Landlubbers, scallywags and scurvy naves will love the new Playful Pirate Culture Trail launched in Cork City, Ireland’s maritime haven, for the summer months. Throughout July and August, the city’s vibrant museums, galleries and visitor attractions will add pirate fun to their offering so families can explore culture, heritage and the city’s green spaces in an imaginative and playful way.
Play Like a Pirate in Cork City
It’s the perfect opportunity to get your kids to say ‘aye-aye’ to cultural adventures so gather your hearties and navigate them to great culture and green spaces in the city using the specially created Playful Pirate Culture Trail treasure map.
Museums, galleries, and historic sites are of course all keepers of treasure so there are lots for your crew to discover and explore! The map includes a special treasure to be found at each site, along with other challenges. It also lists 20 child-friendly activities to do in the city from spotting pirate ships and cannons to digging for hidden loot and searching for golden angels.
In addition to a treasure hunt at each venue on your voyage, there will be pirate photo opportunities, fun facts, lots of pirate colouring, and suggested activities to try where X marks the spot.
Make sure you also look out for the play trail mascot Bláithin, a little green environmentalist pirate lizard, who will play hide and seek at each venue. As a pirate who lives on the sea, she encourages everyone to learn about the environment and keep the city and planet clean and healthy.
And above all, make sure your little pirates get a stamp at every venue to fill their maps with their bounty! The trail includes: Blackrock Castle Observatory, Blarney Castle, The Butter Museum, Cork City Gaol, Cork Public Museum, Cork Military Museum, Elizabeth Fort, Crawford Art Gallery, Nano Nagle Place, Glucksman Gallery, Old Cork Waterworks Experience, Shandon Bells and Tower, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, St Peter’s Church, Triskel Christchurch and outdoor spaces/ picnic points including Fitzgerald Park, the Lough, and the Atlantic Pond. The aim is that families can have multiple days out, trying different locations and activities.
Playful Cork City
This project is part of an overall mission to make Cork a playful, child-friendly, active city and was developed in collaboration with all the participating museums, galleries, and attractions in Cork, in partnership with Let’s Play Cork, and Pure Cork. The initiative has been generously funded by Cork City Council. Some venues on the trail are free, while others offer family rates.
Pick up your map in the tourist information offices or at any attraction or hotel in Cork City or find it here. For updates on Cork as a Playful City follow @corkcitycouncilofficial on social media or search hashtags #LetsPlayCork #ActiveCorkCity