A temporary installation - only here till Sept 2012…read more ARRRRGH me harties, come yea to the bouncy castles of Dundrum and bounce till you see your breakfast again. The cost is reasonably reasonable... 5Euro per child for 1 hours bouncing, jumping and sliding. The zorbing and boating involves an extra 3 euro a pop and a bit of queuing, junior thought it worthwhile. Parents go free but it is frowned upon if they actually use the facilities (there isn't a sign specifically saying "no short, fat, balding men allowed on the bouncy castle", but it is implied).

My companion here suggested that the Pirate Village should have an 'Adult Only' session after the…read morekids go home... bringing me to my only gripe with this place- that the grown-ups can't go on any of the cool stuff! Apart from that however, this is an unusual and entertaining way to amuse younger children for an hour or so. Conveniently located in Dundrum town centre, it costs €5 per child, with its adult(s) going free. A session is about an hour long. So, you enter into a 'pirate village' themed maze of bouncy castles, little slides, giant slides, boat-bumpers etc, etc... with staff members shouting, 'Arr me hearties!!...' The kids go demented. Now, if you could just lock them all in for an hour and come back afterwards... A point to note is that some of the things have a 5-10 minute queue and a few extra quid surcharge. We brought my three year old godson, who loved it, despite getting trampled on in the various bouncy castles by some bigger kids. He went on the smaller slide about 20 times, a boat ride (didn't want to get out of it!), and the giant slide, which he really enjoyed despite finding the 5 minute queue a little frustrating. Bribed by chocolate to get back into his buggy at the end, he then collapsed in an exhausted heap (could I jump up and down for an hour? Doubt it!) and we returned him to his mother, who'd had a coffee and stroll around the shops unencumbered by a hyper child. Then we went for a well-earned and much-needed pint round the corner.

Ambience. A Service. A…read morePrice. A Lots of car park parking and street. A huge warehouse. Great for exercise for the whole family. A warehouse filled with blow up jumpy gums that take half the warehouse. Nicely heated during this cold fall weather. Lots of young friendly staff and Party rooms. What a cool experience for the whole family. I'm a FaN!!!

Kids had a ball apart from at the end. They joined the queue for the foam pit and by the three or…read morefour minutes it took to get to the top, their time ended. The girl wouldn't let them on even though they were next. Left them disappointed even though the queue time ate up the time left. Bad policy.

We would go back in a heartbeat. Over the years we have been to the junior side and loved it. We…read morejust went to the older kid side (ideal for 5+). Incredibly engaging for all the kids and the adults. Spent 6hrs and still have more to see and do. While we were there, kids kept saying how much fun it was and changing what their favourite activity or exhibit was. Staff were all super and great with the kids and explaining different tasks or suggesting what to check out. Highly recommend going!

Enjoyed the powertrip overall but worker Theo was EXTREMELY and unnecessary rude to me and wouldn't…read morelet me enjoy the trip. I think he needs to stop being so rude to people and if he's like this all the time I would be extremely concerned. He also kept giving me bad looks and was making faces which seemed very unprofessional. I hope he was just having a bad day and that he's not always that grumpy. After I left I felt very disrespected and it ruined my day. Callum

Very good! Really enjoyed all the routes I did. Way more use of arêtes than I'm used to, which was…read morea fun change. So many different wall orientations too- made for a great variety as well. The drop in coaching classes seem like they'd be super helpful as well, not something I've seen before- definitely wish they had this at gyms I was able to go to regularly. Color grading for all the routes via their holds was exceedingly helpful, made it really easy to find problems to do.

Writing this review is very difficult for me, not in an emotional sense but because I've been…read moreclimbing a lot lately and it has led to a condition I call, dinosaur hands. For those of you not familiar with dinosaurs or hands it basically means that my hands are feeling very floppy. Holding a pint of Guinness last night took considerable effort and grip revision. To the uneducated eye some may think that I am overtly expressive in a camp theatrical way with my flailing hands. But enough about my hands, what about the wall? €8 to go each time. €5 one time only membership. Plenty of walls of all different intensity levels for you to practise on (bouldering not rock climbing). They have a free drop in class every Monday for beginners. It's not in the sexiest of locations but the inside is very well done, you can get coffee and parents etc can chill out in the seating area and look on. If you are OK with heights and falling from heights give it a go. If you're not you are more than welcome to watch my hands go dinosaur like as I fall from a height. I think that would be very rewarding for those of you that don't like me.

We are visiting this area and I'm very pleased to find out how much it has to offer. We've been…read morestaying at Crown Plaza Hotel for 8 weeks with two small kids and this park pretty much saved my sanity lol I wish I knew that it has great jogging trail I would have brought my gear. The play ground is great and it's perfect place to wear out your kids. It has stuff for big kids and play set for toddlers, obstacle course and a big double sandbox and a zip line!. There are toilets on play ground they rarely have toilet paper or soap but at lest bathrooms are there. There is a skate park and areas to play ball. Also there is a dog park, sadly we have no pets but it looks nice a big from afar. And everything pretty well taken care of. I definitely recommend this park!

I've lived in Dublin for a year and did not know about this park until a couple weeks ago after we…read morebought a car and started to really explore the area. This park is absolutely amazing. The playground is out of this world. There is also a skate park and lots of walking paths. It is a wonderful area. If you're driving, there is ample parking in the parking lot and by bus, I think you can take bus 37 or 39 (towards Ongar) from Dublin. I believe there is a stop right by the park. Also, this park has a sandpit, so bring your shovel and bucket! You can see the huge castle slide from the road and your kids will love the zip line! It's a very cool park.

It's 4 stars if you come with a toddler, but 3 with bigger children…read more Lower rating is due to optional activities that are paid. I wouldn't mind that if entry ticket was lower, but to pay €22.50 for 2 adults and 1 toddler and then pay up €8+ for this and season hat is bit insane IMHO. But I see the good side. If you just get in and set yourself in the main playground kids can have fun for several hours with no extra cost. Signs at the outdoors cafeteria says no food to be consumed that is not purchased from the premises. But staff was looking through the fingers as I say and some families had some fruits and sandwiches brought. So did we. I wouldn't mind paying for food, but that thing is designed to rip you off. €3 for a 3 square inches of biscuit cake. You get free tea or coffee per ticket. Coffee was horrible, better get tea. Knowing these bad things would make your experience better if you brought your own snacks and food, maybe even tea/coffee in a thermos flask. I will defo return here on a sunny day.

This is an outdoor play centre for kids (not for you). There's trampolines, go-karts, water…read moreslides...cold water slides...and these big massive upside down see-saws that are kind of like swings, but actually a sort of 10 foot tall see-saw. Children absolutely love it so if you have some on your hands bring them here (tenner a head), sit back and listen to your i-pod for the day. The 'Fort' part is that it's enclosed by a massive fence, so they can't go too far.

I lived in Donabate for about 10 months, and one thing I really loved was Newbridge House and…read moreDemesne, or The Newbridge Estate as it might also be called. This is a historic site in Donabate, and if you're coming in from Dublin by train it's only a 10 minute walk from the station to one of the side gates. The Dublin Buss 33B (from Portrane to Sword) stops by the main gate here. And if you have a car there is lots of parking. There is over 400 acres of parkland and trails and I loved coming here and going for a walk. Of all the things I miss about living in Donabate this is at the top of the list. I'd see people walking and running on the trails here. There were often families, and some people would bring their dogs (must be on leash of course). The Newbridge House is a Georgian style home and it's one that you can visit. They have guided tours of the house where you'll learn of of the Cobbe family that built the house and lived here until the 1980's. Apparently there was a portrait of William Shakespeare discovered at the house, but when I was visiting it wasn't on display. Along with the house there is a working farm that is run like it would have been in the 1800's. A ticket to the farm and house is €10. The farm has several breeds of different farm animals, including some Irish specific breeds like Connemara Ponies and Kerry Cows. If you are here after the house and farm has closed for the day (but while the park is still open) walk the trail behind the house toward the farm and you'll be able to see some of the animals. If you have kids a visit to the farm only is €5.50. And there is a playground by the house for kids too There are also Irish Red Deer in a pen on the path close to the entrance on the east side of the property. Sometimes the deer will come up close to the fence, but often they stay back. There are ten does and a buck in the pen. Don't feed the deer and be careful because they are animals and not Disney cartoon characters who will be your friends. There's often goats in this pen too. Beside the Newbridge House is the Coach Cafe. It has coffees, teas, juices, minerals, and a variety of pastries and sandwiches to enjoy. The cafe is nice, but can get quite busy especially on weekends. I didn't have lunch here, but did enjoy a coffee and a muffin. Anyway I loved all of my visits to the Newbridge House. I think the only downside is that it isn't open 24 hours a day (hours vary season to season), and that I'm back in Canada and can't just walk here in 10 minutes like I used to. I know one day I'll come back to Donabate and this will best the first place I visit.

this is a great little gem of a place. it has lovely wide open spaces to sit, relax and picnic…read more it has a playground in which you can lose the children for about an hour and it also has a farm and coffee shop. the farm is rather cool, when i went in it had lots of poultry, pigs and piglets, goats, cows and an interesting little hatchery. i even seen the eggs moving around as if ready to hatch! pity i did'nt stay long enough because i'd have loved to see if them break out of their shells. there is lots of ye auld farm machinery to see, makes you see how far technology has moved on from the plough and thrashing machines. its a great place to go if you want a bit of peace and quiet from the city and it only takes about 25 minutes to get there from the city center on the M1.

Great way to spend a Sunday I must say!…read more 27 euro well spent. There are I think 5 different courses all together, so you could spend nearly a full day here if you wanted. They increase in height (though maybe not so much difficulty) as you go on, so if you only had a few hours, and aren't too afraid of medium-heights, I'd recommend starting half way through at least. My other recommendation would be to get up there as early as possible as the queues seem to build and build around the middle of the day, which is a bit of a buzz kill to be honest. It gets freezing too as it's so high up, so definitely bring lots of layers, and a hat, and gloves, and a definitely hot drink in a flask as they don't sell any there for some reason! Aside from all that, the instructors are all very nice and well versed, and the location is top notch. It's not very difficult, besides the very last one, so I'd definitely recommend it for all types and ages.

You'd think fear of heights would be good enough reason to stay away from a pursuit involving…read morehurling yourself from treetop to treetop, fifty feet above ground, along a piece of string. And, in theory, it definitely is, but here's a tip. Simply never look down. It genuinely works. Aside from that, the only group I'd advise against zip-lining is the infirm or very unfit. It does involve a fair bit of heft, and there are moments when you are painfully reminded that there is a large muscle group residing in your middle area, as you try to climb a net you've just bashed into, up to your refuge on a treetop platform. But for anyone in the young therefore naturally fit, or middle aged and reasonably fit, categories, this is an absolute must to try at least once. It is just so much fun, very exhilarating, and a great team or family activity. I suspect it's most exhilarating for those of us who aren't naturally inclined to hurl ourselves along a rope at a great height, but even for the less faint-hearted, challenges await, as there are five levels, the last one for over-15s only, and from what I could see from solid earth, it involves basically cycling across the face of the sun. On a tightrope. Or something like that. It's less than an hour from the city centre, in the beautiful forest of Tibradden, and the staff are great - very attentive, friendly, and clearly keeping a close eye (you are glad to know). You're safe at all times, and it is reassuring to know that you can not for a moment, due to your own stupidity, become unsafe, as you are double clipped on, and one of those is always locked. Give yourself plenty of time, especially if it's your first time (and this applies especially for kids who will be trying hard to put on a brave face), as it takes some getting used to, and confidence builds as you go, so best not to rush it. But for an injection of family togetherness, zip lining if highly recommended, as naturally you go through highs and lows and figure out the journey together, one in which you're destined to prosper. In fact, maybe zip lining is the positive life metaphor we're all searching for. Relationship coming apart at the edges? Fly from tree to tree together for a few hours and you'll be all fixed in no time. Worried your staff don't like you? Bring them zip lining and up to Johnnie Foxes afterwards and watch your popularity levels soar to treetop heights. It's very much a case of feel the fear and do it anyway. And what a high, in every sense, when you do. For to adults and two kids it works out around 90 quid, but you can stay as long as you like, so make a day of it, bring a picnic and enjoy. Small thing: Toilet facilities are not great, it's a portaloo job, and they could have been better kept. Tip: bring your own tissues.

i paid two euro for a locker expecting my money back, but it didnt. the key was stuck and once it…read moreFINALLY opened, i looked inside and the two euro was still inside. the staff aren't great either. overall a horrible place.

joined few months back.. very disappointed... staff are great.badly managed.. facilities closed on…read moreand off a lot. not the cleanest. contacted the manager told him the problems and from what I can see has done nothing and wasn't a great reply from him either.. every week something is closed. gym shower facilities are crap and over half the gym lockers have no locks. its a Kip to be honest. I can go and on with the list of problems. check there fb page for the pool closures alone and now so there's no record they are putting the closures on their story instead so they erase after 24hrs

They did not offer appropriate non dairy alternatives and would not allow drinks to be brought in…read morefrom the coffee shop beside them, which did provide the appropriate non dairy alternative, as no food or drink was allowed which was not purchased in the premises was allowed. This would have been fine if we had not seen countless people bring in bottles of coke, water, 7up etc. They did not apply the same rule to everyone. Very unprofessional as there was no reason for the cold drinks to be bought elsewhere, there is obviously a reason for dairy free alternatives.

It's nor bad or good. Average…read more It didn't amaze me so rating as an average. I'd return here with my 3 year old for sure. But will check put other places before that. My dislike is that you can't observe majority of the play area. You're not able to have a sense of where your child is. I'd not feel save sitting down at the table while my kid is playing by herself. This is not the case for older kids as they can be trusted not to wonder off. Plus of play area that is large enough for an adult to go around without much of a hustle. Price was cheap. €6 for 2 adults and a kid. They offer free tea/coffee Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00.