You just never know with the Irish weather; one day it’s glorious, the next, the heavens have opened. With this level of unpredictability, it’s probably best to prepare for all eventualities. This is why we have developed a list of suitable activities for all the family to choose from and enjoy, all within a short distance of your accommodation.
Let’s get started with an activity that brings the indoors and outdoors together and throws in a little bit of heritage and history as well…
Arigna Mining Experience
High in the hills with a broad vista overlooking the stunning scenery below, you will find the Arigna Mining Experience. Close to Lough Allen, the village of Arigna is located along the dedicated scenic route between the village of Keadue and Sliabh an Iarainn, the Iron Mountain. Once a thriving mining community, the village of Arigna might have fallen into decline once the mines closed in 1990. However, forward and creative thinking ensured that the community continued to thrive as it embraced the importance of its history and industrial heritage.
Coal was mined here in the Arigna Valley from the 1700s through to 1990, when the mines were closed. With massive community and Government support, the Derreenavoggy Mine reopened as a visitor attraction in 2003. Since then, close to 400,000 people have enjoyed the Arigna Mining Experience, making this community-inspired initiative one of the most popular local attractions in Roscommon.
The tours take place in the old mines and are often led by former miners who share that extra bit of insight, adding to the authenticity of the experience.
The location itself is breathtaking – the view alone is worth the trip. At the Centre, you can take a tour of the mines and see the extensive display of historic documents, photographs and mining equipment from years gone by. There is also a gift shop and café.
The Arigna Mining Experience is one like no other in the region and a day out that we thoroughly recommend – one for the entire family.
https://www.arignaminingexperience.ie/
https://www.facebook.com/arignaminingexperience
The Moon River Cruiser
No visit to Carrick-on-Shannon is complete without a leisurely boat trip along the scenic Shannon River. Conveniently located a very short walk from your riverside accommodation, you’ll find the Moon River Cruiser in its usual mooring at the Quay Wall. So, whether it’s a chilly day or sunny weather, the cruiser caters to your comfort, offering a heated interior with a cosy bar area or an outdoor deck for soaking up the sun, should it be about ! You can still witness the natural world going on around you from outside on the deck, or, should the weather be inclement, from the warmth of the indoors.
During your hour-long journey, you’ll be treated to engaging songs, stories, and insights into the local flora, fauna, and the rich history of the area. Moon River Cruises are suitable for all ages, accommodating various occasions from tour groups to corporate events. However, spaces are limited and booking in advance is essential.
A Moon River cruise along the Shannon is definitely a must for anyone planning to spend time in Carrick-on-Shannon and a highlight that the whole family will remember.
More info:
https://www.moonriver.ie/
https://www.facebook.com/Moonrivercruiser/
Call: 071 962 1777
Email: info@moonriver.ie
Glenveiw Folk Museum
Now this is something to intrigue the little folk in your life and might also appeal to anyone who may be surprised to see that things they remember well are actually on display in a museum! Established in 2000 by the Kennedy family, Glenview Folk Museum , near Ballinamore, is a lovely exhibit of rural Irish heritage from the early part of the 20th century.
You will find a renovated ‘Travelling Shop’ which has been transformed from a dilapidated 1950’s Austin Loadstar wreck to a painstakingly restored shiney red version of its former self. Resplendent in its new found gorgeousness, the Travelling Shop has been kitted out as it would have been in its heyday, filled with all the messages that your Mammy might have sent you to get.
Reconstructed street scenes are reminiscent of Ireland of a different time. There are displays of old household items, including big wooden radios, oil lamps, gridle irons, and mangles. Lovers of farm machinery and old cars will be delighted to see the collection which includes a pristine red Honda 50 and some restored horse buggies.
Glenview Folk Museum really is a treat and a great way to spend a few hours, should the day be cold and grey. To find out some more, why not get in touch with the Kennedy family. They would love to have you visit.
Tel: 071 964 4157
Mobile: 087 697 1901
Email: glenviewmuseum@gmail.com
Carrick Cineplex
Looking for a fun way to spend a dull afternoon? You could always check out Carrick’s own Cineplex. Locally owned and managed, this award-winning cinema hosts four screens and a comfy cosy café for a pre-movie meet-up. With plenty of space for families or cosy enough if it’s just the two of you, Carrick Cineplex has all the recent releases and even has a Thursday Night Film Club. You can find out more about the Film Club on Facebook where they announce their upcoming screenings.
For up to the minute information about the Cinema visit the Carrick Cineplax Facebook page, where announcements of special screenings are made, which can be very useful when planning your day in advance, or if you need to make last minute adjustments to your schedule.
https://www.carrickcineplex.ie/
https://www.facebook.com/carrickcineplex
T: 071 96 72000
Aura Leisure Centre
If the weather is just awful and the kids are screaming, why not bring them all down to the swimming pool and let them use up all of that excess energy at the town’s Aura Leisure Centre. Perhaps you are missing your regular workout too? – Fear not!! All your fitness requirements are met here at this full-scope gym and swimming pool facility. The spacious weightlifting area, cardio machines, stationary bikes and treadmills will get you going and keep you fit, despite the fact that you are holidays!
Located at the other end of town, Aura leisure Centre is the ultimate wellness experience in Carrick-on-Shannon. With 2 indoor pools, a fitness suite, weekly classes and kids summer camps, Aura Leisure provides a wealth of options for maintaining your fitness schedule during your visit.
There is something for all the family, a beginner’s pool and another for the slightly more serious swimmers. Have a look at their website and see what’s on while you are here. Open 7 days a week, Aura Leisure Centre is a wonderful resource to have for both visitors and locals alike.
The swimming pool timetable changes throughout the season and can be accessed here: https://www.auraleisure.ie/location/leitrim/swimming-pool/timetable/
Tel: 071 967 1771
The Dock Arts Centre
The Dock is County Leitrim’s flagship arts centre and it just happens to be located a 5- minute walk from your accommodation. It is located in a historic former courthouse which was restored and opened as a contemporary art gallery and theatre in 2005. With 3 stunning galleries, a performance space and creative and fun workshops for the little ones throughout the school holidays, The Dock has a lot to offer. Galleries opening hours are from 11am- 5pm, you can pop in at any time to have a look at the work in the Galleries.
When you are planning your visit to Carrick, why not check out their website to see if you fancy booking tickets for events or performances in advance of your arrival. There are often lots of mid-week events taking place and since it’s located so close to your accommodation, it would be a shame to miss out.
You can give them a call 071 96 50 828 or visit their website: https://www.thedock.ie/whats-on/upcoming-events
Boda Borg at Lough Key Forest Park
So the weather is still not playing ball, but you want to get out of the house for the day. Boda Borg at Lough Key is the perfect alternative option!. Not your typical recreational experience – this will challenge you like no other fun activity as you and the gang navigate the thrilling quests and challenges that await you.
Instructions? Who needs them?? Instead, you will rely on your own sheer determination to figure out what it is you need to do to solve the conundrums you find yourself in.
As you step into the Boda Borg, be prepared for a lot of fun and laughs, but also some seemingly unsolvable puzzles requiring a lot of imaginative input, and many enjoyable tasks, both physical and mental, that will engage your mind and body. It’s a test of resilience, communication, and problem-solving. Only a very select few manage to crack the code and emerge victorious. Will you and your team be among them??
If this sounds like your idea of a fun day out, why not round up the crew and dive into the unknown, where mental and physical challenges are waiting. Success in one challenge opens the door to the next, but failure might mean you start all over again!
To experience the thrill of Boda Borg, gather your friends, family, or colleagues and reserve your spot by contacting bodaborg@loughkey.ie. Booking is recommended to ensure you don’t miss out on this exhilarating challenge.The experience is suitable for ages 7 and over.
https://loughkey.ie/
https://www.facebook.com/loughkeyforestpark
Strokestown Park House / National Famine Museum
Strokestown Park House is the formerly grand Palladian mansion, which shares its grounds with the recently redeveloped National Famine Museum, in Strokestown, Co.Roscommon – 20 minutes from Carrick. Now a fine example of faded grandeur, the House is open for guided tours and the National Famine Museum welcomes visitors all year round.
Onsite there is also a 6 acre walled garden, with Pleasure Grounds and a Kitchen Garden. On the grounds is the mausoleum of the Packenham Mahon family, who lived on the estate for 200 years.
A guided tour of the house tells the story of the family, who first came to Strokestown in the late 1600s, built their new house and eventually designed and laid out the main street which remains the second widest street in the country, second only to O’Connell St. in Dublin.
A tour of the house is like a visit to your Grannies – if your Granny lived in a mansion- it’s as if the family just walked out of the front door one day never to return. Left behind is the large cosy library, filled with family memorabilia, the grand dining room that shows hints of the impending financial hardship that was coming down the line for the residents of the Big House.
Highlights of the House tour include the childrens’ playroom and the huge kitchens, complete with an intact huge range and all the tools and implements that would have been used to produce fine dining at a time when the nation was in the depths of famine. The childrens’ school room, the nursery and the separate bedrooms of the Lady and Gentleman are all waiting for you to explore.
The tour of the Famine Museum introduces us to the famine era and specifically the events that took place in Strokestown at the time. A walk in the walled gardens will provide some reprieve after the intensity of the museum.
This is a great day out for all the family, there will be something of interest for everyone.
For more information you can visit:
https://strokestownpark.ie/national-famine-museum/
https://www.facebook.com/strokestownpark
Jump Street and Carrick Karting
If the weather is just not playing ball, and you really need to exhaust a few small people, there is no better place to go than Carrick-on-Shannon’s own trampoline park at Jump Street – the only trampoline park in the North West. Here you can let the kids go wild and have the best of fun. There are foam pits for the very little ones, and dodge-ball and basket-ball for the older kids.
Carrick Karting- The cabin fever is at risk of setting in and you need a bit of wild excitement and a good old belly laugh, so Carrick Karting might just be the answer! Don’t miss the chance to be part of the excitement at Leitrim’s go-to go-karting destination. There are powerful 270cc go-karts to navigate the challenging 40-second track and the thrill of new drift karts, every visit guarantees some wild fun. Have a laugh, challenge your friends and family and blow off some cobwebs!
Jump Street & Carrick Karting really is your one-stop destination for thrills – and spills – jumps, gravity-defying flips, and boundless fun. You can get in touch to find more information regarding opening hours, age suitability and any other queries you might have.
https://www.facebook.com/jumpstreetcarrick
infoleitrimleisure@gmail.com
085 866 7757
