There are lots of family friendly and child friendly things to see and do with the kids on rainy days in the Northwest. Have a look also at our Family Events section for forthcoming family friendly events to entertain the kids.

Donegal

The Killybegs Maritime and Heritage Centre is situated within what was once the famous Killybegs Carpet Factory. The Heritage Centre is home to the largest hand-knotted loom in the world. Visitors will see live demonstrations of weaving of the hand-knotted carpets, a chance to meet and talk with one of the few handloomers remaining in this part of the country and enjoy a step by step account of how each carpet is individually designed and produced. Visitors are taught the unique craft of hand-knotting and have the opportunity to try their skills at one of the handlooms on display in the Factory. Enjoy too an insight into the history of one of the largest fishing fleets in Ireland, and take a journey into the past by listening to the experiences of some of the Killybegs fishermen who give their own personal account of life in bygone days. Kids will also have the opportunity to enjoy an interactive audio visual display in a fishing trawler wheelhouse, allowing them to step into the fisherman’s shoes and imagine the wonderment of the ocean and the skills needed to live alongside nature in its true sense. There is also a coffee shop on the premises and a local craft shop.

Donegal County Museum is housed in what was once the Warden's house of the Letterkenny Workhouse, which was opened in 1845. The Museum contains two galleries, workshop, storage area and offices. The Museum holds a substantial collection of original artefacts representing the history of County Donegal and covering subjects such as archaeology, history, social history and folk life. The Museum has two exhibition galleries. The first floor gallery contains artefacts which relate the history of Donegal from the prehistoric period to the present day. On the ground floor the Museum holds a wide variety of temporary exhibitions.

Waterworld in Bundoran is an award winning Aqua Adventure Playground for children of all ages. It has family friendly facilities which include two leisure pools, a wave pool with five wave patterns and rapids, plus a slide pool with the Tornado Flume and the super fast Whizzer Slide. For the older members of the family, it also features facilities like sauna and steam room for parents, bathing rooms, steam cabinets, sea baths, sea water drench shower treatment rooms, juice bar and a relaxation bar.

Fort Dunree Military Museum houses a fascinating display of military memorabilia and artefacts as well as an array of large guns from the twentieth century. It is a must see for every family visiting the Inishowen peninsula should enjoy the historical exhibits.

For rainy days Arena 7 in  Ballyraine Retail Park, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal has 10 Pin Bowling Lanes, pool tables, snooker tables, Wanes World which is a children's activity centre and a large selection of amusement machines and video arcades.

Century Cinemas, Canal Road, Letterkenny has a six screen cinema and is another option for rainy days.

Sligo

Lissadell House is famous as the childhood home of Countess Markievicz, one of the leaders of the 1916 rising: the first woman to be elected to Dail Éireann, where she served as Minister for Labour, and also the first woman to be elected to Westminster Parliament in London (A great example of early female emancipation). Her brother Josslyn created at Lissadell one of the premier horticultural estates in Europe. Sligo born poet W.B. Yeats has immortalised Lissadell in his poetry. An intensive programme of restoration has taken place in the House, gardens and stable blocks since 2004. Now Lissadell is restored and a great family friendly day trip. You can tour the gardens, view the art collection and the Yeats library, wander through the kitchen gardens, the alpine rockery garden and have lunch in the tearooms. A garden museum with a shell collection and a pet farm are due to open soon.

Happy Days Adventure Play Centre, Cleveragh Business Park, Sligohas fun for children of all ages. They have a fun play centre, ball pool slide, an ariel slide and refreshments.

For rainy days the Gaiety 12 Screen Multiplex, Wine Street, Sligo is a modern 12 screen cinema with all the features you would expect, including Dolby Digital,oversized screens and aircraft style seating.

Leitrim

Aura Leitrim Leisure offers a wide range of activities for all the family. There is an extensive range of fitness classes and state of the art gym. For older members of the family that need to unwind and relax try the sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi.

Cavan

Cavan County Museum, Virginia Road in Ballyjamesduff features unique artefacts dating from the Stone Age up until the twentieth century, material spanning over 6000 wars of occupation in Cavan. Displays of notable interest include the Killycluggin stone and the three-faced Corleck Head, two of the most recognisable examples of Celtic spirituality in the country.

A visit to the Bear Essentials Showroom & the Silver Bear Centre in Bawnboy, County Cavan promises to be an experience for all ages. You can wander around the Showroom of hand-made teddy bears or book for hands-on workshops/tours/birthday parties in advance.

Monagahan

Monaghan County Museum in Monaghan has a collection of over 7,000 objects, which help to tell the story of the county. The chronology of the collection spans some 9,000 years from the Giant Irish Red Deer, which roamed the glacial plains of Mesolithic Monaghan through the counties first farmers, the founding of the town in 1602/03 and on to one of the first televisions ever to arrive in the county.

Monaghan Veteran and Vintage Club, Ballinode illustrates changes in the way of life of country people in the twentieth century. Exhibits include steam and oil driven engines, early tractors, ancient kitchen utensils, old farmhouse furniture, public house artefacts.

The purpose-built Wildlife Exhibition & Educational Centre in Listinny, Castleblaney displays one of the largest privately owned collections of mounted birds and mammals in Ireland. The Centre displays 200 species of Irish fauna in five specially designed habitat sets; River/Lake/Coastal, Bog & Moorland, Woodland, Farmland and Garden. The wildlife Exhibition & Education Centre will appeal to all of the family interested in wildlife and nature conservation.

Patrick Kavanagh Centre houses exhibitions on local history and on the poet Patrick Kavanagh, a sixty-seat Audio- Visual Theatre, and a Research Library. One of the special features of the Patrick Kavanagh Centre is the unique performance tour of Kavanagh Country, which takes in many local sites immortalised by Inniskeens most famous son, with anecdotes, historical facts, wild rumours and even the odd poem along the way. Wildlife Educational Centre displays 200 species of Irish fauna in five specially designed habitat sets; River/Lake/Coastal, Bog & Moorland, Woodland, Farmland and Garden. The centre  has a cafeteria with access for the disabled. .

St Louis Convent Heritage Centre tells the fascinating story of the Louis Sisters and their role in education throughout Ireland and the world. The St Louis story is told in the framework of Irish, European and world history, but is particularly linked with Monaghan itself from post famine times. It gathers up the memories of this story and brings it alive again through memorabilia, artefacts, models, documents and commemorative albums. It recalls St. Louis Sisters’ work in Educational Development and Health Care in France, Ireland, Belgium, England, California, West Africa and Brazil.

Monaghan Leisure Complex - Coral Leisure is a state of the art modern Leisure Complex with 25 metre pool, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, fully equipped gym and tennis courts.

Ireland visitor discounts is a fantastic free downloadable discount voucher for leading Irish cultural and heritage visitor attractions. You should download a form for each member of the family and bring this with you when you are travelling. Discounts include two for the price of one in leading tourist attractions, free admission at some attractions and between 10 and 20% off other attractions. This really could make a considerable saving for your family.

You will find lots of family friendly travel tips and advice in our research and advice section to help you book the right family holiday. Check out also the experiences of other parents and travellers in our parents forum and add your own experiences as we are a great believer in real parent's experiences as the best measure of whether somewhere will suit you for your family holiday. 

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