Animal attractions for all the family to enjoy this Easter
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Just a five-minute drive from the seaside village of Ardmore, in a picturesque setting overlooking the beautiful Whiting Bay, this farm and mini zoo has more than enough to keep the family occupied for hours. There is a huge range of animals, including barn owls, alpacas and ponies of all shapes and sizes. Get up close and personal with some real-life Easter bunnies in the shape of the resident Flemish giant rabbits. There is also a host of animals at the more exotic end of the spectrum, among them meerkats, emus and porcupines. Grab a coffee and tire out the kids with activities including karts, toy tractors, indoor and outdoor playgrounds and mechanical diggers.
A firm family favourite for decades, the farm operated by the Donkey Sanctuary outside Liscarroll village is home to 150 donkeys and mules. The farm has a series of scenic walkways where you can take a stroll and meet its delightful residents before taking some time out in the picnic area. Admission is free but as a charity, it welcomes donations to help support its work.
It would be hard to find a more perfect Easter treat after you have tucked into your chocolate eggs than cuddling a baby bunny or chick at this pet farm in the lovely surroundings of the Nore Valley. You can also bottle-feed lambs and goats as well as learning about the traditions of farming. Top it all off with a cup of tea and a home-baked scone from the farm shop.
Tír na Sí is a family-run working farm which aims to emphasise self-sufficiency and sustainable living. The farm features mainly indigenous breeds, as well as rescue animals. It is also a nature-lover’s paradise, featuring wildflower meadows and a woodland area. On the nature trails, you may even spot fox dens and rabbit burrows as well as frogspawn in the pond. All with beautiful views of the Galtee, Knockmealdown and Nagle Mountains.
It’s hard to beat the majesty of birds of prey in action. Situated at the popular Aillwee Caves attraction, against the backdrop of the dramatic Burren landscape, this centre hosts a raptor collection and also entertains visitors with scheduled flying displays from eagles, falcons, hawks and owls. To make the most of it, book a ticket for the caves, an experience which lives long in many childhood memories.
This much-loved open farm outside Cork is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt this year, which includes farm entry and the all-important chocolate treat. Meet and feed the animals kept on this traditional working farm, including cows, pigs, goats and chickens. Tractor fans will love the collection of memorabilia and machinery from the 1950s which are also on display. All that fresh air is sure to leave you with an appetite, and you can sample farm-fresh food at the Haystack Restaurant.
For those who are curious about animals of a less furry and more slimy nature, take a trip to Ireland’s only reptile zoo. The zoo holds animal encounter sessions every hour during busier times, giving visitors the chance to hold or touch some of the more people-friendly residents, including iguanas and snakes.
This attraction is the ideal companion to a trip to the nearby seaside town of Tramore and is also a destination in its own right. The family-run farm is home to more than 100 animals, from large to small, including rabbits and guinea pigs. The sand barn and playground are always popular, while there is a go-kart track for older kids.
Located in an ancient rainforest, Wild Ireland offers sanctuary to animals that have been exploited or abused in laboratories, circuses, unregulated zoos or by the illegal pet trade. Visitors can take a step back in time and see animals including brown bears, wolves, lynx, and wild boar, who have flourished in a safe and natural environment. Rabbits, foxes and deer also feature, as well as other more unusual species such as Barbary macaques.
A day out in this long-established aquarium is a tried and trusted, and weather-proof, outing. Kids are also endlessly fascinated by the weird and wonderful creatures of the deep. There’s a wealth of exotic sea dwellers, including seahorses, puffer fish, piranha — and of course, for fans of the classic Finding Nemo, the clownfish. It’s always impressive to see a shark up close, even if the species featured here is not quite of the Jaws variety — the critically endangered Sand Tiger shark is, despite appearances, rather docile. At the other end of the scale, the butterfly encounter is also due to reopen at Easter.
All the favourites, including cows, horses and rabbits, are present and correct at this farm near the famous Cliffs of Moher. Beware of cuteness overload though from the miniature donkeys and pygmy goats to the adorable and super-friendly Kune Kune pigs, Hamlet and Paddy, who love to spend time with humans.
No list of animal attractions would be complete without the legendary Fota Island Wildlife Park. Tigers, giraffes, penguins, red pandas, even kangaroos, as well as those perennial favourites, the meerkats — all animal life is here, in habitats that are designed to enhance biodiversity and encourage natural behaviour. Top it all off with the more traditional feeding of the ducks.