Draiocht Arts Centre Summer Camps

Draíocht Arts Centre has been running creative camps for children in Dublin 15 since it opened in 2001, and the summer programme is one of the most popular things it does. Week-long camps run from late June through August, mixing drama, music, visual arts and dance - the kind of programme that gives children a genuine taste of different art forms in one go rather than drilling a single skill. It suits primary school-age children particularly well, and with sessions split into morning and afternoon blocks, it fits around the family schedule rather than demanding a full day from the outset.

What to expect

Each week at Draíocht runs to its own theme, with trained facilitators guiding children through a mix of performance and making. Sessions cover drama and theatre skills, music, visual arts, and movement - sometimes blending them into a single project, sometimes keeping the disciplines separate. The centre’s purpose-built facilities include two theatres, two galleries, an artist’s studio and a dedicated workshop space, so the children are working in proper arts spaces rather than a school hall. Age groups are structured, and children progress at their own pace. The camps are designed around Draíocht’s Children’s Charter - a genuine commitment to young people that the centre has maintained since it opened.

Morning sessions run 09:30 to 12:30, afternoon sessions 13:30 to 16:30. Full-day options come with a lunch break and a snack is provided. Multiple weeks are available across the summer, and places fill up quickly - early booking is strongly recommended.

Getting there

Blanchardstown is straightforward to reach from most parts of Dublin. By car, the N3 / M3 is the main route from the city, with Blanchardstown Centre signposted well before the junction. Bus routes 37, 38A and 39A all serve the area, connecting to the city centre and surrounding suburbs. The Luas Red Line has a Blanchardstown stop a short walk from the centre. Parking within the shopping centre complex is plentiful, and there are eight disabled parking spaces directly outside Draíocht’s front door.

While you’re in Blanchardstown

Blanchardstown Centre itself has a full range of shops, cafés and a cinema, which makes the camp drop-off easy to combine with a morning’s errands or a coffee run. There is more to see in Blanchardstown and across Co. Dublin.

Good to know

• Camps run weekly from 29 June to 28 August 2026
• Sessions start at 09:30
• Prices range from approximately €80 to €150 per week depending on duration
• Book via draiocht.ie or call the box office on 01-885 2622
• The venue is fully accessible: level access throughout, lift to the first floor, wheelchair spaces in both theatres (book in advance), adapted toilets, and loop induction system in the main auditorium