Historic Drogheda
Drogheda Museum Millmount
Imagine your kids’ excitement as you point to the fort on the hill for your next adventure. Millmount Cultural Quarter towers above Medieval Drogheda is home to Drogheda Museum Millmount, where you’ll explore Ireland’s fascinating past. Climb to the top and the whole family can enjoy the 360 degree views.
Kids love the guided tours where they’ll see the soldier’s uniforms, weapons and armour. The Folk Kitchen exhibition invites them to imagine a world before modern conveniences and see how people used to live before electricity and supermarkets. There’s also a café and artisan food centre within the fort and an art gallery and craft shop for the grownups.
Old Mellifont Abbey
While you’re in Drogheda, head a few minutes out of town for a stop at Old Mellifont Abbey. Young and old alike can add to their historical knowledge and learn about the work of masons in the Middle Ages. Old Mellifont Abbey was once the home of one hundred monks and three hundred lay brothers. See examples of the mason’s craft at the Visitor Centre, before taking a tour of the beautifully preserved abbey ruins. There’s great space around the buildings to take some family photos and let the children loose to play.
The Louth coast
Forge Field Farm Shop
Take a break to feed hungry bellies at local favourite, Forge Field Farm Shop in Termonfeckin, just a few minutes away. This kid-friendly spot includes a coffee shop, grocery store, butchers and garden centre.
Fish and Chips at Clogherhead Beach
Just up the road, visit the pretty fishing village of Clogherhead, with its uninterrupted views of the Cooley and Mourne Mountains and blue flag beach. After a quick dip or a refreshing beach walk, enjoy some seaside delights caught by the owners' own fishing boat at the town’s famous mobile chip van, Fisherman’s Catch.
Port Beach
Further up the coast, Port Beach is a secluded, hidden gem with a wide sandy shore and mature dunes, perfect for picnics and playing. Another Blue Flag Awarded beach, the water is ideal for a swim and, on a clear day, you can see right across to the Mourne Mountains.
Stephenstown Pond and Nature Park
Another great picnic spot is just half an hour up the road at Stephenstown Pond Nature Park. The kids can feed the swans and ducks and run around the playground, while you enjoy the home baking at The Dairy Maid Coffee Shop in an old 19th century cottage.
Incredible Carlingford
Carlingford Adventure Centre and Skypark
Continue north to the shores of beautiful Carlingford Lough and book a day of fun for the family at Carlingford Adventure Centre. Whatever ages your children are, this is one of the best things to do with kids in Louth. If the weather’s fine, try kayaking, or water trampolining. If you’d prefer to stay dry, head to Skypark, Ireland’s biggest adventure park for ziplining, footgolf or aerial challenges over wobbly bridges and tree houses.
Carlingford’s scenic ferry
From there, take the scenic Carlingford Ferry across the lough from Greenore to Greencastle in County Down. The kids will get a kick out of driving on to a boat for the 15 minutes crossing and the panoramic views of the Cooley Peninsula from across the lake will take your breath away. Crossings are every hour - come straight back or take a drive around the beautiful Mourne Mountains first.
Leprechaun and Fairy Cavern
While you’re in Carlingford, Ireland’s last Leprechaun Whisperer McCoillte will welcome you to the underground Leprechaun and Fairy Cavern. Legend has it that a Leprechaun suit with four gold coins in the pocket was found on Foy mountain in 1989.
A sceptical McCoillte set out to prove that Leprechauns did not exist but, to his astonishment, he met one of the last of 236 leprechauns in Ireland. On his famous leprechaun hunts, locals search for 100 ceramic leprechauns with money underneath. Now, an underground cavern connects two old tunnels - one linked with the fairy glen in Rostrevor, Co. Down and the other with Foy mountain – reputedly the home of Ireland's last remaining leprechauns.
From leprechaun hunting to aerial adventuring in the forest, let their imaginations run wild in county Louth. Head to the Louth destination page for even more incredible things to do with kids in Louth.