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family · Monday 6 July 2026 · Various 
Clare Watersports Kids Camp - Ballyalla Lake Ennis
At Ballyalla Lake · Ballyalla Lake, Ennis, Co. Clare
At Ballyalla Lake · Ballyalla Lake, Ennis, Co. Clare
If your child has been asking to try kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding, this is one of the most accessible ways to make that happen in Clare. Clare Watersports runs weekly summer camps at Ballyalla Lake on the edge of Ennis, mixing water skills with games and free play. The camps run Monday to Friday across July and August, two hours a day, and are open to children aged eight and over. Groups are small and all equipment is provided on the water - parents drop off, instructors take it from there.
Each morning session runs from 11am to 1pm on Ballyalla Lake, a fresh-water lake about three kilometres from Ennis town. Children rotate through kayaking on stable sit-on-top kayaks, stand-up paddleboarding, water games, and general messing about on the water in a supervised area. Buoyancy aids are mandatory and provided by Clare Watersports. Beach lifeguards are on duty at Ballyalla every day during July and August, so there is an additional layer of safety beyond the camp instructors.
The sit-on-top kayaks are chosen specifically because they are forgiving - a child who capsizes (it happens) gets back on easily. No experience is needed. The camp is designed to build confidence in and on the water gradually over the week, so by Friday most kids are paddling independently and not wanting to leave.
Pack sun cream, a water bottle, a towel, and old trainers that can get wet. Bring any inhalers or medication your child needs.
Ballyalla Lake is on the Tulla Road (R352), roughly three kilometres east of Ennis town centre - a straight run from the town, about five minutes by car. There is parking at the lake. Ennis itself is easy to reach: it sits on the N18 between Limerick (30 minutes) and Galway (60 minutes), and Bus Eireann runs regular services into the town from both cities. The lake is not walkable from the bus station, so you will need a car or a taxi for the last stretch.
Ballyalla is close enough to town that a camp morning can slide into a full family day out. Ennis has a strong market tradition, good cafes on the main street, and the Clare Museum for a wet afternoon fallback. There is more to see in Ennis and across Co. Clare.
Heading to Ballyalla Lake in Ennis? Clare has plenty more to see. Read the Ennis area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.