What to do with kids in Dublin????????
 

My large California family (18) will be in Dublin during the Oxegen festival and younger (than us grandparents) adults and teens want to attend at least one day. That leaves us grandparents babysitting two 9 year olds, a 6 year old and a 3 year old. Help! Any suggestions as to what we might do to entertain them would be GREATLY appreciated. We'll be staying at the St. Augustine Apts. which is near Christ Church Cathedral on the edge of City Centre. All suggestions welcomed.

Barbara

I know there is a hop on hop off bus which kids ride free. Perhaps combine that with the Zoo and wax museum stops.

You could check out Dublin's tourist information website.
visitdublin.com
Both the "See and do" and "Events" section have links for "Kids Dublin".

Some fun things with kids:

1. The Viking Splash tour - leaves from Stephens Green and St Patricks Cathedral

2. Feeding the ducks in Stephens Green (and there is a small playground there too. will probably appeal to the 3 year old, not sure about the other 2)

3. Some of the museums have good tours / mornings specially for kids. The national museum and the Museum of Modern Art in Kilmainham certainly have kids activities and I'd be surprised if the National Gallery and Collins Barracks don't also. Their websites will have details.

3. Kilmainham Jail - fascinating for kids, they love the cells

4. The Zoo, depending on where you are from

5. The Dublin Bay Sea Safari - leaves from near the IFSC - a boat trip in Dublin bay, if you are lucky you may see a seal or two

6. Bray - a tacky seaside town but they have Sea World aquarium (like the zoo, this is OK if you have never been to an aquarium but if you come from somewhere with a great acquarium it will be rubbish by comparison!) and there's a funfair / rides for the kids at weekends, maybe during the week too. You go there on the DART along by the seafront so that might be fun

7. The Lambert puppet theatre in Monkstown - not sure if this is still open as the founder died recently

8. One of the churches in town (St Audoens? not sure) has catacombs with mummies including a mummified cat and dog. Not everyones cup of tea but lots of kids like it.

9. The national aquatic centre (North west of the city) I believe has good facilities for kids - swimming pool with waterslides etc. Families allowed at specific times at weekends, I think their website is www.nac.ie

10. They might enjoy the "hooley nights" in Johnny Foxes pub? Trad music and dancing, very touristy but I believe enjoyable

What time of year is the Oxegen festival? I ask just in case there's something else on at the same time. For example last year the world street performers championship was on during the summer in Merrion Square and that was wonderful for children, you may overlap with that or another event.

You will do fine!

Jane

Good news - the weather's not SO bad today... you might be lucky!

The Irish author Jonathan Swift had "a modest proposal" that could work.

Jane,
Thank you so much! That's exactly the kind of information I was looking for. Oxegen (how it's spelled, not my lack of education) is July 9, 10 and 11. We'd be babysitting on Sunday, July 11 and maybe the 10th as well (just heard the Black Eyed Peas plays on the 10th)[we'd actually enjoy the Black Eyed Peas but can't stand huge crowds]. Basingstoke2 - thanks for suggestion - have been tempted at times - but they're actually really great kids.

Thanks everyone for responding - will welcome any additions or other suggestions for our giant crew.
Barbara

Dublinia, adjacent to Christchurch might interest the older children. Not sure about the 3 year old, though.

Bob

You'll miss the street performers so, they are in June.

One site I forgot before is the Ark in Temple Bar, the Childrens Cultural Centre. It's not worth a visit in itself, but sometimes they have workshops / art / dance / poetry etc sessions for kids of all ages. It would be good for a rainy day (although sometimes you have to book in advance). The sessions are generally short (1hr or 1hr30) and not very expensive. The website is www.ark.ie and they have no events listed yet for July, but it might be worth keeping an eye out.