lough Gur Visitor Centre, Athlone Castle Visitor Centre.
Restaurants in Ireland’s Ancient East

1. Derryglad Folk & Heritage Museum

Derryglad, Curraghboy, Athlone N37 W1K8 Ireland +353 90 648 8192 [email protected] http://www.derrygladfolkmuseum.com
Excellent
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5.0 based on 332 reviews

Derryglad Folk & Heritage Museum

Open May-Oct incl : No trip to the midlands is complete without a visit to the Derryglad Folk & Heritage Museum, which is hidden in South Roscommon in a land of lakes and rivers. The collection deals with Farm & Folk life in Ireland from the 18th century to the recent past. The museum is privately owned and run by the Finneran Family and houses a unique 25 year collection of over ,7500 items includes horse-drawn machinery restored to the original working order, tradesmans tools and buttermaking equipment, laundry memorabilia, old and rare washing machines, 1930’s old-style thatched bar & grocery, old-style sheep shears, radios, gramophones , shop dockets and bill-heads, sports display McCormacks photography room where the contents include dark rooms finishing r D & P line, B & W colour processors. as well as much, much more. its an ideal destina­tion for school tours, ICA Guilds, Ladies Clubs, Farming Groups, Vintage Clubs, Historical So­cieties, families,

Reviewed By astokes610 - Dublin, Ireland

Vert enjoyable experience at this museum. Everything so well preserved and presented you can see the owners have so much love and appreciation for the past. Was lovely to speak to the owner and hear how he has been collecting for the past 40 years. A great trip down memory lane.

2. Waterford Greenway

46 klm of old disused railway line now a cycle and pedestrian route between Waterford and Dungarvan., Waterford Ireland +353 58 45273 [email protected] http://www.visitwaterfordgreenway.com
Excellent
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5.0 based on 646 reviews

Waterford Greenway

Waterford Greenway is a spectacular 46 km off-road cycling and walking trail along an old railway line which runs between Waterford and Dungarvan. From the Viking City alongside the River Suir, out by Mount Congreve Gardens, through Kilmacthomas, across eleven bridges, over three impressive viaducts and through a 400m long tunnel; with wonderful views of the Comeragh Mountains and Dungarvan Bay.

Reviewed By renaultwrc - Waterford, Ireland

Absolutely fabulous, walking or cycling it's a pleasure, coastal and inland old railway line converted to this stunning Greenway, try pint in old world pub along the way or coffee or tea and scones in Kilmacthomas old workhouse ,you will return many times guaranteed

3. Terra Nova Fairy Garden

Dromin, Kilmallock, Limerick V35 V389 Ireland +353 86 065 8807 [email protected] http://www.terranovagarden.com
Excellent
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5.0 based on 195 reviews

Terra Nova Fairy Garden

The Garden is Now Closed for the 2020 Season. Terra Nova Garden is a dynamic space full of the unexpected. Home to an exotic Thai House with tropical plantings, a magical woodland where pixies, fairies and other elementals live in shady places, sensational seasonal plantings throughout the garden, a Hobbit Tea House based on Bilbo’s Bag End and Ireland’s Largest Fairy Gift Shop. Become part of the adventure that has been enthralling visitors for over 20 years. Terra Nova - Past Winner of Best Garden in Ireland. Open daily 11am - 5pm (last entry at 4pm) until August 30th. Booking essential. 10am - 4pm to book your visit

Reviewed By christinecR7062MV - Sixmilebridge, Ireland

What a wonderful way to spend a few hours!. Tucked away in the Co. Limerick countryside, this magical fairy garden is a little peace of Heaven! The gardens are immaculately kept and the fairy story propels you to another world ! The added bonus of complimentary refreshments at the end of your adventure is very a lovely way to finish your journey....very competitive priced and should definitely be on your staycation itinerary !

4. Medieval Mile Museum

2 St Marys Lane, Kilkenny Ireland +353 56 781 7022 [email protected] http://www.medievalmilemuseum.ie/
Excellent
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5.0 based on 624 reviews

Medieval Mile Museum

Located on the 13th century site of St Mary's cruciform church and graveyard. As the starting point of the 'Medieval Mile' trail, it brings to life Kilkenny's history as Ireland's premier medieval city. Displays of Kilkenny's civic treasures and replicas of some of the High Crosses of Ossory illustrate the local Gaelic monastic heritage and the ancient city's historic role in Ireland. There are a number of Guided tours throughout the day, or visitors can purchase an all-day self-guided tour pass. Audio Guides are available in 5 languages (English, German, French, Italian, Spanish). Child friendly versions are also available in each language. June 2018 saw the launch of the LEGO® mini figure Hunt, which sees 10 characters from Kilkenny's history hidden around the museum in the form of LEGO® mini figures! Kids are now introduced to the city's history through LEGO®.School tours, language schools and third level, please see our website for costings and booking information.Last entry 6.00

Reviewed By 946dylanr - New York City, United States

You must visit this museum while in Kilkenny. Our tour guide John was one of the best we’ve ever had in all our travels. Really enjoyed the 1 hour tour. The museum is an old church that they’ve done an absolutely wonderful job preserving and modernizing into an attraction that gives you a great appreciation for Kilkenny City and it’s long and incredible history.

5. Nano Nagle Place

Douglas Street, Cork T12 X70A Ireland +353 21 419 3580 [email protected] http://www.nanonagleplace.ie
Excellent
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5.0 based on 422 reviews

Nano Nagle Place

Nano Nagle Place is a restored walled convent with beautiful hidden gardens and graveyards, the fab Good Day Deli garden café and design & book shop in the centre of bustling Cork city. Our state of the art heritage centre tells the extraordinary story 18th century Cork and how Nano Nagle worked tirelessly to educate the poor of the city. History, heritage, culture, great food & coffee, stunning architecture & landscaping and a very warm welcome await! Come and explore all that's good in Cork!

Reviewed By L8627DKchristinet

Just had a delightful visit to Nano Nagle Place. Even though we had to queue for lunch it was so worth the wait. The menu was amazing and the food delicious. Coffee is top class. After lunch we had a guided tour through the fascinating museum and rooms that Nano used to frequent. The interactive slides and videos are very interesting and informative. The gardens hold lots of surprises including water features and beautiful spaces. A lovely, peaceful oasis in the middle of Cork City. Well worth a visit.

6. Kilkenny Castle

The Parade, Kilkenny R95 YRK1 Ireland +353 56 770 4100 [email protected] http://www.kilkennycastle.ie
Excellent
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4.5 based on 6,363 reviews

Kilkenny Castle

Founded soon after the Norman conquest of Ireland, the Castle has been rebuilt, extended and adapted to suit changing circumstances and uses over a period of 800 years. Today, Kilkenny Castle is open to visitors all year round and is largely a Victorian remodelling of the thirteenth century defensive Castle

Reviewed By M4474IDtomk

A must see in Kilkenny ....really great experience. Very friendly welcoming staff....who managed visiting during Covid really well. The castle itself is magnificent ...we were on a self guided tour and I would strongly recommend engaging with the staff in the rooms ...very knowledgeable and made our visit a truly memorable one.

7. Russborough House

Wicklow Ireland +353 45 865 239 http://www.russboroughhouse.ie/
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4.5 based on 569 reviews

Russborough House

A beautifully refurnished 18th century mansion housing the world-famous Albert Beit collection of art.

Reviewed By bethd60 - Fairview, United States

Our tour guide, Charles, was informative and more than willing to part with the family secrets as we made our way through this beautiful home filled with the most amazing furniture and art. This is the longest house in Ireland (700 fee of frontage) and given to the people of Ireland by the Beit famiy (heir to a portion of the DeBeer diamond fortune). Be sure tocheck out the interactive displays and 3D film in the basement. BTW we had a decent lunch in the cafe.

8. King John's Castle

Nicholas Street King's Island, Limerick Ireland +353 61 360 788 http://www.shannonheritage.com/KingJohnsCastle/
Excellent
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4.5 based on 2,522 reviews

King John's Castle

This newly renovated 13th-century castle is open for tours.

Reviewed By Bozeman-Dublin - Trim, Ireland

Fantastic castle, a wonderful museum that really brings the history of Limerick to life with a combination of audio visual displays, interactive exhibits, artefacts and really interesting story-boards. The first half of the self-guided tour deals mostly with medieval history, the sieges, treaties and battles for power and what life was like for the people of the city then. There are superb models of the city at its various stages of growth. Then you can go down to the medieval foundations before ascending the towers and waking the battlements. Fantastic place, I was there well over 2 hours and just loved every minute. The staff were so, so helpful as well, it's important for me to mention that.

9. Lough Gur Visitor Centre

Lough Gur, Limerick Ireland +353 61 385 386 [email protected] http://www.loughgur.com/home/lough-gur-heritage-centre/
Excellent
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4.5 based on 533 reviews

Lough Gur Visitor Centre

Lough Gur Heritage Centre is a community run tourist attraction telling the story of 6,000 years of habitation in the Lough Gur area. From Neolithic house sites to medieval castles Lough Gur has monuments from every era and the heritage centre ensures that visitors get the history/folklore and archaeology of the area from trained guides.The Centre also houses a retail space where take away tea/coffee, minerals, ice-cream and chocolate are available for purchase as are books and merchandise of the area.Summer opening hours are 10 to 5pm Monday to Friday and 12 to 6pm Saturday and Sunday from March to October and every Sunday during winter hours.The centre is staffed by volunteers and all monies raised goes back into community initiatives at Lough Gur.

Reviewed By LJC2013 - Ardrossan, United Kingdom

Visited here with my husband, along with the stones and a leisurely drive round the area. Been to many tourist sights in Ireland but this was one of our favourites. There is such a peaceful atmosphere at Lough Gur and not many tourists when we were there. Brian shares his knowledge of local history and brought it all to life. We enjoyed the guided walk. I bought a book based on memoirs of a lady who lived at the farm there. Great to read about a place I have visited. Highly recommend taking a few hours to stop here.

10. Athlone Castle Visitor Centre

Athlone Castle Castle Street, Athlone N37 A6D7 Ireland +353 90 644 2130 [email protected] http://www.athlonecastle.ie
Excellent
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4.5 based on 771 reviews

Athlone Castle Visitor Centre

Athlone Castle Visitor Centre is situated in the heart of the Midlands, on the west bank of the river Shannon adjacent to St Peter and Pauls Church and the Luan Gallery. It was reopened in November 2012 following extensive renovations. The 13th century Norman castle now boasts 8 new exhibition spaces that tell the story of the castle, Athlone town, its people and the surrounding area. The spaces have been designed to be very interactive visitor's are encouraged to get hands on and engage with the rooms as they move through them. First built in the 12th century as a timber fort, Athlone Castle evolved into a bold, defensive building. Its most significant architectural features, such as the keep, have now been harnessed to act as a dramatic backdrop to its diverse and fascinating story. The newly designed exhibition spaces pursue both a chronological and thematic sequence combining hands-on and fun experiences such as games and dress-up activities. Learn about the rich history of Athlone from pre-historic settlement right through to the modern town. Athlone was the setting for many battles down through the centuries. The most famous is the siege of Athlone in 1690 and 1691. The story of the siege and the fighting that was ongoing is brought to life at Athlone Castle through illustrations by renowned illustrator Victor Ambrus. During a spectacular 360 degree audio visual presentation, a re-enactment of the siege of Athlone is experienced. Bold sculptural forms help to convey human figures and historical milestones. 3D maps, audio-visual installations and original artifacts combine to bring the stories and characters of Athlone to life. The newest addition to the visitor centre is the display dedicated to the memory of Athlone's famous son, John Count McCormack. Here the world-renowned tenor is honored with artefacts from both his social life and musical career. At Athlone Castle you can sit down and enjoy some refreshments in the cafe area located in the reception. There is seating for 16 with extra seating outside. Visitors can also avail of audio-guides in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese. The Failte Ireland tourist office is also located in the castle courtyard. Take the opportunity to visit our sister property Luan Gallery, located just across the road. It is a modern art gallery that showcases local and national artists in a modern impressive gallery overlooking the river Shannon. Athlone hosts a number of fairs and festivals throughout the year that offer fun-filled activities for all. If you are looking for somewhere central to travel with a lot to offer, from museums and galleries to shopping, then come to Athlone, the heart of the Midlands. This renovated tourist attraction is the perfect stop off point in the heart of the Lakeland's Region of Ireland enroute to the beautiful Wild Atlantic Way and along the exciting and culturally interesting route of Ireland's Ancient East. Athlone Castle Visitor Centre is waiting for you to explore, engage and enjoy!

Reviewed By 983richiem

Please ignore the people complaining that this place is too modern. What Athlone Castle has done is build a very well laid out, informative, and easy to follow exhibition that shows original pieces and tells the storied history of the castle and surrounding area. It's easy to access and get around (my father is 71 with limited mobility) and we had no issues at all. The displays are well laid out and informative without bombarding you with unnecessary information. I would highly recommend a visit.

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