Activities in Armagh

Look into the night sky and the galaxies beyond at the Armagh Planetarium. Nestled in 14 acres of open space close to the town centre, the Planetarium is packed with fun and games and is the perfect day out for children and families. Activities include designing and launching rockets, a 3D theatre and projection, an Astropark which recreates our universe and a beautiful gallery of deep space images.

Ireland’s oldest museum, Armagh County Museum covers a wide range of exhibits including fine art, archaeology and natural history. The museum also charts the history of the orchard county, as Armagh is affectionately known, and is open Monday to Saturday.

Dating back to 1840, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is an imposing hill-top Catholic church to the north of the town centre. The interior is magnificent, with intricate mosaics and a stunning central organ. It’s open for daily mass and self-guided tours.

Gosford Forest Park is the first dedicated conservation forest in Northern Ireland. The park covers 240 hectares of woodland and parkland as well as Ulster’s largest listed building, Gosford Castle which some Game of Thrones fans might recognise. The large park has plenty to offer including miles of walking, cycling and horse-riding routes, several playgrounds, orienteering trails and a tea room and shop.

Get a feel for Armagh and its history by taking a quick tour around The Mall, a tree-lined oval space with plenty of impressive Georgian buildings, bright flowerbeds, sculptures, historical monuments and a cricket pitch.

A place of myth and mystery, the Navan Centre & Fort is an important archaeological site said to be the home of Emain Macha, an ancient goddess of war and fertility. The centre and fort dates back more than 2,000 years and is a living history site with a recreated village and actors in period costumes bringing the legacy to life. There’s plenty to see and do, including guided tours and an excellent cafe and restaurant.

A firm family favourite, Tannaghmore Gardens & Animal Farm is a free-entry attraction with a wide range of traditional Irish farm exhibits. As well as a rare breeds farm with plenty of Irish classics, you can explore a sculpture trail, a large playground and maze. Plus, would-be lovers might want to check out the Kissing Gate, where some say one kiss over the gate will see you married within a year. Time to pucka up!