Fantastic Family Days-Out
Spot wonderful wildlife, make a splash with some watersports, inspire little ones to become future GAA greats or spark the imaginations of your mini history buffs; the Royal Canal boasts buckets of family fun. Here are just a few to excite your delightful brood.
Have the craic at Croke Park
Inspiring sporting dreams in youngsters since 1891, a visit to Croke Park won't fail to captivate even the most fairweather GAA fan. Perched right along the canal, why not catch a thrilling game of Gaelic football, hurling or camogie at this iconic stadium? Simply check what fixtures are on and grab your family's seats at Ireland's most beloved pitch.
Of course, if you're visiting outside of GAA season, you can still explore this stunning sporting stage. Europe's third largest stadium, Croke Park holds an incredible 82,300 spectators – something the guided tour really give you a sense of. On the family 'Backstage Pass', get a sneak peek of the dressing rooms, experience the incredible view from the media centre, live it up in the VIP area, discover how the grass stays so green and of course, follow in the footsteps of your heroes by walking through the players' tunnel onto the pitch itself.
Show the kids just how GAA grew to be an integral part of Irish life by taking a step back in time at the superb on-site GAA Museum. A compelling celebration of Gaelic games from the GAA's foundation to the present day, the exhibition also gets you a step closer to victory – by showcasing the original Sam Maguire and Liam MacCarthy Cups. Don't forget to test your hurling and football skills in the fun interactive games zone too – this is where you'll discover if youth or experience has the advantage!
Croke Park also hosts seasonal kids events, such as Creepy Creator Halloween tours and visits from the man in red, at the festive Santa experience. Which begs the question, which county does Santa Claus support? You'll have to visit to find out!
And if all of that wasn't enough? It's time for your Croke Park family experience to simply soar – on the unforgettable Kellogg's Skyline Tour! An astonishing 17-storey-high rooftop walkway, this is Dublin's highest open-viewing platform. Up there on the top of Ireland's national stadium, the whole family will be treated to awe-inspiring views of the capital, the pitch and even the resplendent Royal Canal itself.
A perfect day of pedalling and paddling
Embrace some adrenaline-fuelled fun alongside, or even on the water itself. There are few better ways for all ages to explore the Royal Canal than with a paddle in hand or some pedals at your feet.
At locks six (Cabra) and eight (Ashtown), you'll find a choice of kayaking and water polo fun for your gang to dive into. Or if your family prefer discoveries on dry land, simply rent a bike and cycle the canal's length all the way to the Castleknock city limit. Along the way you'll spin by the likes of Drumcondra, Phibsborough, Glasnevin, Cabra, Ashtown and more, finding plenty of places to suit everyone's appetite if you stop for a bite.
Whichever way you choose to explore the Royal Canal's waters and towpath, keep an eye out for examples of the area's abundant biodiversity. From tufted ducks to mute swans, marvellous moorhens to lively otters; not to mention its array of coarse fish, you'll find the canal's 'wildlife corridor' is home to many special creatures. The canal's plantlife is exceptional too, with silver birch, hawthorn trees, butterfly bushes, irises, poppies and meadowsweet all peppering the banks.
Ireland's great and good in Glasnevin
Fascinate the family with the fact that some 1.5 million people are buried at Glasnevin Cemetery, the stories of many you'll discover on an intriguing visit. Only a 10-minute walk or four-minute cycle from the canal at Cross Guns Bridge, this is so much more than a graveyard. As the largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland, this Dublin 9 plot has been the final resting place of the great and the good of Irish life since 1832.
A veritable who's who of Irish politics, culture and sport, just some of the well-known figures laid to rest there include: Singer and Dubliner, Luke Kelly; poet and playwright, Brendan Behan; lyricist of the national anthem and, incidentally, uncle to Brendan Behan, Peadar Kearney; former President and Taoiseach, Éamon de Valera; revolutionary and politician, Michael Collins; and Manchester United footballer, Billy Whelan. With so many fascinating figures associated with the cemetery, a guided tour of its leafy 19th-century grounds is an absolute must.
At the interactive Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, young imaginations will be easily captured by stories of the cemetery's origins, including macabre tales of grave-digging and even grave-robbing.
But the pièce de résistance? The tallest round tower in the country! Recently re-opened after a 27-year restoration, O'Connell Tower is very special indeed. Built to commemorate the life of one of Ireland's most beloved political figures, Daniel O'Connell – The Liberator, this 55-metre granite tower stands above the great man's tomb. O'Connell's final words, "My body to Ireland, my heart to Rome, my soul to heaven" are beautifully-inscribed on the walls of his crypt, at the tower's base.
Today, you can visit the crypt and even limber up those legs to climb the stairs to the tower's top. Once you've reached the summit, you'll all be astounded by the breathtaking 360-degree views over Meath, Dublin, Wicklow and even the Irish Sea. The cherry on top to a great family day out!
Find more ways to explore Dublin Canals, check out our Highlights section.