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heritage · Thursday 9 July 2026 · 11:00am 
Kids dyeing workshop
At North Mayo Heritage Centre · Enniscoe, Castlehill, Crossmolina, Co. Mayo
At North Mayo Heritage Centre · Enniscoe, Castlehill, Crossmolina, Co. Mayo
The North Mayo Heritage Centre runs a summer series of hands-on craft workshops for children, and this free dyeing session on 9 July is one of the highlights. Children get to work with traditional techniques for colouring textiles - the kind of methods that would have been second nature to previous generations in rural Mayo. It is practical, creative, and rooted in real heritage rather than just heritage-themed. Good for primary-school-age children who enjoy making things with their hands, and a welcome free option for families in the school holidays.
The workshop gives children a chance to explore how textiles are dyed using ancient techniques, discovering how natural materials were used to create colour long before synthetic dyes existed. The North Mayo Heritage Centre runs this as part of a broader summer craft programme that in 2026 also includes willow weaving, needle-felting, and kids crafting days - so the dyeing session sits within a well-established pattern of hands-on heritage activity at Enniscoe. All materials are provided. Booking is required, so it is worth contacting the centre in advance to secure a place. The session runs from 11:00am through to 3:00pm, giving plenty of time to learn the process properly.
The centre itself is a lovely place to spend time. Situated on the Enniscoe estate alongside Lough Conn, it is surrounded by mature woodland and organic gardens. A café (the Bright Sky Café, new for 2026) is on site, and the carpark serves as the trailhead for National Loop Walks into the surrounding landscape.
Crossmolina is on the R315 in north Mayo, roughly 12 kilometres south of Ballina. From Ballina, take the N26 south then the R315 towards Crossmolina - the Enniscoe estate is signed off the R315 between Crossmolina and Lahardane, about 3 kilometres from the town. Driving is the practical option for most visitors; there is parking on site. Bus Eireann serves Ballina from Galway and Dublin, and from Ballina local taxis or a hire car would cover the remaining distance to Enniscoe. The centre is not easily walkable from Crossmolina town itself.
The area around Lough Conn is good walking country, and the Enniscoe estate’s woodland trails are free to explore. Crossmolina town itself is a small, quiet north Mayo market town with local pubs and shops if you want to extend the visit into a half-day out. There is more to see in Crossmolina and across Co. Mayo.
Heading to North Mayo Heritage Centre in Crossmolina? Mayo has plenty more to see. Read the Crossmolina area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.