Visit Loughwell Farm Park, County Galway, which is home to lots of friendly animals including ponies, pot bellied pigs, cows, sheep, alpacas, goats, chickens, donkeys, ducks and even reindeers.

The purpose-built stone building, which includes a large play barn (120' x 60'), houses the tearoom which specialises in homebaking. There are demonstrations in animal care in the Barn Yard Theatre, which houses some of the Loughwell animals; try milking a goat or grooming a pony.

Play facilities include two timber play villages, huge sand dunes with slides, a sandpit with a play boat, a timber obstacle course, an enormous strawbale maze, swings, pedal go-karts, indoor disco, bouncy castle and, for the daring, a zip wire.

Check the Loughwell Farm Park website for special theme days, party details and even visits by Santa Claus during the Yuletide season.