Set in over 240 acres of picturesque Kildare countryside Abbeyfield Farm is Irelands leader in country pursuits. Visitors can try their hand at clay pigeon shooting, archery, target rifle shooting and horse riding. Whether a first timer or more accomplished and looking for a challenge, expert tutors are on hand to ensure you make the most of your visit.

Let us show you the Kildare countryside the best way possible, on horse back. Whether you’re a first timer or experienced rider we will fill your requirements. For the shooting enthusiast, beginner or seasoned shooter, our state of the art range will suit your needs with expert tuition included.

Less than 20 minutes drive from Dublins M50, corporate bookings and groups welcome. Booking essential.

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Their activities include an 8 lanes ten pin Bowling Alley, a brand new Space Themed Mini Golf Course, massive Soft Play Centre, one of the biggest prize-winning Amusement Arcades in Ireland and an delicious American Style restaurant where you can enjoy tasty food and drinks before or after your activities.

Soft Play Centre – their massive soft play centre is packed with oodles for fun for your little ones to enjoy!  It covers multiple levels with slides, crawl tubes, rope courses, learn and play areas and lots of other fun activities for your child to enjoy!

Bowling – At Airtastic there is 8 bowling lanes so you’ll be bowled over with joy! There is gutter guards and guiding aids so people of all ages and abilities can score some strikes!

Mini Golf – Have a blast at their spaced themed mini golf course! Over the course of 18 holes you will go on a voyage through the galaxies taking in fun challenges and spectacular surroundings. It’s a hole lot of fun!

Amusement Arcade – Enjoy lots of fun in the amusement arcades. Play to get tickets and exchange them for fun prizes! There is games for all ages and abilities to enjoy, from the arcade classics to the latest VR! it’s the biggest play for prizes amusements arcade in  Ireland so it’s definitely not to be missed!

Laser tag – Get ready to fight the rebel gangs across ruined streets and toppled buildings in the “Battle for New York” laser tag. You’ll be split into teams or individuals as you battle it out in a state-of-the-art arena with interactive bases, equipped with cutting-edge laser technology. Suitable for ages 6 to 106 and is as much fun for all age ranges.

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The Studio’s mission is to provide a space that will inspire and support your creative process. They believe in unlocking the creative within each and every one of us. Whether you’re a professional looking for new inspiration, a brand new student hoping to learn a thing or two about art, or if you’re simply interested in picking up a new hobby, Ballymore Eustace Art Studio is there to welcome you, join in Studio or online.

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Staying aboard a barge on the calm waters of the historic Grand Canal is a unique experience. The movement is very gentle and you can expect a wonderful night’s sleep. The Roisin Dubh Houseboat was designed for living and is ideal for families, groups of friends and couples looking for a romantic getaway. Its also a great base for exploring Irelands Ancient East or Day tripping to Dublin.

Sallins is where trade on the Grand Canal first began when passenger and cargo barges started hauling their horse drawn loads between the small Kildare village and Dublin in 1780.

Spending a night on a barge isn’t something you do everyday. But whether it’s a family day out, a work-do, a celebration or just because, this is something everyone can enjoy – and there’s a bar on board!

Ger Loughlin from BargeTrip.ie spent 15 years cruising the canals and is the skipper responsible for bringing this unique experience to us.

“Myself and my family lived on a barge for a good few years so we know what an adventure it is. We only moved back to land when the kids started getting older,” Ger said.

“Staying overnight on a barge is just like a night in an apartment and as well as stopping off for a tipple along the way, you’ve your own bar on board. There’s room for up to six people on the overnight barge and as a destination, Sallins has it all.

“There’s good food, people, a micro brewery and you can jump on a train from Dublin and be here in 25 minutes.”

One of the stops along the way is Lough 13, a local pub on the Grand Canal in Sallins which is a firm favourite of Ger’s – not only do they brew their own beer but they have a tasty menu to go with it.

Kildare boasts 120km’s of canals lined with picture postcard scenery. Life slows to a walking pace when cruising the once watery highways of Ireland so get ready for some serious rest&relaxation.

Barge trips down the canal are just as popular with the locals as they are with visitors and tickets are now available in the tourist office in Dublin.

“70% of our passengers would come from Kildare/Meath/Dublin and 30% are international. Everyone is welcome here,” said Ger.

Crawling along at 5km p/h, sipping a glass of locally brewed beer, it’s hard to imagine the thousands of boats and lives that occupied these canals right up until the 1960s.

Tickets and prices are available via BargeTrip.

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Admire the workings of locks, learn of life on the canal, of the heavy horses that ruled the towpaths on a two-and-a-half-hour morning cruise to Digby Lock. The Leinster Aqueduct is a one-hour cruise suitable for all ages with a visit to the aqueduct which carries the Grand Canal over the River Liffey. Or enjoy a one and a half hour evening cruise passing through the quiet countryside to McCreevy’s Lock.

Individual tickets are available for scheduled cruises, and the barge can be chartered for private hire for groups of up to 12 people. Cruises operate from Sallins Harbour, which is only 30 minutes from Dublin city center by train and is located just off the M7 motorway. This restored traditional canal barge has a spacious interior with a wood-burning stove, outdoor seating, toilet facilities, and a bar on board. Combine your cruise with a meal in one of the waterfront restaurants in Sallins.

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Here are some of the fantastic prizes that you can win at Bord Bia Bloom 2024!

Here is everything you need to know about attending Bord Bia Bloom 2024!

Get ready for Bord Bia Bloom 2024, Ireland’s most anticipated gardening and lifestyle festival, hosted in the vibrant city of Dublin. This year, Bord Bia is pulling out all the stops to ensure an unforgettable experience, and Into Kildare is thrilled to be part of it.

When is Bord Bia Bloom?

The next Bord Bia Bloom festival is scheduled to hold from Thursday, 30^th May to Monday, 3rd June 2024. This extended five-day event promises to showcase the best of Irish horticulture, innovative garden design, and world-class food and entertainment.

Join Us at the Grand Pavilion, Stand D9

Meet the Into Kildare team at our stand, where you can participate in exciting competitions and connect with members of the Kildare Tourism Trade.

What can you expect at Bord Bia Bloom?

On arrival at the Phoenix Park, prepare to be transported to a fascinating world of stunning gardens, award-winning designs, and breathtaking floral displays. Bloom is a one-stop event where you can explore a wide variety of gardens, from contemporary, eco-friendly, and sustainable designs to show gardens that showcase the best of farm-to-fork cuisine in Ireland. The festival is also an opportunity to sample local food, and enjoy the bustling market area filled with arts and crafts, pottery, garden tools, and handmade jewellery.

Tickets

Tickets for Bord Bia Bloom 2023 will be available for purchase online a few months before the festival. Day passes, weekend passes, and family passes will all be available for purchase at varying prices. You can also save a few euros by purchasing tickets online, usually at a discounted rate compared to buying at the gate. Don’t forget that children under sixteen years can attend for free. (up to 2 children per adult, additional child tickets are priced at €5).

Getting to the Phoenix Park

The Phoenix Park is one of Dublin’s famous landmarks, and it’s easily accessible. There are several transportation options to the Park and ample on-site parking for visitors. Phoenix park can be accessed via the Dublin Luas (the tram system) and the Phoenix Park Shuttle Bus.

Kildare Exhibitors at Bloom Festival

Bord Bia Bloom is renowned for its stunning show gardens, and this year is no exception. Here are some highlights:

• The Sustainable Paradise: This garden focuses on eco-friendly practices, showcasing how beautiful and practical sustainability can be.
• Brigid 1500 Commemorative Garden: Marking the 1500th anniversary of St. Brigid’s death, this garden recreates the simplicity of a sixth-century garden and pays tribute to the patron saint.
• Sculpture in the Park Large Show Garden: This feature garden takes you on an imaginative journey along crisscrossed paths rich in wonder and color.

Bord Bia Bloom is a must-attend event for all gardening enthusiasts, families, and tourists who are visiting Ireland. With a vast array of things to explore, from the dazzling gardens, award-winning designs and exceptional cuisine, Bord Bia Bloom ensures a fantastic experience. Start planning for your visit to Bord Bia Bloom 2024, where you will discover everything from the latest garden trends to world-class food and entertainment. Keep an eye out for the Into Kildare team at this years Bord Bia Bloom 2024!

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 Highlights include: 

• Outdoor spaces | mini zoo | 3 playgrounds | picnic areas | football pitch | astro pitch | zipline | mini golf | BBQ areas | fairy trail | bouncy castle
• Indoor spaces | cafe |gift shop | education centre | indoor soft play | birthday party rooms
• Family friendly events | Halloween | Easter | Christmas

Booking is advised to avoid disappointment, click here to visit their website and book in now!

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There are many historical features, including the remains of the castle, walled gardens, church, tower, ice house, boat house and Lime Tree Avenue. There is also a lake with ducks and other birds and a wonderful display of water lilies in the summer.

Coillte have partnered with HiiKER, and you can download the app with detailed information on Donadea Forest Park at this link: HiiKER App Donadea Forest Park.

With a choice of nature trails and different forest walks, including the 5km Aylmer loop and wheelchair-accessible Lake Walk, this is a superb amenity for a family day out. After your walk, relax with a hot drink and tasty snack in the café in the forest park which is open throughout the year. The forest park also contains the 9/11 Memorial, inspired by the memory of Sean Tallon, a young firefighter whose family had emigrated from Donadea. Donadea also has 3 permanent orienteering courses; download the map links here.

There is a €5 charge to access the car park, which has a new cashless payment system. Please note: Toilet facilities are only available during café opening hours. Cafe opens 9am-5pm (Mon-Fri) and 10am-5pm (Sat & Sun). 

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Pick up the EZxploring Map Game in Athy Library, Athy Heritage Centre & Shackleton Museum, Clanard Court Hotel, Kilkea Castle or any of the restaurants, bars and cafés around Athy. And get Ready, Steady, Go!

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Nowhere better symbolizes all that is great about County Kildare, the beating heart of Ireland’s thoroughbred industry, than the Irish National Stud & Gardens, a unique attraction of outstanding natural beauty that is home to some of the most magnificent horses and sumptuous gardens to be found anywhere in the world and of course the Irish Racehorse Experience, a world first immersive attraction new for 2021.

Open from February to December the Irish National Stud & Gardens offers something for everyone. With daily Guided Tours of the Stud farm, the world-famous Japanese Gardens, wild St Fiachra’s Garden and home of Living Legends – some of Ireland’s most famous racehorses (Faugheen, Beef or Salmon, Hurricane Fly, Kicking King, Hardy Eustace and Rite Of Passage are all in retirement at the Stud).

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