Rainy Day Activities in Kerry

Ireland — and County Kerry in particular — is one of the most beautiful places in the world when the sun shines. But thanks to our spot on the edge of Europe, right out in the wild Atlantic, we also get more than our fair share of rain and famously unpredictable weather.

We’d love nothing more than to guarantee you perfect blue skies to match the stunning scenery — but that’s not something even the Irish can promise! As the Irish comedian Pat Shortt once joked, “It would be a lovely little country if you could only roof it!”

The good news is that rainy days don’t have to ruin your plans. Kerry is packed with great indoor activities, hidden gems, and local experiences that make the most of a drizzly day. Whether you’re looking for things to do in Tralee when it rains, fun indoor ideas for families, or a cosy craft experience to remember, you’ll find plenty to keep you entertained.

Rainy Day Activities in Kerry

So what can you do in Kerry when the rain sets in? Plenty! From hidden gems and cosy indoor spots to unique hands-on experiences, there’s no shortage of things to do on a rainy day in County Kerry.

I keep this blog post open and updated — if you know of a great local indoor activity, feel free to contact me with the details. I’m always happy to add more ideas as I find new favourites or remember old ones!

Woodturning Experiences in Tralee

I have to start with my own Woodturning Experiences — something I set up over the past few years to give visitors a real tiny taste of what it’s like to be a woodturner. Most people have only a vague idea of what a woodturner does, so this is a chance to step into my active production workshop, see the tools in action, and get hands-on yourself — no experience needed!

These sessions have been tweaked and refined over time thanks to lots of guest feedback, and I think I’ve found just the right balance of demonstration and guest involvement to make it a genuinely memorable activity.

You’ll find my Woodturning Experiences listed here on my site, and also on Airbnb Experiences (though it’s a bit more expensive there due to their booking fees). The sessions cover the very basics — enough to give you a taste without diving too deep into technical detail.

If you’d like to go further and really get into the craft of woodturning, I also offer one-to-one or two-person Woodturning Tuition. This option gives you more time at the lathe and a deeper look at the tools, techniques, and safe turning basics. If you’d prefer to try more hands-on turning in a small group setting, you can book my 4-hour Group Experience.

Adding Colour to an Irish Ash Ornament

Learn methods of making Wet Felt with Wool

Jayne Gillan is a fellow Crafter from the Original Kerry Craft Group and is based in Derrymore which is just beyond Tralee on the Dingle Peninsula. Jayne works with wool through wet-felting and silk nuno-felting methods and lists 2 Experiences on Airbnb Experiences.

You can find the first one Wet Felting Experience here Jayne is extremely talented, her work sells in Boutiques all over Ireland and she has been teaching her methods for nearly a decade. You can also visit her website via the link jaynegillan.com where she also lists more Experiences and are a little bit cheaper than on Airbnb. Follow the link above for more details.

Wet Felting Class in Action with Jayne Gillan

Visit an Amazing Traditional Woollen Mill

Andrew and Yvonne Eadie run one of the last surviving Traditional Woollen Mills in Ireland which have been creating fabrics for some 300 years. Having visited this location several times myself, I can tell you that the machinery is fascinating to watch in action. The complicated set up and running of the machinery and the constant monitoring by staff to ensure accuracy and consistency is mind boggling.

There is an onsite store where you can purchase finished Wool products for both Men & Women like Caps, Blankets, Scarves and Wool items for the home like Blankets, Throws and Rugs. You can also purchase Wool yarn of all types which is also produced in-house and a few other trinkets from other Crafters.

A tour of some of the Factory areas may be arranged if staff are not too busy but it would be highly advisable to contact and try to book an appointment first. They run a very busy business so tour availability is not always guaranteed. You can visit Kerry Woollen Mills here Andrew and Yvonne are also long standing members of the Original Kerry Craft Group.

Get Wet Indoors in one of Ireland's Largest Waterworlds

The Aqua Dome in Tralee is one of Ireland's Largest Indoor Waterworlds & Premier Tourist Attractions located on the Wild Atlantic Way. The Aqua Dome offers tropical temperatures all year round and is a Great Day Out for all the family whatever the weather!

It is brimming with exciting features that captures the imagination of both child and adult alike. The Aqua Dome is fun for swimmers & non-swimmers alike. Side note; I was in secondary school while the Aquadome was being built and watched the complicated construction day after day until it was finished. Have a look at the roof and you will see what I mean.

Visit the Aquadome Website Here

Kerry County Museum in Tralee

Located in the Ashe Memorial Hall which sits at one end of Denny Street, dedicated to the memory of Thomas Ashe. The building is built of local sandstone and houses the Kerry County Museum and the Tralee Tourist Information Office. It is a reconstruction of early Tralee. The purpose of the museum is to collect, record, preserve and display the material heritage of County Kerry.

The contained artefacts from throughout the history of Kerry include sunflower pins worn from the Bronze Age and duelling pistols used by the Liberator, Daniel O'Connell, in the early nineteenth century. It incorporates 'Kerry: The Kingdom' and an exhibit which depicts life in medieval Geraldine (from the Fitzgerald family) Tralee in 1450. It has been a few years since I was there myself but it is definitely worth a look. Visit the Kerry Museum Website here

Tralee Bay Wetlands

While this is mainly an outdoor amenity, the Wetlands has a a fine lakeside Cafe serving Tea, Coffee, Snack Foods and Cooked Meals. Large glass panes ensure a lovely view of the lake and surrounding land. You can always look out at the rain while you enjoy your meal or coffee if that is your thing :)

The Tralee Bay Wetlands project was conceived by Tralee Town Council as an innovative and sustainable visitor attraction. It was designed and developed to the highest international standards, aimed at attracting up to 50,000 tourists per annum. The project, costing €4.5m to develop, was jointly funded by Tralee Town Council and Failte Ireland under the National Development Plan (2007-2013).

The project is unique in Ireland and is leading the way in the vastly expanding eco tourism market in Kerry. It is strategically located on the gateway to the Dingle Peninsula and will greatly enhance the visitor product offering in Tralee. The Wetlands Centre utilises the rich natural heritage of the Tralee Bay area, which is a nature reserve of international importance. Visit the Tralee Bay Wetlands Website here

Crag Caves in Castleisland

Crag Caves is an ancient fossil cave system over one million years old. It was formed by underground rivers and flood-filled chambers, eroding the limestone rock over millennia. Nature stands as a creative and patient stonemason, carving unique and atmospheric tunnels and caverns.

Older than mankind itself, Crag Cave was not discovered until 1983. Today, Ireland’s most exciting show cave is an all-weather visitor attraction located just north of Castleisland, the gateway to Kerry. Having visited this naturally formed system I can tell you that it is hard to put into words. Just wait until they turn off the lights for 30 seconds. Visit the Crag Caves Website here

Muckross House in Killarney

Muckross House, Gardens, and Traditional Farms represent the focal point and nucleus of Killarney National Park. A visit to the impressive location is one of the most popular things to do in Killarney. This is Ireland's oldest National Park, and it includes the world famous Lakes of Killarney, as well as the mountains and woodlands that surround them. Muckross and Killarney National Park are open daily all year round (expect the Christmas period). Please refer to website for more details on opening times & prices.

You can visit the Muckross House Website Here. At the time of writing this Blog Post, the website was offline. I have now added the website link but you can still visit their Wikipedia page below if you wish. The Muckross House Wikipedia page. 

The Playdium - Something for the Small Kids!

Located in Manor Retail Park Tralee, is the largest indoor soft play centre for children in Ireland and is the newest addition to Co. Kerry’s family and child friendly all weather facilities.

Soft Play Facilities, provide children from birth to 12 years with a safe, supervised and comfortable facility for play, exercise and socialization in a warm, dry and comfortable environment. Parents, who must remain and supervise their children, are provided with modern café facilities, comfortable surroundings, TV and Internet access to while away the hours in comfort. Offering over 10,000 ft2 the Playdium is the largest facility of its kind in Co. Kerry. Open Friday to Sunday from 10am till 6pm and always on Public Holidays.

Check out the Playdium's Website Here

Future Mentions

I am trying to feature North Kerry first before branching out to the rest of the county. If you have an activity or business experience that you want to share, please contact me with details. I intend for this Blog Post to expand and continue for a while to come. If you have made it this far, thank you for your attention. Maybe I could cheekily tempt you to browse around my website David Condon Woodcraft

Thanks for reading this far, David

Support my Business

I used to run ads here, but they slowed down the site and annoyed everyone — including me! So I removed them and added a simple ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ button instead.

If you didn’t use the links in this post but found it interesting or helpful, you’re very welcome to chip in through the ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ link below. There’s no pressure at all — every little gesture helps and is genuinely appreciated.

I run a small, independent business that doesn’t rake in huge profits, so every bit of support makes a difference. Thank you for reading and for helping me keep this going!

More Pages to Explore​​​

• Household Woodcraft Gifts - Discover my range of Household Woodcraft for everyday use or special occasions, each crafted with care from exquisite Irish hardwood.

• New Crafter's Haven - Browse a large selection of craft supplies I also sell including gift bags and ribbon that would accentuate my wood products when giving as a gift.

• Food Serving - Explore my range of Food-Safe Irish Hardwood Bowls & Serving Boards!