Kids Willow weaving workshop

Willow weaving is one of those crafts that sounds simple until you sit down and try it - and that gap between expectation and reality is exactly where the fun starts. This free half-day workshop at the North Mayo Heritage Centre invites children over ten to learn the basics of the tradition in one of the most atmospheric settings in Mayo: the walled grounds and woodland of the Enniscoe Estate beside Lough Conn. It is a hands-on morning and afternoon rather than a demonstration, which makes it well suited to children who learn better by doing than by watching.

What to expect

Children work with organic willow harvested from the Enniscoe Estate itself, so the materials are genuinely local. Guided step by step through the fundamentals of weaving, participants leave with a made object rather than just a memory of the day. The workshop runs from 11am to 3pm - a proper stretch of time that lets the work breathe rather than being rushed. Two booking options are available on the day, so it is worth contacting the centre in advance to confirm your preferred slot. The North Mayo Heritage Centre has been running creative and heritage workshops here for years, set on an estate that has been farmed and managed continuously since the eighteenth century. The café on site means there is somewhere to sit down for a break mid-session.

Getting there

The North Mayo Heritage Centre sits at Enniscoe, Castlehill, roughly 3km south of Crossmolina on the R315. From Ballina, follow the N5/R315 northwest towards Crossmolina and continue through the town; signs for Enniscoe and the heritage centre appear on the left. The drive from Ballina takes around 20 minutes. From Westport, allow around 50 minutes via Castlebar and Foxford on the N59 and N5. There is no direct bus service to Enniscoe itself, so a car is the practical option for most visitors. Parking is available at the centre.

While you’re in Crossmolina

Crossmolina is a small market town on the River Deel with Lough Conn on its doorstep - good for a walk after the workshop, and the town has a handful of pubs and shops if you need to fill time before or after. The wider area takes in Wild Nephin National Park and the blanket bog landscapes that make North Mayo unlike anywhere else in Ireland. There is more to see in Crossmolina and across Co. Mayo.

Good to know

• Date: Monday 6 July 2026
• Time: 11:00am - 3:00pm
• Price: Free
• Age: Suitable for children over 10 years
• Booking: Required - book via the North Mayo Heritage Centre website at northmayoheritagecentre.ie or call 096 31809; two session options are available, confirm when booking