Kids Activities in Kilkenny
Browse 33 kids activities and classes in Kilkenny. Popular categories in Kilkenny include Parent-and-toddler, Developmental, Football.
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Newpark Wildlife Farm
Tucked into the grounds of the Newpark Hotel on Kilkenny's Castlecomer Road, this small wildlife farm forms part of the hotel's family-focused Jurassic Newpark attraction alongside a dinosaur trail and fairy walk. Children can wander among llamas, alpacas, emus, Highland cattle, goats, sheep, ducks and guinea fowl in purpose-built enclosures, with feeding opportunities at set times during the day. It's a gentle, manageable stop rather than a full working farm — well suited to younger children who want to see and get close to animals without a long walk. Hotel guests can access the farm and wider Jurassic Newpark grounds freely with their room key, while day visitors pay a general admission covering the whole attraction rather than the wildlife farm alone. Opening hours shift with the school calendar and hotel season, running shorter hours on quieter days and longer, seven-day hours during school holidays, so it's worth checking ahead. Combined with the adjoining dinosaur trail and adventure playground, it makes for an easy half-day out for Kilkenny city families, especially when paired with a coffee or lunch at the hotel itself.
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Kilkenny Castle
Few Irish castles have been continuously occupied for as long as Kilkenny Castle, a Norman stronghold largely remodelled in Victorian times and now managed by the OPW as one of the country's most visited heritage sites. Inside, self-guided and guided tours take in restored state rooms and the Long Gallery, with an audio guide available for families who want to explore at their own pace. The real draw for kids, though, is often outside: fifty acres of rolling parkland with mature trees, a lake, and a formal terraced rose garden to wander through, plus several orienteering trails that turn a castle visit into a proper outdoor adventure. There's a playground on the grounds for younger children to burn off energy, and the parks and gardens themselves are free to enter year-round, separate from the ticketed castle interior. A tearoom on site serves light refreshments, and most of the castle and grounds are wheelchair accessible. Current exhibitions rotate regularly, with a networks-themed exhibition running recently. Whether it's a quick walk through the gardens or a full guided tour of the castle, Kilkenny Castle anchors a day out in one of Ireland's best-preserved medieval cities.
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The National Reptile Zoo
The National Reptile Zoo, based in Hebron Business Park just outside Kilkenny city, is Ireland's only dedicated reptile zoo and puts hands-on encounters at the heart of every visit. General admission includes a public Animal Encounter session where a keeper introduces guests to some of the resident snakes, lizards, tortoises and invertebrates, including long-time favourites like sulcata tortoise Sully. Beyond snakes and lizards, the collection extends to amphibians and insects, and the zoo runs an educational "Zoo To You" outreach programme that brings animals out to schools and events rather than only welcoming visitors in. It partners with conservation bodies including the Turtle Survival Alliance and the Kilkenny Biodiversity Action Group, and its education offering includes summer camps and STEAM-linked activities for school groups. On site, the Explorer's Mess café covers coffee, drinks and snacks, there's a gift shop, and free on-site parking with camper parking available on request. Open every day of the year bar the Christmas period, it makes for a distinctive, indoor-friendly alternative to the region's larger open-air parks, especially on a wet day.
View full details →Jurassic Newpark
Jurassic Newpark is a thrilling, family-friendly attraction where the age of dinosaurs roars back to life on an exciting outdoor adventure trail. Explore lush parkland filled with life-sized dinosaurs, including towering Brachiosauruses, roaring Tyrannosaurs, and cunning Velociraptors. Kids and grown-ups alike will love the immersive experience, with interactive displays, a fossil digging area, and scenic walking paths perfect for curious minds. But the prehistoric adventure doesn’t stop there. Families can meet modern-day farm animals, from lovable llamas to impressive emus, and wander the enchanting Fairy Trail to see tiny woodland fairy houses. Don’t miss Leafy, the friendly talking tree who teaches visitors all about the park’s animals. Young explorers can ride on a baby T-Rex, come face to face with its fearsome mother from the treetop walkway, whiz around the Go-Kart track, grab a bite at the Jurassic Snack Shack, and have a blast at the Prehistoric Playground. There’s plenty of ferocious fun to be had at Jurassic Newpark with brand NEW attractions for even more family excitement! Discover Ireland’s tallest Castle Playground, soar on the thrilling Flying Pterosaur Ride, hop aboard the Jurassic Express Train, and bounce to your heart’s content at Jurassic Bounce, one of Ireland’s biggest covered inflatable adventure parks. It’s the perfect blend of adventure and fun for unforgettable family days out and magical memories together.
View full details →Dramatic Action Stage School
Weekly classes in Palmerstown, Crumlin, Maynooth, Kilkenny, Greystones and Finglas. At Dramatic Action Stage School, our primary goal is to nurture students' self-assurance and cultivate creative skills, while also fostering lasting friendships. Our curriculum encompasses an array of drama, singing, and dance styles, aiming to instill a profound appreciation for the arts in all its expressions. Our exceptional training has led our students to exciting opportunities, with appearances in feature films, television shows, and professional theatre productions. Every student gets their opportunity in the spotlight at our annual end-of-year showcase, uniting talents from tots to teens each June in a professional theatrical setting.
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Droichead FRC Parent & Toddler Group
Community parent and toddler group offering informal weekly playtime and social contact for local parents, carers and young children, held at Old CBS, West Street, Callan, Kilkenny.
View full details →Kilkenny Karate Club
Active JSKA karate club with public training videos; confirm current junior timetable before booking.
View full details →Barnstorm Youth Theatre
Weekly youth theatre Sep-Jun, ages ~10-18 (Junior/Intermediate/Senior groups).
View full details →Starburst School of Speech & Drama
Recurring speech & drama from preschool/ECCE to 6th class; Irish Board exams; Easter camps. Founded 2014.
View full details →Rugbytots - Kilkenny College
Rugbytots rugby classes for ages 2 to 5 years at Kilkenny College, Saturday. Run by Rugbytots Ireland.
View full details →Water Babies - Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel
Structured baby and toddler swimming lessons run by Water Babies, a UK-founded swim school franchise, progressing from parent-and-baby water confidence through to independent swimming skills for 4+ year olds, taught by SWIM England-qualified instructors in a heated pool (29-32C depending on age group).
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Little Kickers County Laois, Carlow & Kilkenny
Structured pre-school football classes focused on building confidence, coordination and social skills in a fun, pressure-free environment, led by specially trained coaches.
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Little Kickers County Laois, Carlow & Kilkenny
Structured pre-school football classes focused on building confidence, coordination and social skills in a fun, pressure-free environment, led by specially trained coaches.
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Krav Maga Kilkenny - Classes for Kids
Krav Maga Kilkenny runs a kids' class for ages 6 to 11 focused on confidence, discipline and practical anti-bullying skills, with sessions available in Kilkenny on Mondays and Wednesdays, or in Clonmel on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Krav Maga's practical, no-nonsense approach to self-defence is adapted here for a younger audience, prioritising awareness and confidence-building alongside physical technique. Monthly membership runs from €30 to €50, with the choice of two locations giving families in either town a convenient class night.
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Dancewise Academy - Kilkenny & Castlecomer
Dancewise Academy teaches dance and drama to children aged 4 and up across two venues: Dancewise Studios in Kilkenny on Tuesdays, and Castlecomer Community Hall on Wednesdays. Combining dance and drama in the same programme gives children exposure to both movement-based and performance skills, useful preparation for anyone interested in musical theatre down the line. Running classes in both Kilkenny and Castlecomer means families across a wider catchment area have a local session to choose from.
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Kilkenny Academy of Dance
Kilkenny Academy of Dance, based at the Smithlands Centre on Bohernatounish Road in Kilkenny Town, teaches ISTD ballet, contemporary/modern and jazz to children from age 3 upward. The academy also runs a dedicated boys' hip hop class, offering an alternative style and a same-gender group setting for boys who might be less drawn to the traditional dance styles. Summer camps run during school holidays, giving children an intensive dance-focused week outside the regular term-time schedule.
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Art It Kilkenny - Studio Art Classes
Art It Kilkenny runs term-based studio art classes covering a wide age range, from 4 up to 18, split across three distinct classes through the week. Saturday Fun Art is aimed at ages 6-12, Thursday Fun Drawing at 8-13, and Friday Painting & Perspective is pitched at older students aged 9-18 wanting more technical, perspective-focused work. Having classes spread across different days and skill levels means children can find a slot and style — playful drawing, structured art, or a more advanced painting focus — that suits where they're at.
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Kilkenny Juvenile Fight Club
Kilkenny Juvenile Fight Club runs Saturday kickboxing sessions for children and teens aged 6 to 16 at Kilkenny Combat Academy in the Hebron Industrial Estate, from 11am to 12:30pm. The single weekly slot works well for families looking for a structured but not overly time-intensive martial arts commitment, covering kickboxing technique, fitness and discipline in one longer session. New members can try their first class for free, with ongoing membership priced at €20 per month.
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Kilkenny Gymnastics Academy
Kilkenny Gymnastics Academy offers a broad range of gymnastics programmes, starting with Mini Gym for children aged 3.5 to 5 and progressing through recreational and competitive streams as children get older. Beyond core gymnastics, the academy also runs trampolining classes and GymABLE, a disability-inclusive programme designed to make gymnastics accessible to a wider range of children. Having this range under one roof means children can move between streams — recreational, competitive, trampolining or GymABLE — as their interests and abilities develop, without having to change club.
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Ready to Play
In County Kilkenny, Ready to Play's Dundaryark classes bring child development experts and teachers together with local families for a weekly play and music session. Themes rotate throughout the year - the rainforest, under the sea, circus skills and more - with over 30 to explore in total. Sessions split into Baby classes (newborn to pre-walkers) and Walkers-Toddlers Play & Music (pre-walkers to 3.5 years), giving parents and caregivers a chance to build friendships locally while their children explore and socialise. 5 sessions cost €70.
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Ready Steady Play South East
In Co. Kilkenny, Ready Steady Play and Music holds its classes at Danesfort, one stop on a South East circuit that also runs in Waterford, Dungarvan and Wexford. The programme is built around play, music and movement for children from newborn up to primary school age. Sensory Baby Play and Music is aimed at newborns through to pre-walkers, while Toddler Play and Music suits walkers to preschoolers, with a new weekly theme supporting social, emotional, cognitive, physical and language development. Play educators lead each session, and classes are also a chance for parents and caregivers to meet and connect locally. A 5-week term costs 72.50 euro. See www.ready2play.ie for bookings.
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Little Kickers County Laois, Carlow and Kilkenny
In Kilkenny, on Upper New Street, Little Kickers offers football sessions for toddlers and young children, part of the franchise's County Laois, Carlow and Kilkenny coverage. Age groups run in sequence through the morning — Little Kickers (1.5-2.5 years) at 9am, Junior Kickers (2.5-3.5 years) at 10am, and Mighty Kickers (3.5-5 years) at 11am — all indoors, so sessions aren't weather-dependent. Parents and family are welcome to stay and encourage their child throughout; just bring comfortable runners and a drink for the break. Joining costs €29 for kit and insurance, with €50 due monthly after that.
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The Wriggles and Giggles
Alongside its Carlow classes, The Wriggles and Giggles also runs baby and toddler sensory sessions in Kilkenny, for children from newborn through to age three. Sessions are led by the class teacher and combine singing, rhymes and dancing with stimulating light displays, hands-on sensory 'touch' experiences, a brief photo opportunity, and free play using Montessori toys. Pricing is €15 per class, payable as you go rather than in a fixed block. Check The Wriggles and Giggles' Instagram page for the current Kilkenny venue, day and time, as locations can move around.
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Swimtastic.ie
At its Kilkenny pool, Swimtastic.ie offers swimming lessons for children from a few months old right through to their early teens, one of several Midlands venues alongside Laois, Carlow and Kildare. Small class sizes and warm, child-friendly water are used throughout to keep lessons comfortable for the youngest swimmers. The youngest babies join Parent and Child or Baby Swim (3-12 months) sessions focused on bonding and water confidence, while Toddler Swim (1-3 years) and Preschool Swim (3-5 years) build on this with play-based safety skills, independence and breath control in small groups. Junior Swim (5 years+) is the stage where children swim without a parent alongside them, working on stroke technique and stamina. Pricing varies - contact Swimtastic directly for current rates and available class times in Kilkenny.
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Woodkids Forest School
Woodkids Forest School brings child-led outdoor play to the woods at Jenkinstown, Co. Kilkenny, for children from around 18 months up to five years, each accompanied by a parent or carer. Groups meet on Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 11.30am for games, nature crafts, hammock time, balancing on ropes and storytelling, led by a qualified Forest School Leader. A term runs for four to six weeks and costs €60. Children should come dressed for the outdoors in waterproofs, warm layers and long sleeves and trousers; non-walking younger siblings can tag along free of charge. The path is buggy and wheelchair accessible, with toilets at the park entrance, though dogs aren't permitted at sessions.
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The Wonder Years Play & Mindfulness
The Wonder Years Play & Mindfulness runs a four-week block of messy play classes in Kilkenny for children aged roughly 9 months to 4 years old. Classes take place at The Scouts Den in Kilkenny, usually on Friday mornings from 10.30-11.30am, and are structured term by term rather than as drop-in sessions. A four-week term costs €60, with a discounted €45 sibling rate available when booked alongside a full-price child ticket. Follow The Wonder Years Play & Mindfulness on social media for upcoming term dates - the group also runs separate tummy time sessions for younger babies in County Laois.
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Newpark Kilkenny - Baby & Toddler Group
Newpark Parent and Toddler Group has been meeting in Kilkenny for over 25 years, giving babies and toddlers up to age five a relaxed space to play while parents and childminders catch up over tea and coffee. Sessions run every Tuesday from 10.30am to 12pm during term time at Kilkenny Presbyterian Church on New Road, with toys, story time, music time and a snack break built into the morning. The group is popular, so booking a place in advance through the group's website is recommended. It's free to attend, and open to anyone caring for a young child in the Kilkenny area.
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Mooncoin Kilkenny - Baby & Toddler Group
Mooncoin Parent and Toddler Group meets upstairs in the GAA Complex on Polerone Road, Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny, every Tuesday from 10am to 12pm during term time. Babies and toddlers have toys to play with while parents and carers catch up, and the group marks festive occasions through the year with special activities. Special visitors, such as Mini Musos, occasionally drop in for extra fun. Cost is €5 per family. Contact 086 254 6317 for more details, and keep an eye on social media for restart dates after school holidays.
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Inistioge Kilkenny - Baby & Toddler Group
Inistioge Parent and Toddler Group meets upstairs at Cois Abhann Community Centre on Church Street, Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny, every Tuesday from 10am to 12pm during term time. Children from newborn to five have plenty of room to run around, along with arts and crafts, storytime, songs and sensory play sessions. Parents and carers can drop in for a coffee and a chat, with no need to book ahead. The group also puts on festive events for occasions like Halloween and Christmas. Cost is €2 per family. Contact 087 321 1926 for more information.
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Gentle Beginnings Baby Massage Kilkenny
Gentle Beginnings Baby Massage runs at The Smithland Centre in Loughboy, Kilkenny, taught by a certified IAIM instructor. Suitable for babies from birth up to pre-crawling age, the course blends massage, reflexology and baby yoga techniques, demonstrated on a doll during class with a handout of the strokes to take home and practise. Classes run for about 1.5 hours over a 5-week term on Thursdays at 11.30am, priced at €140 for the full term. Beyond the massage itself, there's time to chat about baby-related topics and swap tips with other parents, finishing each session with tea, coffee and cake.
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Cellarstown / New Park / Kilkenny - Baby & Toddler Group
Kilkenny Parent and Toddler Group meets at Millennium Court on Hebron Road, Kilkenny every Wednesday from 10 to 11.30am during term time, welcoming mammies, dads and childminders with children from newborn to four years old. Sessions include nursery rhymes, books and sensory play for the little ones, while the adults get a chance to connect with each other. There's no charge to attend. As the group has no social media presence, the best way to confirm details or check the group is running is to call 087 193 9776 directly.
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Callan Parent and Toddler Group
Callan Parent and Toddler Group is hosted by Droichead Family Resource Centre at The Old CBS on West Street, Callan South, Co. Kilkenny. It's a drop-in session - no need to book - open to mums, dads, guardians, grandparents and other carers with children from newborn to five years old. Sessions run every Friday from 9.30 to 11am during term time, giving families a chance to meet new people over a cuppa and a chat while the children play. There's no charge to attend. Contact 085 856 4950 for more information, and check social media for the restart date after school holidays.
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Alize’s School of Singing
Alize's School of Singing offers singing tuition for children from a base at Danville Business Park on the Ring Road in Co. Kilkenny. Singing lessons for young people generally focus on building vocal technique, breathing control and confidence performing in front of others, whether working toward exams, school shows or simply singing for enjoyment. A business park setting typically means dedicated studio space away from the noise and distraction of a home environment. Parents interested in lessons are encouraged to get in touch directly to confirm current age suitability, scheduling and pricing for this Kilkenny-based school.
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Common questions
How many kids activities and classes are there in Kilkenny?
Kids Patch lists 33 kids activities and classes in Kilkenny. Each listing links straight through to the provider — Kids Patch is free for parents to use and takes no booking fee or commission.
What kinds of kids activities are available in Kilkenny?
The categories with the most listings are Parent-and-toddler (8), Dance (3), Developmental (3), Football (3), Martial Arts (3), Drama (2), Music (2), Nature & Animals (2), and 6 more.
What age range do kids activities and classes in Kilkenny cover?
Across the listings on this page, ages run from birth up to 18 years. 25 of the 33 state an age range. The rest leave it open, so it is worth asking the provider directly.
How much do kids activities and classes in Kilkenny cost?
4 of the 33 listings publish a price, ranging from €4 to €17.50. Most providers set fees per term rather than per class and quote on enquiry, so contact them directly for a current figure.
Are there any free kids activities and classes in Kilkenny?
Yes — 3 of the 33 listings are free to attend. Use the "Free classes only" filter above to see just those.
Do parents need to stay during kids activities and classes in Kilkenny?
It varies by provider: of the 33 listings, 3 are parent-accompanied. The rest do not state a policy — assume younger age groups are parent-accompanied unless the provider says otherwise.