For the 'Little Ones'

Monaghan is a bountiful county for you and the family to discover, including activity centres, soft play areas, parks and playgrounds. Don't let the weather put a dampener on your day either; Some of the attractions are indoors! Finding the right Monaghan day out for your family is easy-peasy – Simply explore your options below to plan your next family adventure:

Parks

Rossmore Forest Park

Rossmore Forest Park covers a large area of approximately six by three miles. It was formerly part of the Barony of Rossmore created in 1796 and covers over 320 hectares with many forest walks, a wonderful play park for children, a giant sculpture trail and remnants of its past life as an estate. Within its bounds are five fishing lakes. The forests are primarily deciduous with numerous fine specimens of oak, ash, spruce, beech, larch, and giant redwood. It also boasts extensive plantings of rhododendron, many of which were planted over a hundred years ago and are a riot of colour in early summer.

There are great walks within Rossmore Forest Park. The park has well maintained paths, several of which are suitable for wheelchair bound visitors. These walks range in length from two to four miles and are well posted. The most scenic, the Priestfield, with its colonnade of yews, is approximately three miles long and leads past the Rossmore family crypt.

Facilities include a spacious car park, clean toilets, picnic tables, litter bins, and a large, weather-protected map of the entire park and its trails.

Lough Muckno Leisure Park

Lough Muckno Leisure Park is situated close to the centre of the mid Monaghan town of Castleblayney. The lake itself is the largest and most beautiful of Monaghan’s lakes with spectacular views of the surrounding area.

The park is set on 900 acres of wooded terrain. The two wooded islands both Black and White Island have excellent activities such as orienteering, nature walks/trails, water skiing and wakeboard club, coarse fishing, peace garden and picnic areas. The town itself hosts many festivals with the park used as a venue for the Muckno Mania Festival, the annual triathlon, the water-skiing club is the host for many national and international competitions and hosts many fishing competitions. Recently, major angling access works have been undertaken and Lough Muckno is now an international standard angling venue.

Park is open all year, seven days a week.

Activity Centres

Garage Theatre

The Garage Theatre provides a venue for touring theatrical groups that produce a high eminence of professional theatre. In addition to this the Garage also provides a space for local amateur groups (both Junior & Senior alike) making it a valuable resource for the local community.

The Garage Theatre is renowned for showcasing comedy, dance, music, concerts and children’s entertainment. 

Busy Bee Ceramics

When you visit Busy Bee’s pottery studio you get to become a potter and learn something brand-new! It’s a super fun way to spend the day with family and friends. Busy Bee makes all the pottery themselves, including the pottery you work with during your visit there, which makes it a truly Irish crafted product. 

Offering special rates for group bookings, catered to the group’s skill, age and requirements.

Glaslough Alpacas

Glaslough Alpacas are very passionate about their alpacas and all things alpaca. They maintain a small, high quality herd. See the alpacas for yourself on a ‘Meet & Greet Experience’. There are many photo opportunities along the way and a very warm welcome is guaranteed. Your experience will include a walk through the alpaca farm learning all about these charming animals. Be enchanted by the gentle, calming nature of these adorable alpacas. Breathe in the refreshing country air and enjoy the spectacular surrounding views.

Drumlin Bike Trails

Drumlin Trails is where guests can drop by, rent a bike for a day or 2 and return it after their experience. Drumlin Trails are now offering numerous intriguing trails to suit all ages and levels of physical (and possibly mental) fitness. Each trail they offer is accompanied by a snippet of useful and sometimes bizarre stories allowing you to fully appreciate some of what is most fascinating things in the North of Monaghan and surrounding counties.

Sam Moore Open Farm

Sam Moore Open Farm have many kinds of farm animals (goats, pigs, sheep, ponies, alpacas, rabbits, to name but a few) that just love to see all visiting guests!

There is so much to see and do including fairy trails, go-karting, ziplining, tractors, vintage cars & an old forge. Offering seated BBQ & picnic areas too!

Open 7 days a week and only a 15-minute drive from the hotel.

Ballybay Wetlands Centre

The Ballybay Wetlands Center is a striking multi-purpose venue set in the heart of Co. Monaghan with stunning views of the surrounding wetlands. Wetlands are considered to be the most biological diverse of all eco systems serving as home to a wide range of plants and animal life. There are a number of scenic walks spanning an impressive 65 acres of wetlands.

GR8 Entertainment

Climbing frames, Go-karts, Astroturf pitch, NERF shooting, 10 pin bowling alley and much more than you’d think!

Íontas Arts & Community Centre

Iontas’ aim is to provide, promote and foster the vision and space for initiative and innovation in personal and community development. This happens through all kinds of educational, creative and artistic endeavours through the variety of live performances and exhibitions available to attend.

A.W.O.L Adventure

Experience family fun and adrenaline outdoor activities at A.W.O.L Outdoor Adventure, set in the magnificent Blackwater Valley, on the border between Monaghan & Tyrone. Surrounded by green hills, wild valleys, lush forests, amazing rivers and lakes. The border region offers one of Ireland's most spectacular landscapes for outdoor activities.

Whether you are looking for a fun adventure, an educational experience, or if you just want to relax and tune into nature, A.W.O.L Outdoor Adventure offers a wide range of fantastic family activities to suit all your needs. Activities can be land based and/or water based.

Irish Country Quads

Irish Country Quads is an adventurous activity centre set between counties Monaghan, Louth & Armagh; Ireland. Tour their purpose-built quad bike course that caters for bikers of all experience through all weather conditions. Quad biking is an exciting and adventurous family sport where everyone will have an incredible time!

Theme Parks

Although the theme parks are not located in County Monaghan, neither are located too far away from the hotel and offer the perfect opportunity to not have to travel too far to experience another fun-filled day of activities.

Tayto Park

Tayto Park is a Theme Park & Zoo in Meath, Ireland, offering over 100 attractions across both.

Have a bite to eat or purchase a special gift to remember your Tayto Park experience in one of their many restaurants, shops or kiosks conveniently location throughout the park.

Ticket prices range from €12 - €35 per guest and the park is closed 21st – 31st December. They also offer favourable rates for group bookings.

Funtasia Waterpark

At 30,000 sq. ft. Funtasia Waterpark is one of Ireland’s largest indoor water parks. There are over 200 Water-based activities. From play Areas and toddlers’ areas to massive water slides, at Funtasia Waterpark there’s something for the whole family!

They are open every weekend throughout the year and daily during school holidays. Rates vary depending on the area or level of access you wish access, but they also offer favourable rates for themed grouped bookings.