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family · Friday 10 July 2026 · 10:00am 
Peatlands Council Family Discovery Days - Athy
At Peatlands Council Visitor Centre · Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare
At Peatlands Council Visitor Centre · Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare
The Bog of Allen Nature Centre at Lullymore runs family discovery days that turn a trip to the bog into something genuinely memorable for children - and for adults who have never really thought about why peatlands matter. Organised by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council, these free days open up the centre’s exhibitions, gardens, and outdoor trails to families who want a hands-on day out in Co. Kildare that goes well beyond a playground visit.
The Bog of Allen Nature Centre sits on a mineral island surrounded by the Bog of Allen, and the setting alone is worth the journey. Inside, the exhibition takes in thousands of years of bog history: a skeleton of the Great Irish Elk, a 2,000-year-old oak boat pulled from the bog, artefacts from traditional peat harvesting, and displays on how sphagnum moss builds and holds a living bog. Children are not just looking - the family visits are built around doing. Pond dipping, frog and newt hunts, and hunts for minibeasts in the water are regular activities. The gardens hold carnivorous plants including Venus flytraps. Outside, the Lodge Bog trail gives families activity backpacks and lets children test the bog surface, squeeze sphagnum moss to feel how much water it holds, and complete scavenger hunts across a real working peatland. Quizzes, crayons, and nature crafts keep younger visitors busy, and picnic areas mean you can make a half-day of it without rushing.
The Bog of Allen Nature Centre is at Lullymore, near Rathangan in north-west Kildare - about an hour from Dublin via the M7 to Newbridge or Kildare town, then west on local roads to Rathangan. From Athy, the drive is roughly 45 minutes north on the R417 and R415. The centre has free on-site parking. Public transport is limited in this part of Kildare, so a car is the practical option for most families.
A visit to the nature centre pairs well with an afternoon back in Athy, where the Shackleton Museum in the heritage centre tells the story of the polar explorer who was born nearby, and White’s Castle guards the old crossing on the River Barrow. There is more to see in Athy and across Co. Kildare.
Heading to Peatlands Council Visitor Centre in Athy? Kildare has plenty more to see. Read the Athy area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.