Description
If you are looking for the best things to do with kids in County Monaghan, this beautifully restored 19th-century industrial heritage building offers an engaging and educational day out for families. Positioned right along the banks of the newly revived Ulster Canal in Clones, the center combines social history, local craft, and outdoor activities. The welcoming space provides school-aged children and teenagers with an immersive look at community heritage and traditional craftsmanship in an accessible environment.
General admission to the main visitor center and the museum exhibition galleries is completely free for all families and solo travelers. There are no entry fees or booking charges required to explore the historic building, making it an excellent low-cost hub for an afternoon out.
If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids, this multi-functional cultural venue balances historic interest with practical family amenities. The combination of a specialized lace museum, a popular on-site bistro, an outdoor play park, and scenic canal towpaths ensures that parents and children can enjoy a relaxed visit. It offers an ideal community-led destination to explore local history before taking a walk by the water.
Features
- Free
- Host birthday parties: No
Features
Key Features
- Educational Day Out: Discover the unique social history of the region, exploring how local canal trade and lace-making shaped the community.
- Sensory Play Environments: Walk along the peaceful, re-watered canal towpath, listening to nature or watching boats glide by the newly developed marina area.
- Interactive Exploration: Complete a self-guided walk through the museum displays to trace antique textiles from the Victorian era to modern designs.
Detailed Highlights
- The Clones Lace Museum: As Ireland's only dedicated museum for this specific craft, this gallery shows kids how intricate crochet lace-making saved families from poverty in the 1850s. Children can observe the distinct handmade motifs inspired by nature, including shamrocks, ferns, and local flowers.
- The Linked by a Thread Exhibition: This specialized textile display weaves together the inspiring story of local women and their economic contribution to Irish society. The collection contains historical items spanning generations, ranging from traditional baby booties to full wedding dresses.
- The Clones Marina & Towpath: Following major restoration works, the scenic one-kilometre stretch of navigable canal waters directly borders the center. Families can enjoy a safe, flat walk along the towpath or look out for water sports like kayaking and canoeing.
- The Adjacent Children's Play Park: Positioned right next door to the limestone building, a fully equipped public park features swings, slides, and an active ball alley. It provides a perfect energetic break for younger kids after they finish looking at the indoor museum displays.
- The Guided Heritage Town Tours: Organized directly through the visitor center by prior arrangement, these expert-led walks take families deeper into Clones history. Young historians can explore a 10th-century High Cross, an ancient Round Tower, and a preserved Famine Graveyard.
Specific Named Displays & Sub-Exhibits
- The Clones Lace Collection: The permanent display hall featuring certified antique crochet lace examples from the Victorian era to the present day.
- Linked by a Thread: The core narrative exhibition charting the 19th-century post-famine revival and 1980s community lace rescue projects.
- The Ulster Canal Basin Lookout: The scenic glass-fronted dining and viewing area inside the bistro overlooking the re-watered historic canal lines.
- The Limestone Storehouse Shell: The building itself, constructed circa 1839 out of hand-cut local limestone as a functioning canal depot.
19.43 miles
