Built on the foundations of what was once the castle of pirate queen Grace O'Malley, Westport Estate makes for a great day out all-year round, but it really sings in spring. Wander the blooming gardens and woodland trails, keeping an eye out for surprises like 3,000-year-old Greek sarcophagi. 

If your kids are more into high-octane fun, take them over to Westport Adventure on the grounds of the estate, with zip-lining, aerial trekking and a giant swing alongside sports like frisbee golf and climbing. Or book them into the Kids Club for the Easter holidays, running from March 31 to April 3, with the Mighty Adventurers club for children 9 to 13 and Little Adventurers for kids 8 to 12. 

Hop aboard the Easter Express and explore the grounds of Oakfield Park in Donegal with a holiday twist. Family days running from April 3 to 6 will feature an Easter egg hunt, train ride, Easter-themed crafts, games and more. Little ones will get to meet their favourite characters along the way, and older kids can keep busy with the estate's hedge mazes, sculpture gardens and wildlife. You'll need to book your tickets in advance as the Easter Bunny tends to attract a lot of visitors.

The biggest adventure park in the country, Skypark has enough to keep kids entertained all Easter break. Choose from footgolf, aeroball, quaser, archery or the 30+ aerial activities on offer, with monkey bars, zip lines, giant swings and skateboards. Kids (who are at least 1.2m tall) can climb, jump and whizz through the sky up to 40 feet off the ground – but there's also a fun junior course for kids aged between five and eight.

This year, Fota Wildlife Park is kicking off their Easter celebrations with fun events and opportunities to get up close to the animals throughout the break. Kids can feed the critter of their choice, learn interesting facts at a wildlife talk, get their face painted or take part in their Eggs-plorer Trail. They'll follow the self-led trail, collect eggs along the way and add them to their trail sheet to collect a free magnet from the park's gift shop. 

Over at neighbouring Fota House Arboretum and Gardens, their annual Easter Trail will be in full swing from April 3 to 6. The self-guided trail weaves through the arboretum's rare flora and the grounds' Victorian Working Garden, with live actors playing favourite characters from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory dotted along the way. Once you and the family make it to the end, the kids can say hello to the Easter Bunny and receive their own egg. 

This Easter Sunday in Schull, have a fun day out while fundraising for a local festival at the Easter Treasure Hunt Schull Regatta. Follow the treasure hunt throughout the beautiful coastal town and solve the clues to earn a tasty Easter egg at the finish line – all ticket proceeds support free family entertainment at the annual Schull Regatta in August. Then have a wander through Schull Country Market to pick up fresh produce for your Easter dinner.

If your little ones are budding artists, check out the fun craft workshops taking place throughout the Easter break at the Siamsa Tíre Theatre and Arts Centre in Kerry. On April 2, kids aged 5 years and over can craft their very own Easter puppet with the help of professional puppeteer Alex O'Hindmarsh. There are limited slots available so early booking is advised. 

Then on April 9, older kids aged 6 to 10 will get the chance to join Amy Smith from Tralee Pottery Club and decorate mini Easter Bunny houses.

You might not find the actual Easter bunny in their midst, but the baby rabbits at the Clonfert Pet Farm are so cute it won’t even matter. Visit the farm for their Easter Festival and you’ll get to say hello to all the resident animals, from llamas and lemurs to meerkats and parrots. Running from March 28 to April 5, the festival includes a fun fair, Easter egg hunt and all the usual animals. There’s also a chocolate egg in store for all the kids who take part in the hunt. 

This year, family-run Kildare Farm Foods has a jam-packed schedule for their Easter Family Adventure. Bring the kids to greet the Easter Bunny before hopping aboard the Farm Shop Express for a tour of the whole farm and its adorable residents. Then enjoy a sing and dance at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party. And for the older kids who are too cool for the Easter Bunny, there's the Virtual River Rapids Rollercoaster which will transport them from Kildare town to far-off raging waters. 

Exploring the expansive grounds of Belvedere House is a great way to get kids' imaginations going over the Easter break. Say hello to adorable goats, pigs and bunnies at the Easter Mobile Pet Farm before following the Easter Trail for exciting surprises and themed activities. Or learn a new skill with the help of expert instructors at the Circus Workshop. Then, head to one of the four play areas onsite and let the kids unleash their energy on their 30-metre zipline and lakeside swings. 

This Easter break, the grounds of gothic-revival Johnstown Castle Estate in Wexford will be decorated with hidden trail characters and objects for little ones to discover. They'll collect the pieces of the resident bunny's secret name and get an Easter egg prize for their efforts. If the weather doesn't cooperate, you can head to an indoor trail at the Irish Agricultural Centre on the castle grounds instead. 

Whether your kids want to clamber over the towers in the Adventure Play Kingdom or have a bash at ziplining in the forest, they can find their adventure at Lough Key Forest and Activity Park. They also have activities that you can enjoy as a family, like the teamwork challenge of Boda Borg and the treetop canopy walk. The route takes you all the way through the forest and out to the Moylurg Tower, where you have a great view of the lake and its islands. 

This Easter, the grounds of the National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park will be transformed into an Easter Egg Trail from March 28 to April 12. Look for clues left by the park's mischievous bunnies in the Victorian Walled Gardens or put pencil to paper for the Easter colouring competition. If you don't win, don't worry – everyone will walk away with a choccy prize to enjoy. 

With its extensive gardens and historic telescope, Birr Castle is worth a visit any time of year. From April 2 to 6, kids can don bunny ears and hop aboard the Easter Express. Travel through the beautiful grounds before taking on their Easter Challenge. Find the clues dotted across the estate and follow the trail to find the Easter Bunny. All kiddos that complete the task are given a sweet treat at the end. Keep the fun going by exploring the other garden trails, or head to Ireland’s largest treehouse and the connected adventure playground. 

Celebrate the start of the new season with the Easter Festival at Slieve Aughty Riding Centre, where a huge variety of events and activities are on every day from March 28 to April 12. Take a family walk through the Enchanted Forest, explore the organic garden or visit the nature hut. Kids over the age of five can take a ride on the horses or ponies and make a spring craft in one of the workshops. Or you can leave the craftiness to the experts and make use of the festival’s face painters. 

Kick off the Easter holidays at Brigit's Garden, which explores Celtic folklore and indigenous Irish plants through their seasonal gardens. From April 4 to 6, the Easter Egg Hunt will be broken out into two separate events for different age groups: the Mini Hunt for younger children, and the Mighty Hunt for older kids. Of course, the Easter Bunny will also be there to say hello and there will be also be face painting, arts and crafts and games galore to enjoy.

With its water features, giant chess set and grass maze, Vandeleur Walled Gardens and Visitor Centre in Clare feels like a scene straight out of Alice in Wonderland. Set on 170 hectares of woodland, bring the kids along on a tour of the manicured grounds and explore the variety of beautiful flowers that bloom in the garden every spring.  

Rathwood Home and Garden World hosts lots of family-friendly activities under their very own Big Top, so it's no surprise that they're pulling out all the stops by putting on an Easter Panto on select dates from March 28 to April 5. After the show, join in the fun of the annual Easter egg hunt and give the Easter Bunny a hug. 

If your little ones aren't fans of the panto, take a ride on the Rathwood Express through the surrounding forests, keeping an eye out for little surprises along the way. 

For budding GAA fans, Croke Park is where the fun is. This spring, the Easter Teidí Tours are back in the GAA Museum from April 2 to 6. Sit down with the little ones at one of their teddy-making workshops and help them craft their own fluffy friend to bring home. Then, enjoy a guided family-friendly tour of the historic stadium.

On April 3 and 4, the West Lawn of Malahide Castle and Gardens will host A Wicked Easter with sing-songs, scavenger hunts and surprises that would make the Wizard of Oz proud.

Start off with a ramble through the Enchanted Garden Trail and meet your favourite characters from the musical and take part in fun activities. After, take in a lively The Wizard of Oz-themed performance before enjoying sweet Easter treats. Or spend time in the Butterfly House which is home to over 20 species of butterflies. You also let the kids run themselves ragged on the playground while you relax on one of the benches close-by. 

Taking the Easter break to new heights, Beyond the Trees Avondale in Wicklow is hosting multiple events this season. From March 28 to April 12, take the Treetop Walk Easter Challenge, with fun scavenger hunts that will lead you all the way to the top of their 38m Viewing Tower. Kids who complete the challenges will win treats and be entered into the family prize raffle.

If heights aren't your thing, head to Avondale's Big Barn on the Easter weekend and sing along with Alice and the Mad Hatter through their lively musical Easter show. 

If you want the little ones to continue learning well into the Easter break, head to Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark. Home to some of the country's most unique natural landscapes, visitors can dive into the area's 895 million-year history with a visit to the geopark's glorious waterfalls, forests and their famous Marble Arch Caves. 

This Easter, head to the beautiful 450-acre estate at Wells House and Gardens for their elaborate Easter Weekend. Running from April 4 to 6, the little ones will love the variety of springtime festivities, from the egg hunt along the Enchanted Fairy Woodland and the adorable animals on the farm to a ride on Little Bo Peep's Train. Of course, the Easter Bunny will be there to say hello and to hand out tasty chocolate eggs to every child. 

Throughout the year, Secret Valley Wildlife Park pulls out all the stops for family-friendly events. At Easter, the kiddos are tasked with helping the Easter Bunny as he preps for the beginning of spring. From April 3 to 6, help him complete special Easter missions like taking care of the chickens, sowing his gardens and petting the bunnies. After, kids can climb aboard the train and enjoy sweet treats and tasty snacks back at the café.