“I’m bored” said no child ever during a stay at Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa! Here are our top ten things to do with the kids, all of which are within easy reach of our front door.

1.Walk on the wild side at Stonehall Wildlife Park.  Set across 45 acres in the heart of West Limerick countryside, Stonehall Wildlife Park is home to a wild variety of animals and birds all of which can be viewed on the Park Trail which meanders through beautiful woodland and across fields.  These include llamas, alpacas, ostriches, emus, a variety of owls and exotic birds, deer, ponies, meercats and wallabies.  Stonehall also has a plenty of indoor and outdoor picnic tables, a coffee shop and kids play area. www.stonehallvisitorfarm.com

2. Discover 800 years of history at King John’s Castle.  Located on the bank of the River Shannon in the centre of Limerick City’s Medieval Quarter, King John’s Castle is well worth a visit for little kids and big kids alike.  Explore the courtyard, climb to the top of the castle towers, try on historic costumes, visit the interactive visitor centre as you travel back in time.  www.kingjohnscastle.com

3. Burn off some energy on the Great Southern Trail.  Greenways are all the rage at the moment, and we have one right on our doorstep.  The Great Southern Trail is a unique 96km walking and cycling route which follows the former Limerick to Tralee/Fenit railway line.  There are five sections for your to enjoy.  Access the route in Rathkeale beside the old railway station which is now the Irish Palatine Museum.  Bicycles are available to hire from Pedal Pursuits Bike Hire (www.pedalpursuitsbikehire.com).  www.southerntrail.net

4. Step back in time at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.  Bunratty Castle is the most complete and authentic castle in Ireland dating back to the 15^th century.  It was restored in the 1960s and is furnished with Lord Gort’s collection of medieval furniture and furnishings.  You also get to experience what village life was like in 19^th Century Ireland as you wander through the streets and more than 30 buildings that make up the fascinating Bunratty Folk Park.  Visit a school, doctor’s house, pub, drapery, printworks, grocery, hardware shop, pottery, post office and pawnbrokers along with rural farmhouses and Bunratty House which is surrounded by a beautiful walled garden.  www.bunrattycastle.ie

5. Take a trip through time at Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum.  Ireland’s only aviation museum and the only dedicated flying boat museum in the world can be found 20 minutes away on the shore of the Shannon Estuary, right on the Wild Atlantic Way.  Located in the original Foynes Airport terminal building, the museum not only tells the story of the role played by Foynes in the establishment of passenger flights across the Atlantic, but also celebrates the history and personality of the River Shannon from Limerick City all the way to Loop Head.  You can also board the only Boeing B314 Flying Boat replica in the world and try your hand at flying in a flight simulator.  www.flyingboatmuseum.com

6. Visit a prehistoric park at Craggaunowen.  If you ever wondered how people lived more than 1,000 years ago, you will find out at Craggaunowen Castle and Crannog.  A Crannog is a lake dwelling, common in Ireland during the Iron Age and early Christian periods.  See one for yourself and experience what it was like to live in one.  Visit the ‘Brendan Boat’, check out the Ring Fort (a true reproduction of a farmer’s house, dating from the 4th or 5th century) and explore underground passages designed primarily as food storage areas.  www.craggaunowen.ie

7. Bounce on down to Jumplanes Indoor Trampoline Park.  Lanes and lanes of indoor trampolining await at Jumplanes which is located on the outskirts of Limerick city centre.  www.limerick.jumplanes.com

8. Action adventure in the forest.  Paintballing, splatball and forest archery await at the purpose-built 25 acre Basecamp Adventure Park hidden deep in the woods.  Protective gear and changing rooms supplied.  www.basecampadventurepark.ie

9. Saddle up for Pony Camp.  Clonshire Equestrian Centre, which is less than ten minutes away from the hotel, offers pony camps during the school holidays.  They also have a range of riding lesson options for beginners and seasoned riders alike. www.clonshire.com

10. Visit the home of Munster Rugby.  Munster rugby fans will love this behind-the-scenes tour of the historic Thomond Park Stadium.  Check out the dressing rooms, walk down the tunnel and test your skills in the interactive game zone.  www.thomondpark.ie