Birr for Families
We love to welcome families at the County Arms and particularly love to see people we knew as kids coming back with kids of their own. But it’s no wonder they do as we have so much to offer, from super family rooms to special menus, and our fabulous leisure club that includes a 16-metre pool and dedicated children’s pool. But of course, kids love to be busy so we’ve compiled a list of great family activities for everyone to enjoy before coming home to the comfort of the County Arms and everything that has to offer. But if there’s anything you think we ‘ve left out, please ask at reception and we’ll do what we can to find just the activity that’s right for you.
Portumna Castle and Gardens
Less than half an hour’s drive from County Arms, Portumna Castle is a unique example of the transitional Irish architecture of the early 1600s. Built by the fourth earl of Clanricarde, it was the de Burgo family power base for centuries before a major fire in 1826 left the castle a roofless shell. In the 1960s, the state began to bring it back from ruin and restoration work continues to this day.
The castle has formal, geometrically-laid gardens to the north overlooking beautiful views of Lough Derg. The Willow Maze incorporates several different willow varieties and a central path lined with fruit trees which are underplanted with lavender. The 17th-century kitchen garden has been restored and organically planted with flowers, herbs, hollies, and vegetables.
The ground floor of the castle is open to the public and houses an exhibition on the history and restoration of the building and the de Burgo family with a virtual reality DVD presentation that helps bring the story to life.
Glendeer Pet Farm
Glendeer Pet Farm has something for all ages and is just 35 minutes from the County Arms by car. From the zipline, double obstacle course and mazes for bigger kids to the fairy trail, new hobbit villages, and barn and soft play area for smaller ones, and the fascinating 19802 restored cottages that everybody loves, you’ll never run out of things to do. And that’s before you get to the over 50 species of animals and the bag of food that every child gets to feed them with.
In case of bad weather there are plenty of facilities undercover including indoor farm pets, the indoor suspended play area and even a coffee shop.
The beautiful nature walk with its many twists and turns winds unexpectedly around each corner is less than half a mile long so it is more than manageable for most. The farm is wheelchair accessible although the nature walk can be difficult.
The Irish Workhouse Centre
If you can drag the kids away from the pool here at the County Arms, you’ll find a trip to the nearby Irish Workhouse Centre a great way to show them just how lucky they are in comparison to the many families that ended up in one of the 163 workhouses that operated in Ireland between the early 1840s to 1920s.
Taking about an hour, the tour starts in the only nice room in the house before moving on to the girls’ school for a video and short presentation detailing life in the workhouse. From there you will move on to see the girls' yard, women's dormitory block, matron's quarters and the laundry building. Feel free to ask questions of the guides as you go-they have a lot of interesting facts to tell you which will be useful when you set the kids the tour quiz at the end!
Go with the Flow–River Adventures
This family run, adventure activity centre offers affordable, guided canoe trails, canoe hire and canoe holidays on the beautiful Barrow river. No experience required – our adventures are available to complete beginners of all ages and abilities – but children should be 6 years or older and able to swim and be comfortable in the water. They will be wearing buoyancy aids.
On your day trip out from the County Arms you’ll be accompanied by experienced instructors who will guide you along the trails and show you how to shoot weirs and ride the rapids. You’ll passthrough dramatic landscapes, mysterious wooded valleys and old navigation routes once used by the famous Guinness barges. You can bring a picnic, visit the playground and take a swim in tranquil sheltered waters of scenic and remote pools.
Choose from trip types including Splash n Dash, High Kings Trail, Pilgrim Trail, Gores bridge to Graig, Family and Wild Camp Safari, Kilkenny to Bennets bridge and Bennets bridge to Inistioge.
Most of the adventures take place on the river Barrow in the Carlow and Kilkenny area. For these events you will meet in the village of Borris, Co. Carlow which is a handy 20-minute drive from the hotel here in Birr.
