Name: Dún Na Sí Amenity & Heritage Park
Rating: 5.0

Dún Na Sí Amenity & Heritage Park

Dún Na Sí Amenity & Heritage Park, Lake Road, Knockdomny, Moate, Westmeath, Ireland

1-90 Years

Paid

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Description

Dún Na Sí Amenity & Heritage Park is a vibrant, 27-acre cultural and natural attraction that offers one of the best things to do with kids in Westmeath. Divided into two distinct areas—a fully accessible, scenic amenity parkland and a dedicated, historical heritage park—this park category blends outdoor adventure, local history, and active play. It provides an expansive, engaging space where families can step back into Ireland's rural past while enjoying modern outdoor recreational facilities.

Exploring the Amenity Park area is completely free, allowing families to enjoy nature trails, art installations, and the playground without an entry fee. Paid admission applies exclusively to the 5-acre Heritage Park section, which contains the historical exhibits, pet farm, and cultural museums. All standard entry prices are strictly converted from Euros to British Pounds based on current rates, with tickets costing roughly £10.15 (€12) for adults and £5.90 (€7) for children aged 2 to 17.

If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that combines fresh-air exercise, hands-on learning, and a closer look at traditional Irish culture, this is the perfect destination. The wide paths, scenic wetlands, and open-air heritage displays are highly scannable, letting parents smoothly guide children from ancient ringforts to modern play equipment. It offers a wonderfully refreshing, tech-free environment where kids can watch live farm animals, discover old blacksmith traditions, and burn off energy on a massive climbing pyramid.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Key Features

Sensory Play: Children can explore the dedicated Sensory Garden, filled with varied botanical textures, sounds of nature, and vibrant floral scents.
Interactive Exhibits: The park features a living history layout, allowing kids to step into authentic re-creations of historic buildings and touch historical implements.
Educational Day Out: A superb historical journey where families can learn about ancient Irish folklore, genealogy, traditional music, and farming history.

Top Highlights

The Adventure Playground: A large, modern outdoor play hub located inside the Amenity Park. Children will love tackling the massive climbing tower, whizzing down the zip line, and testing their balance on the varied agility obstacles.
The Heritage Pet Farm: A massive hit for animal-loving families. Kids can get up close to a variety of friendly, hardy farm animals, including local breeds of sheep, goats, poultry, and donkeys roaming in open paddocks.
The Turlough (Vanishing Lake): A fascinating, naturally fluctuating limestone lake that highlights local biodiversity. Children can observe wild birds from the viewing platforms and learn how water levels completely change with the seasons.
Traditional Ringfort & Cottages: An immersive historical step back in time. Families can walk inside a reconstructed ancient ringfort, explore a thatched Fisherman’s Cottage, and see a Hedge School to discover how children learned centuries ago.
Art in the Park: A series of unique, large-scale sculptures hidden along the walking paths. Kids will enjoy spotting the imaginative metal and stone artworks that represent local heritage, mythology, and nature.

Detailed Inventory

The Rural Museum: A comprehensive collection housed within the Heritage Park, filled with authentic old farming tools, household utensils, and machinery from bygone eras.
The Scéal Exhibition: Located inside the Teach Ceoil, this interactive multi-media installation introduces kids to the rich local traditions of Irish music, storytelling, and dance.
The Blacksmith's Forge: A stone re-creation of a traditional village workshop where kids can look at historical iron-working tools and bellows.
The Fisherman's Cottage: A quaint, mud-walled and thatched historic structure showing the simple coastal and lakeside domestic life of old.
The Bothán: A small, single-room labourers' stone cottage that provides a stark visual lesson on 19th-century history.
The Mass Rock: A hidden, protected historical site within the woodlands used for secret gatherings during penal times.
The Lime Kiln: A preserved stone structure detailing how old agricultural communities processed limestone for farming and building.
The Weighing Scales: An original, restored piece of vintage market equipment located in the open square.
The Old Rail Trail Greenway Link: A dedicated access path connecting the park directly to kilometres of traffic-free, family-friendly cycling trails.

Facilities

Buggy Parking: There is no dedicated internal buggy park, but the wide, flat tarmac and gravel pathways are highly accessible for pushchairs and prams.
Toilets: Clean, modern, fully accessible public toilets and baby-changing spaces are available on-site near the reception entrance.
Food Options: The on-site café serves hot drinks, fresh lunch options, and sweet treats. Families are also welcome to bring their own packed lunches to use at the dedicated picnic benches.

What to see

What Visitors Love

The wonderful mix of a great, free play area alongside an incredibly educational heritage experience.
The high standard of maintenance across the 27 acres, keeping paths safe, clean, and highly accessible for pushchairs.
The relaxed, uncrowded atmosphere that allows children to explore nature safely at their own pace.
The quality of the on-site café, which provides great refreshments for parents.

What Visitors Don't Like

The Heritage Park section operates seasonally and is closed during the late autumn and winter months.
Dogs are strictly barred from the Heritage and Pet Farm zones, meaning families travelling with pets are restricted to the Amenity Park side.

Pro-Tips

Bring Loose Euros for Parking: Entry to the Amenity Park is free, but there is a flat €2 (approx. £1.70) parking charge at the gate machine which helps maintain the grounds.
Combine with a Bike Ride: Pack the kids' bicycles or scooters, as the direct link to the traffic-free Old Rail Trail allows you to combine your park visit with a safe bike ride.
Pack Outdoor Footwear: While the main pathways are solid, the grass areas around the pet farm and the wetland walks can become muddy after a typical Irish rain shower.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Family: €32
Adult: €12
Child: €7
Senior: €9
Student: €9
Under 2: €0
Adult Accessibility Ticket: €9
Child Accessibility Ticket: €5
Carer Ticket: €0
Annual Car Park Pass: €30
Annual Car Park Pass Renewal: €25
Family Membership (Apr – Sep): €80
Family Membership & Car Pass Combo: €100

Pricing URL: https://dunnasi.ie/tickets/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

The Heritage Park (April to September): Open Monday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Last entry at 4:00 PM).
The Amenity Park: Open 7 days a week year-round during daylight hours.

Address: Dún Na Sí Amenity & Heritage Park, Lake Road, Knockdomny, Moate, Westmeath, Ireland

Post Code: N37 P271

Council: Westmeath County Cou

County: County Westmeath

By Car: Located just off the M6 motorway at Moate. The park sits approximately 90 minutes' drive from Dublin and 60 minutes from Galway City.
By Bus: Local regional bus services operate regular routes to Moate town centre, which is located a short, flat walk away from the main park gates.
By Bicycle: Accessible directly via the Old Rail Trail Greenway, allowing families to cycle straight into the park without encountering road traffic.
Car Parking: A large, dedicated on-site car park is available for a flat coin/card fee of €2 per vehicle. An annual parking pass can be purchased for approx. £25.40 (€30).