For the vast majority of schools across Ireland, the Easter holidays have commenced and for many families it’s time to finalise what plans for the kids over the two week Easter vacation.
Luckily in the lead up to Easter Sunday and on the day itself, there are a multitude of themed Easter events suitable for the whole family taking place throughout Ireland.
Cork
Easter Egg Trail at Fota House
Friday and Saturday, 3rd & 4th April.
Alice in Wonderland comes to Fota House as the gardens will be transformed into an enchanting wonderland for this year’s Easter fun to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s classic.
Children will follow the map around the gardens taking them down the rabbit hole, visit the Queen’s croquet ground, take a picture at the tree of mirrors, run the caucus race and ponder which road to take at the many crossroads, ending at the amazing Mad Hatters Tea Party in the Victorian Frameyard Garden.
Easter Egg Hunt with the Irish Guide Dogs
Monday, 6th April.
The crew at Irish Guide Dogs on the Model Farm Road in Cork will have a tricky egg hunt laid on for the kids, not to mention that your little ones will get to take a tour of the kennels on the day too.
Admission is €5 for children and €2 for adults.
Dublin
Cadbury Easter Egg Trail in Merrion Square
Easter Saturday (4th April)
Family tickets are priced at €20 with all proceeds going to the charity Barnardos and can be purchased on eastereggtrail.com.
The Big Barracks Egg Hunt @ Collins Barracks
Easter Sunday
Can you follow the trail and test your knowledge to find the golden egg? Complete the trail to receive an egg-cellent edible reward! No booking required.
Hunt for Easter Eggs at Croke Park
Wednesday to Monday (1st – 6th April)
Join the staff of the GAA Museum on a special guided tour of Croke Park Stadium in the run-up to Easter where you will have to follow the clues and find the tokens to collect your Easter Eggs!
Go behind the scenes at Croke Park for some Easter madness – tickets cost €8.50 per child.
Easter Egg Challenge at Farmleigh House, Phoenix Park
Easter Sunday
Farmleigh House have a massive day of fun planned for Easter Sunday, but if it’s egg hunts you’re after – this could be the most challenging yet.
Pick up your challenge sheet from the Easter Wonderland Art tent and get on your way, before dropping off your completed forms to be in with a chance to nab some delicious eggs.
Galway
Easter Egg Hunt at Brigit’s Garden
Sunday and Monday, 5th and 6th April.
The popular annual Easter Egg Hunt is back for another year. Everyone has fun and every child gets a prize of mini-eggs and a home-made Easter cookie!
And to cater for all ages, there will be a longer treasure hunt around the nature trail for older children and a shorter one around the gardens for younger ones and you can start any time over the specified times on the two days.
Meath
The Tayto Park Easter Scavenger Hunt
Sunday, 5th April.
Every child who takes part will receive an Easter egg once they have completed the questions dotted throughout the park – normal entry prices apply, there is no extra charge for the hunt.
Kildare
Easter Egg Hunt at Lullymore House
Saturday, 4th April, to Friday, 10th April.
Join the Easter Bunny to find all the clues, solve Easter Bunny’s puzzle and collect your egg.
There will be plenty of prizes of larger eggs each afternoon in the Funky Forest Indoor Play area for everybody who has done the Egg Hunt.
Mayo
Easter Eggstravaganza at Westport House
Easter Sunday
The annual egg hunt kicks off on Easter Sunday with Pinkie the Rabbit keeping an eye on proceedings.
The first 500 children to compete will receive an egg at the finish and every family who completes the hunt will be entered to win hampers, day passes and 2015 memberships.
There is no additional charge for the Easter Egg Hunt – it is included in regular admission prices to Westport House & Pirate Adventure Park.
Westmeath
Easter Treasure Hunt at Belvedere House
Sunday and Monday, 5th & 6th April.
This year you will have to follow and solve the clues to complete the Easter Treasure Hunt, collecting prizes along the way from some colourful characters including the Easter Bunny. Normal entry prices apply and you can book online now.
Wexford
Easter Egg Hunt at the Irish National Heritage Park
Friday and Saturday, 3rd & 4th April.
The Easter Bunny is appealing to children to bring their explorer and detective skills to the Irish National Heritage Park for the Annual Easter Egg Hunt.
Admission is €5 per child and families should allow two hours to complete the hunt.
Easter Egg Hunt at Irish Agricultural Museum
Saturday, 28th March, and Monday, 6th April, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Will you be able to find all the eggs hidden around the Museum and Gardens? This year there will be a choice of either an indoor hunt around the Museum or an outdoor one around the Castle Gardens.
You will get a clue sheet to help you find the eggs and all children completing a hunt will receive a chocolate Easter egg prize. It will cost €4 per child per egg hunt or €3 for kids under 5.