I had a rough week at work and all I wanted was to blow off some steam. My girlfriends were busy, so I turned to my guy pals who had a different idea: the good ol’ axe throwing!
‘Unleash our inner Vikings’, they said. ‘It’ll be fun’, they said. So, I really gave it my best shot—only to completely miss the target. And not just that. I almost hit the instructor. I’ve never wanted the earth to swallow me whole so badly.
My friends, of course, have never let me forget. Still, we laughed until our stomachs hurt and had such a blast that we decided to make this a regular thing. Here are some of the best things to do with friends in Ireland we’ve loved so far.
What activities can I do in Ireland with pals?
There are a bunch of activities you can do in Ireland with pals! Notable ones are indoor climbing, visiting a farm, throwing axes, and singing karaoke.
Climb at Awesome Walls
Media credit: awesomewallsdublin
Website: http://www.awesomewalls.ie/
Address: North Park, Unit 6, North Rd, Finglas, Dublin, D11 YP40
Contact Details: +353 1 880 0088, [email protected], [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 10 AM to 10 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 10 AM to 8 PM
Fees:
- Adult – €15.50 (Member), €20 (Non-Member)
- Concessions – €13 (Member), €17 (Non-Member)
- *New climbers need to book a session with the instructors before visiting.
Want to do something active? Awesome Walls is one of the best things to do with friends in Ireland if you want thrilling indoor climbing fun. It’s suitable for both beginners and experts, so we reckon you won’t have an excuse but to try it.
We love that you won’t need to call for a partner, either. You can be fully independent and do both solo bouldering and roped climbs. We bet you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment doing so, and how about that for some bragging rights?
On top of that, we appreciate that this activity is a foolproof way to be safe for Ireland’s unpredictable weather. Rain or shine, you can have the best time with your pals!
Pro tip:
If you’re new at Awesome Walls, we believe it’s best to begin with shorter climbs—try bouldering first! For us, this is a fantastic way to get used to this physical activity without the harness.
Eat Fresh at Kildare Farm Foods
Website: http://www.kildarefarmfoods.com/
Address: Rathmuck, Co. Kildare, R51 KX37
Contact Details: +353 45 526 774, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9 AM to 5 PM
- Saturday – 9 AM to 3 PM
- Sunday – Closed
Fees: Free entry
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Looking for something free? Kildare Farm Foods is a budget- and family-friendly farm offering lots of wildlife encounters and farm-fresh shopping. We think many would love this chill, open petting farm where you can freely roam around under the sun.
We also love that you can see goats, alpacas, deer, and even ponies up close! And if you get tired, the mini train is handy for us because it can take you on a tour. There are many fun activities with the mini golf and kiddie play area as well.
On top of that, we find the farm shop goodies incredible! You can either dine at the cafe or buy the freshest meats, veggies, and artisan products.
Handy hack:
While Kildare Farm Foods doesn’t charge for entrance, we still think it’s handy to bring extra dirham bills and coins for the train ride and mini golf.
Ride at Hollywood Horse and Pony Trekking
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Address: Bishopsland, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare
Contact Details: +353 85 111 7448, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Fees: From €60 to €73.80 per adult
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Hollywood Horse and Pony Trekking is a family-run centre that provides exciting horseback experiences through lovely Irish forests, open fields, and country trails—so lush and peaceful for most skill levels!
For us, the land here is so massive that it can give you enough space to clear your thoughts. We also like that the horses would sometimes step into shallow waters, and we reckon the water sounds are so relaxing.
This would usually last around an hour and a half. Still, we bet the time will fly by easily as you ride through the different elevation levels in the grass.
Friendly reminder:
We recommend wearing your comfiest and sturdiest boots with a small heel suitable for riding at Hollywood Horse and Pony Trekking! For us, you might need all the help you can get to ease yourself if you’re a beginner.
Hit the Target at Axe Club
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Website: http://www.axeclub.ie/
Address: End of, Gaelic St, North Wall, Dublin 3
Contact Details: +353 1 517 0199, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday – 1 PM to 8:30 PM
- Saturday – 11 AM to 8:30 PM
- Sunday – 12 PM to 8 PM
- Monday – Closed
Fees:
- Open Axe Throwing Sessions (1 hour) – €25 per person
- Private/Corporate Axe Throwing Event (1.5 hours for 6 to 30 people) – €35 per person
- Private/Corporate Axes & Pizza Event (1.5 to 2 hours for 6 to 30 people) – €55 per person
Want healthy competition that helps you release some primal energy with friends? Axe Club provides a riveting axe-throwing experience for you and your pals in Dublin.
For us, this is a wonderful stress reliever as you smash an axe into the target. And if you’re having a long week, say this activity can be surprisingly therapeutic as well!
Safety first:
We suggest wearing closed-toe shoes at Axe Club! No flip-flops or sandals are allowed—you don’t want to risk leaving with one or more toes less, do you?
Sing at Marrakesh by Mindo
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Website: http://www.marrakesh.ie/
Address: 121-122 Capel St, North City, Dublin, D01 V3P0
Contact Details: +353 1 878 8988, [email protected]
Restaurant Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 4 PM to 10 PM
- Friday to Saturday – 1:30 PM to 10:30 PM
- Sunday – 1:30 PM to 10 PM
Karaoke Hours: Monday to Sunday – 5 PM to 12 AM
Fees:
- Medium Room (up to 12 people) – €80 per hour
- Large Room (up to 20 people) – €100 per hour
In case you need to sing your heart out, Marrakesh by Mindo is a Moroccan-inspired dining spot with a karaoke bar for you and your singer-wannabe buddies.
To make sure you have enough fuel to sing all night, we also recommend getting the tagines (slow-cooked stews), kebabs (skewered roasted meat), and mezze (small) platters. You can also have authentic Moroccan-inspired drinks or cocktails.
What to sing:
Unsure what to perform at the karaoke? If you don’t already have a karaoke playlist on your phone, we say go for a power anthem that can get everyone to sing along. Perhaps Adele, Queen, or Taylor Swift?
Escape Open The Door’s Rooms
Media credit: openthedoor_galway
Website: https://www.openthedoor.ie/
Address: First Floor, 4 Prospect Hill, Galway, H91 X6PA
Contact Details: +353 91 450 192, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 2 PM to 10 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 12 PM to 10 PM
Fees:
- Group of 2 (per person/per room) – €30
- Group of 3 to 4 (per person/per room) – €25
- Group of 5 to 6 (per person/per room) – €23
- Group of 7 (per person/per room) – €21
Those who fancy working on a mystery case can try Open The Door’s escape room in Galway! Its themed spaces are full of brilliant puzzles and hidden clues to keep you guessing. We say this is also a great rainy day activity in Ireland!
We love that you can choose from many different options, whether you like scary stuff or baffling adventures. These typically last for 60 minutes, which we think is enough for everyone to have fun without dragging out the experience.
Smart suggestions:
- Having a tough time cracking the codes at Open The Door? Don’t crowd on the same clue! We suggest spreading out and looking at various areas.
- Don’t hesitate to use the master hints too, but be sure to make the most out of them!