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

Bunratty Castle is one of the most popular places to visit in the southwest and it is the most complete and authentic medieval castle in Ireland. Built in 1425, and plundered on many occasions, it was authentically restored in 1954 to its former medieval splendour, with furnishings and tapestries capturing the mood and style of the times. Within its grounds is Bunratty Folk Park where 19th century village and rural life are recreated. Traditional crafts are carried out in their natural setting and during the summer period visitors can also see characters/animators depicting 19th century life. Older children and teenagers may enjoy the medieval banquets which are held in the castle twice nightly subject to demand at 17.30 and 20.45. The Traditional Irish Night is held nightly at 19.00 in the Folk Park from May to October (reservations necessary).

The Aillwee Caves is an experience which should be part of every visit to the Burren. Guided tours go through the cave every fifteen minutes. It is an easy walk alongside the hibernation pits of the long extinct ursos arctos bears over bridged caverns and under waterfalls where you marvel at the stalactites, stalagmites and unusual formations. Climb the mountainside behind the cave to appreciate the landscape spreading out below and walk over the typical limestone pavements to view the spring gentian or mountain avens. The kids might enjoy browsing through distinctly different craft shops for unusual mineral specimens, crystals, fossils, personalized souvenirs. There is also a Burren Birds of Prey Centre home to the largest display of Falcons, Harris Hawks, Owls, American Kestrels and White Tailed Sea Eagles in the country.

The Burren Perfumery and Floral Centre may be of interest to little girls and you can watch audio-visual exhibits on the history of perfume making in the Burren. You can then look at the distillery and the organic garden. This is essentially a sales pitch but if you are able to resist this it is a nice short stopover. Admission is free and there is an organic tea room.

The Salmon of Knowledge Experience in the Burren Smokehouse in Lisdoonvarna is a visitor centre with an audiovisual tour, crafts and a gourmet food store. Children may enjoy the salmon of knowledge story (all kids love a story) and adults learning about the custom of oak smoking salmon. This is free attraction.

The Clare Museum is located in a beautifully restored former convent in the very centre of the town. The exhibition "The Riches of Clare” blends a more traditional method of displaying local artefacts with modern multi-media interpretive tools.

Brian Boru Heritage Centre has an imaginative exhibition which charts the history of Killaloe and its Celtic and nautical significance. The exhibition also traces the history of the arrival of Christianity and the monastic tradition, as well as the development of the Shannon River as a transport system. The visit features an audio-visual presentation of the route the canal boat took while making deliveries from Dublin to Limerick.

Visit the Lahinch Seaworld and Leisure Centre which has pools to splash around in, an Aquarium and a playzone. The kids can come eye to eye with some rare and spine chilling fish species as they surround you in this incredible and exciting aquarium. Sammy Sharks Soft Play Zone is an area for 2 to 10 year olds with a two story maze of ball ponds, slides, scramble nets, climbing ladders and loads more to keep even the most active children happy.

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.