glór (Ennis)

Description

glór is a thriving cultural venue situated in the heart of Ennis, serving as a primary creative anchor for County Clare. This modern facility contains a large 485-seat theatre, an intimate 140-seat studio space, a dedicated art gallery, and a family-friendly café. It stands out as one of the best things to do with kids in Ennis for families looking to experience live indoor entertainment and cultural activities.

Ticket pricing is designed to keep community events accessible, with family theatre shows and cinema tickets generally starting from £7.00 to £10.00 (€8.00 to €12.00) per person. Ticket prices vary depending on whether you are booking a touring musical act, a seasonal pantomime, or an independent film screening. The venue often provides group or family bundles to make a day out more affordable for parents.

If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that blends creative storytelling, local musical traditions, and an all-weather indoor environment, this cultural centre is an ideal choice. Children can experience the magic of professional puppet theatre, join in on interactive musical workshops, or view locally crafted art displays. It provides a welcoming, relaxed setting where children can discover the arts while parents unwind in the spacious foyer.

Features

  • Paid
  • Host birthday parties: No

Features

Activity Features

  • Interactive Exhibits & Galleries: A bright, dedicated visual arts gallery displaying rotating exhibitions that introduce children to painting, sculpture, and photography.
  • Educational Day Out: Frequent traditional Irish music, dance, and theatrical storytelling events that celebrate regional heritage.
  • Sensory Play & Early Years Performances: Specialized theatre events designed for toddlers, focusing on soft lighting, gentle soundscapes, and hands-on elements.

Detailed Highlights

  • The Main Theatre Auditorium: This spacious 485-seat auditorium hosts the venue's largest live performances. The tiered seating layout gives children a completely clear view of the stage, allowing them to feel fully immersed in high-energy musical and dance productions.
  • The Studio Space: A smaller, highly adaptable room that is perfect for intimate youth performances and early-years storytelling. The relaxed environment means younger children do not feel overwhelmed by large crowds or dark rooms.
  • The Glór Art Gallery: Positioned on the upper level, this free public space exhibits work from national and local contemporary artists. It provides a calm, visual environment where children can look at unique textures and vibrant colour arrangements.
  • The Foyer and Café Hub: The spacious, light-filled ground floor foyer features an on-site café serving fresh local treats and drinks. It has plenty of seating, making it a comfortable spot for families to relax before the auditorium doors open.
  • Creative Holiday Workshops: During school breaks, the venue hosts dedicated arts and performance masterclasses. Children can learn physical acting skills, build their own crafts, or try out traditional musical instruments under professional guidance.

Detailed Inventory

  • The Clare Youth Theatre Showcases: Energetic live drama productions put on by talented local young performers.
  • Traditional Irish Music Matinees: Child-friendly afternoon concerts featuring lively fiddle, accordion, and concertina music.
  • The Annual Christmas Pantomime: A classic fairy-tale stage show packed with colourful costumes, slapstick comedy, and audience participation.
  • The Schools Film Programme: Educational cinema screenings tailored for student audiences, ranging from foreign language animations to literary adaptations.
  • The Fleadh Cheoil Highlights: Seasonal community concert events celebrating traditional step dancing and singing.
  • The Culture Night Workshops: Free, interactive evening drop-in sessions where families can try out painting or clay modelling.
  • The Local Schools Drama Festival: An annual event where local primary and secondary schools take over the main stage to perform short plays.
  • The Youth Visual Arts Exhibition: A dedicated annual gallery display showcasing artwork created entirely by local schoolchildren.

Facilities

  • Toilets: Fully accessible public toilets and baby changing rooms are available on the ground floor layout.
  • Buggy Parking: While there is no locked external buggy bay, the spacious ground floor foyer easily accommodates pushchairs, and staff will direct you where to park them safely during auditorium events.
  • Lockers: Secure storage lockers are not available on-site; families should keep their personal belongings with them.
  • Food Options: The on-site café serves child-friendly baked goods, sandwiches, and hot drinks. Excellent town centre family dining spots are also located within a 5-minute walk.

What to see

What Visitors Love

  • The venue is exceptionally clean, modern, and easy to navigate when pushing a buggy or pram.
  • The staff are highly welcoming, patient with young children, and happy to assist with seating arrangements.
  • The tiered seating in the main theatre provides excellent, unobstructed views of the stage from every single row.
  • Great value for money, especially for the local community cinema screenings and free art exhibitions.

What Visitors Don't Like

  • The on-site car park can fill up very quickly during popular weekend matinee performances.
  • The on-site café has a limited hot food menu, meaning families looking for a full dinner will need to head into the main town centre.

Pro-Tips

  • Book Family Tickets Together: When purchasing tickets online, look out for designated family bundles (usually covering two adults and two children) to save on overall ticket costs.
  • Arrive 20 Minutes Early: Arriving early gives you plenty of time to find parking, use the facilities, and collect your physical tickets without rushing.
  • Check Age Recommendations: Each show listing on the official website has a specific recommended age bracket, helping parents choose the perfect match for toddlers or teenagers.

Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

  • Standard Theatre Tickets: £13.00 - £22.00 (€15.00 - €25.00) depending on the touring production
  • Children & Concession Tickets: £7.00 - £13.00 (€8.00 - €15.00)

Pricing URL: https://glor.ie/events-whats-on-glor/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

  • Box Office & Gallery Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM.
  • Performance Days: The box office counter and foyer open one hour prior to any scheduled evening or weekend showtime.

Address: glór, Causeway Link, Clonroad Beg, Ennis, County Clare, Ireland

Post Code: V95 V622

Council: Clare County Council

County: County Clare

  • By Car: Ennis is located just off the main M18 motorway connecting Limerick and Galway. Follow the signs for Ennis town centre and turn onto the Causeway Link road.
  • Car Parking: A public pay-and-display car park is located directly outside the building entrance. Additional town centre public car parks are situated within a 5-minute walking radius.
  • By Train: Ennis Train Station is located approximately 0.4 miles away, providing direct daily rail links to Limerick, Galway, and connection lines to Dublin.
  • By Bus: Regular regional bus networks drop passengers at the main Ennis station hub, which is less than a 10-minute flat walk from the theatre doors.

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