Summer Camp with Richie Hayes

If your child has ever come home from a school show still buzzing with energy, this week-long camp at University Concert Hall is worth a look. Led by Richie Hayes - one of Ireland’s best-known panto and musical theatre performers - it is aimed squarely at kids aged 7 to 13 who want to get up on a proper stage, learn from a working professional, and actually put on a show by the end of the week. Spaces are limited to 70, and they were selling fast at last check, so early booking matters.

What to expect

The camp runs through singing, acting, and dancing workshops, drawing on Hayes’s background in panto and musical theatre. Hayes is a familiar face across Irish stages and television - known from Mrs. Brown’s Boys, Celebrity Bainisteoir, and The Voice of Ireland - and the format is built around his experience in UCH’s own annual pantomime season. The week builds towards a performance that the children create together, so it is structured as a proper arc rather than a series of unconnected sessions. Participants will make friends, get comfortable on stage, and leave with something they actually performed. Capacity is 70 children, with a sibling discount (€100 for a second child) applied automatically at checkout. Payment is required in full when booking; a €20 deposit per child is non-refundable unless the camp is cancelled.

Getting there

University Concert Hall sits on the University of Limerick campus, roughly 4km east of Limerick city centre along the Dublin Road (N7/N24 direction). By car, it is well signposted from the main ring road and has ample free on-campus parking. From Limerick city centre, Bus Eireann local services run along the Dublin Road corridor and stop near the UL campus entrance. The Colbert Station in the city centre is served by regular intercity trains from Dublin Heuston (under two hours), Cork, Galway, and Waterford, with onward bus or taxi connections to UL.

While you’re in Limerick

Limerick repays a longer visit - the medieval quarter, King John’s Castle on the Shannon, and the Hunt Museum are all within easy reach of each other in the city centre. The campus itself borders the River Shannon, and the surrounding area has riverside walking paths worth an hour of anyone’s time. There is more to see in Limerick and across Co. Limerick.

Good to know

• Date: Monday 13 July 2026 (weeklong camp starting this date)
• Start time: 9:30 AM
• Price: €110 per child; €100 for a second sibling (discount applied automatically at checkout)
• Age range: 7 to 13 years
• Tickets: Selling fast - book at uch.ie
• Capacity: 70 places; maximum 30 tickets per transaction
• Note: €20 per child is non-refundable unless the camp is cancelled; full payment required at booking