From singing or learning a language, to archaeology and cookery, here are some of the camps on offer this summerThere is a wide range of camps running across Ireland this summer Tue May 19 2026 - 06:01 • 16 MIN READEvery year, the demand increases from children and parents for entertaining, distracting, fun-filled and educational summer camps. There are many reasons why these camps have become so popular – among them, most likely, the rise and rise of digital screens. Parents are eager for their children to spend time away from their bedrooms and the livingroom couch.The good news is there are many quality camps for children and teenagers in every county. Here is the first of our guides to summer camps – one involving camps that do not (generally) involve much outdoor physical activity.AIMS Youth WorkshopThe AIMS Youth Summer School is a week-long residential workshop held every year. Teenagers get the opportunity to work with a professional director, choreographer and musical director. As part of the week’s activities, participants will take part in improvisation, mime, dance, singing and acting. Past workshops have featured extracts from shows such as West Side Story, 42nd Street and Les Misérables. Always books out very quickly.Location: Ursuline Convent, Thurles, Co Tipperary.Dates and times: Sunday, June 28th to Friday, July 3rd.Ages: 15-18 years.Cost: €320.Website: aims.ieAirfield ExperienceAirfield Experience is a chance for children to connect with nature A camp where your child can explore the outdoors in Dublin city, make new friends and discover the wonders of nature. This is a seasonally-inspired adventure packed with fun, learning and discovery. Led by experienced guides, children will connect with nature, grow their confidence and try exciting new things.Location: Airfield Estate, Dundrum, Dublin 14.Date and times: The Airfield Experience summer camps run from week starting Monday, July 6th to week starting Monday, August 3rd. Camps for ages 6-8 run from 10am-2pm; 9-12 years are 10am-4pm. Ages: 6-8 and 9-12.Cost: €250/€300.Website: airfield.ieAlliance FrançaiseThe award-winning Alliance Française Dublin summer camps provide a unique and immersive environment for kids to learn and have fun in the French language and culture. One- or two-week camps are available for children and teenagers of all levels and abilities.Location: 1 Kildare Street, Dublin 2.Date and times: June, July and August.Ages: 3-5 years/6-9/10-12/first year, second year, Junior Cert, fourth year, fifth year and Leaving Cert.Cost: From €249.Website: alliance-francaise.ie/schoolholidayAnyone4ScienceHands-on science camps where children and teens learn by doing. Junior campers grow crystal gardens, build kaleidoscopes, design solar ovens, explore forensic science and launch rockets. The Teen Science Camp is designed for students in first to third year of secondary school who love science or are considering taking science subjects in September. They’ll build skills in critical thinking, teamwork and take on challenging problem-solving tasks. Both camps end with a crowd favourite – making ice cream without electricity.Location: TU Dublin, Grangegorman; TU Dublin, Tallaght and Greystones ETNS, Co Wicklow.Dates and times: During July, running from 9.30am to 2.30pm for teens, and 10am to 2.30pm for primary schoolchildren.Ages: 7-15.Cost: €275- €280. Website: anyone4science.comArchaeology CampThis is a unique type of camp. The School of Irish Archaeology camps provide a fascinating alternative to sports-themed camps and other school-break activities for children. If your child is a curious explorer with a thirst for knowledge who likes to get their hands dirty while learning about the past, this might be the one for them. It is full of fun ancient craft and technology workshops such as Viking-dagger making, medieval archery, the popular big-dig Viking house excavation plus much more.Locations: Harold’s Cross NS, Dublin 6 West; Rosemont School, Sandyford, D18; Clonturk Community College, Whitehall, D9; Malahide Community School, Co Dublin; Monaghan County Museum and The Museum of Hidden Treasures in Clonmel, Co Tipperary.Dates and times: One-, three- or five-day options, 10am-3pm, throughout the summer.Ages: 7-12.Cost: €160.Website: sia.ieArtzoneParticipants will be taught new skills and techniques by qualified art teachers. Artzone covers a range of art projects, including painting, drawing, materials manipulation and clay construction, with lots of personal design and creative input. For older students, there’s also stop-motion animation, drawing, painting and sculpture. Locations: Several Dublin locations - Dundrum, Rathfarnham, Lucan, Malahide and Glenageary.Dates and times: July and August, 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm.Ages: 5-16.Cost: €160.Website: artzone.ieAventuroAventuro Ireland organises reciprocal exchange programmes for Irish children, offering cultural and language immersion experiences lasting from four weeks to six months. The organisation pairs a child with an international child of similar age, interests and personality. Participants live with their matched family abroad and later host their exchange partner in Ireland.Locations: Summer placements are available in France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Canada and China.Dates and times: June, July and August, from four to 12 weeks.Ages: 10-17 years.Cost: From €750.Website: aventuroireland.ieCampa SamhraidhThe Coláiste Ghlór na Mara summer camp is run by qualified teachers and is a great way for students to learn or improve their Irish through fun educational sessions. Through sport, cooking, arts and crafts, science experiments and more, students use Irish naturally as they play, create and explore. It’s practical, active and designed to help them improve their fluency in a fun environment. Location: Coláiste Ghlór na Mara, Balbriggan, Co Dublin.Dates and times: Monday-Friday, July 6th to 10th (10am to 3pm).Ages: Suitable for students coming from both English and Irish-speaking schools that are going into sixth class in primary school, and students going into first, second or third year in September.Cost: €160.Booking: eventbrite.ie (email campa@cgnm.ie)Connemara Maths AcademyConnemara Maths Academy At CMA Summer Camps, students enjoy an incredible mix of adventure activities, team sports and STEAM workshops (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths), with a focus on discovery, creativity and adventure. CMA has also developed new workshops including AI modelling and entrepreneurship.Location: Nestled on the stunning shores of Lough Mask, Clonbur in the east of Connemara. Dates and times: June 28th - July 25th.Ages: 7-17.Cost: From €155 per week (Day/residential options).Website: https://connemaramathsacademy.comDancestepsDance camp is one of many alternatives to sports summer camps Dancesteps Summer Camp covers ballet, jazz, yoga, hip hop and contemporary. The camp promises to be sociable, fun, good exercise and will culminate in a showcase for friends and family at the end of the week.Location: War Memorial Hall, Terenure, Dublin 6.Dates and times: July 20th-24th. 10am-2pm.Ages: 6-13. Cost: €120.Website: dancestepsdublin.com (email ellendowneydance@gmail.com)Dance Summer CampEach day children will learn upbeat, hip-hop style dances to modern-music hits. They will also learn clapping rhythms and body percussion, with games and, most importantly, lots of fun.Location: Barbara Ward Community Centre, Drumcondra, Dublin.Dates and times: July 13th-17th, 10am-2.30pm.Ages: Senior infants to sixth class. Cost: €130.Website: rhythmdance.ieDwan AcademyAfter recently moving to an impressive new location in Thurles, Co Tipperary, Dwan Academy are putting on their first performing arts summer camp. There’s a wide range of activities promised, including dance, drama, singing, ukulele, songwriting and art.Location: The Encore Studio Space, Thurles, Co Tipperary.Dates and times: August 10th-14th.Ages: 7-12. Cost: €100.Booking: Email therese@dwanacademy.com (www.dwanacademy.com)DDenThese activity-based, digital skills camps run for several weeks this summer. The camps including one introducing children to interactive digital skills, one about machine learning and AI (two-week camp) and one focusing on digital health and social media literacy. Participants take home a digital portfolio of their work.Location: Carlow College, St Patrick’s.Dates and times: Monday-Friday, June 29th-July 31st.Ages: Two age brackets – 10-12 and 13-19.Cost: From €195.Website: dden.ie (email immanuel@dden.ie)Designer MindsDesigner Minds These STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) camps give curious, creative children a week of hands-on science, design and technology. From extracting DNA and experimenting with dry ice, to coding robots, launching rockets and animating LEGO films, the activities span the full range of STEAM disciplines.Locations: More than 140 locations in 25 counties.Dates and times: Five-day (20 hour) camps in July and August.Ages: 6½-12.Cost: €180.Website: designerminds.ieDiscovery PlaytimeEnjoy lots of activities, including art, messy play, dancing, singing, story time and treasure hunts. The themed camps include Superhero Academy, Treasure Island Adventure and Dinosaur Quest. There is also a week of Discovery Makers Camp for older children.Locations: Naas, Newbridge, and Celbridge. The Discovery Makers camp is in Sallins. Dates and times: July and August, 9.30am to 1.30pm. (Discovery Makers is July 27th-30th).Ages: 3-6 (Discovery Playtime), 7-12 (Discovery Makers).Cost: €145 (€116 for four-day week on August Bank Holiday week). Discovery Makers is €116 (four days).Website: discoveryplaytime.ieDivaThe Dún Laoghaire Institute of Visual Arts (Diva) is an art centre offering creative summer camps that cover a wide range of different artistic activities. Children and teenagers will learn new skills in a fun and inclusive environment where the class sizes are small (maximum 10 children per class). Young artists can try out different activities, such as clay modelling, gem sculptures, hydro dipping, plaster carving, watercolour and acrylic painting, ink marbling, still-life drawing, map making, collage, printmaking, oil pastels, character design, as well as many many fun artistic games. Location: 24 Mellifont Avenue, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin.Dates and times: Camps run weekly throughout July and August.Ages: 7-18. Cost: €158.Website: divadunlaoghaire.comdlr Mill TheatreCamps designed to immerse students in a high-energy, intensive, daylong learning experience consisting of instruction in acting, singing and dancing. Students will experience the collaborative nature of theatre, culminating in a presentation on the dlr Mill Theatre stage on the Friday afternoon. Camps include K Pop Summer Camp, Wicked of Oz the Musical, Summer with Matilda & Go Potty for Harry.Location: dlr Mill Theatre, Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin 16. Dates and times: Four camps running from June 29th to July 24th – 10am-2.30pm daily. Ages: 4-15 years. Cost: €160. Website: milltheatre.ieDublin Cookery SchoolGrowing Gourmets summer cookery camps are full of skills and dishes designed to help kids explore, share, learn, discover and play with new ideas and flavours. This is a fun and interactive environment led by a team of supportive and experienced tutors.Location: Brookfield Terrace, Blackrock, Co Dublin.Dates: Monday to Thursday, running for 12 weeks over the summer.Times: 10am-2.30pm.Ages: Seniors (June, 14-17 years) & Juniors (July & August, 11-14 years).Cost: €325.Website: dublincookeryschool.ieDublin Youth ChoirThe Dublin Youth Choir Summer Sing will return to the Royal Irish Academy for a third time this summer. Led by choir leaders and conductors Brian Murphy, Anne McCambridge and David Callaghan, singers will participate in a range of activities, including physical and vocal warm-ups, musicianship classes, sectionals, full-choir rehearsals, and social activities. It will culminate in a performance for family and friends in RIAM’s Whyte Recital Hall. Location: Royal Irish Academy of Music, Westland Row, Dublin 2.Dates and times: Monday-Friday, June 29th-July 3rd, 10am-4pm daily. Ages: 9-14 years.Cost: €190.Website: riam.ieEuro Languages CollegeELC offers immersive residential language camps for secondary school students, hosted in boarding schools in Munster. The programmes are designed for first- to fifth-year students, except the senior course for post-Junior Cycle students and a junior course for first or second years. These 17-day summer courses provide a blend of language learning and fun, with students immersed in French, German or Spanish both in and out of the classroom. A wide range of indoor and outdoor activities are included – such as unihoc, basketball, tennis and swimming.Locations: Bandon Grammar School, Co Cork; Cistercian College, Roscrea; Presentation School, Thurles, Co Tipperary, St Flannan’s College, Co Clare.Dates and times: Various start dates across July and August (each course runs for 17 days).Ages: 13-18 (all secondary school students welcome).Cost: €1,215-€1,490.Website: elc.ieGaiety School of ActingThere are 30 camps at GSA this summer, with all sorts of themes and genres. The camps offered include camps on Matilda, Paddington and acting for camera. There’s also a Leaving Certificate-focused camp. Locations: Temple Bar, DublinDates and times: June, July and August - generally 10am-4pm daily. Ages: 8-19 years.Cost: From €195.Website: gaietyschool.comIndependent Theatre WorkshopThe are several drama and theatre camps running across Ireland this summer Founded in 1993, The ITW has a bumper line-up of performing arts camps this summer for ages three to 18 in Dublin. All camps are divided according to age and include drama, dancing, singing, arts and crafts, and puppetry. The musical theatre camps are inspired by Six, Hamilton and Mean Girls for Teens, with the younger camp themes including Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter, K-pop Demon Hunters and Stranger Things.Locations: Dublin locations - ITW Studios in Clonskeagh and Drumcondra; and Beechwood Centre, Ranelagh.Dates and times: All camps run for five days, Monday-Friday. Various dates from the end of June, through July and August. Ages: Tots (3-6), Juniors (7-9), Tweens (10-12), Teens (13-17).Cost: Tots: €140, Juniors/Tweens: €180, Teens: €195.Website: itwstudios.ieInspirelandThis camp aims to be a safe space where young creatives can be themselves, build confidence, learn new skills and be part of a creative tribe. Both teen and kids camps are tutored by art college lecturers, animators, professional artists and art college students. They will learn the basics of animation, comic art, claymation, video game concept art, craft bookmaking, anime and manga, mask making, character design, model making, illustration, watercolours, print, graphic art and mixed media.Locations: Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dún Laoghaire; Clasac, Clontarf; Rua Red, Tallaght; Phibblestown Community Centre, Dublin 15; St Peter’s, Cork; Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford; TUS, Limerick; TUS, Clonmel; TUS, Athlone; the Barbican, Drogheda; Clanwilliam Rugby Club, Tipperary, and Linenhall Theatre, Castlebar.Dates and times: Five-day and four-day camps from June 29th to August 14thAges: 8-18.Cost: €160.Website: inspireland.ieInstituto CervantesInstituto Cervante is a Spanish summer camp based in Dublin The Instituto Cervantes, the official worldwide organisation for the promotion of the Spanish language and culture, is offering Spanish summer camps for teenagers. The programme is designed for students with prior knowledge of Spanish and aims to enhance their practical language skills. Through engaging activities that develop reading, listening, writing and speaking abilities, the course places special emphasis on interactive oral exercises.Location: Instituto Cervantes Dublin, Lincoln House, 6-16 Lincoln Place, Dublin 2.Dates and times: Monday to Friday, 10am-1pm, weeks starting June 8th, 22nd, July 6th, 20th, and August 10th.Ages: 13-18.Cost: €205.Website: dublin.cervantes.esJunior EinsteinsJunior Einsteins is perfect for the little scientist in your life Camps that are passionate about bringing STEM to young children in a fun-filled high energy way. Participants can expect interactive experiments, fossil making, forensics, bug hunts, geology and volcanoes, and much more.Locations: Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Louth, Meath, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow.Dates and times: In various locations through the summer. Generally five days, 9am-1pm/1.30pm daily. Ages: 6-11. Cost: 160-€198.Website: junioreinsteinsscienceclub.comLingotot Spanish & Art CampOrganisers promise that children will take part in fun, interactive sessions where they will learn through activities including songs, short stories, games and outdoor challenges. The morning active language learning session will be followed by a theme-related art lesson after lunch.Location: St Paul’s Parish Centre, Glenageary, Dublin.Dates and times: July 6th-10th, 10am-2pm (early drop-off available).Age: 7+.Cost: €150.Website: lingotot.com/ie/centre/south-dublinMaratachtA marine-focused residential camp for teenagers with water activities and conversational Irish on Ireland’s most southerly island, Cape Clear Island. Activities include marine ecology, social history of human interaction with the sea, climate-change issues, kayaking, snorkelling, fishing and stand-up paddleboarding – all linked to second-level curriculum/UN Sustainable Development goals. Locations: Cape Clear Island/Oileán Chléire, Co Cork.Dates and times: Residential. Seven or 14 days. Every Sunday from May 31–July 5th.Ages: 13-17 years.Cost: €770.Website: maratacht.ieMeshes | Summer ArtsA week-long project that invites teenagers to explore dreamlike storytelling, inspired by Meshes of the Afternoon, a 1943 film. The workshop introduces participants to creative techniques that transform everyday places and objects into strange, mysterious and imaginative worlds. The teens develop their own short experimental works, learning simple skills in planning and creating while using mirrors, shadows, movement and repeated actions to create atmosphere and meaning.Location: Source Arts Centre, Thurles, Co Tipperary.Dates and times: Monday to Friday, July 13th-17th, 10am-3pm daily.Ages: 14-18 years.Cost: €100.Website: thesourceartscentre.ieNext StageNext Stage Theatre School are back again with their performing arts camps. These long-established camps involve singing, dance, drama and fun, culminating in a show for parents on the last day. The focus is on making friends, having fun and building confidence while learning about performance. Locations: Naas, Co Kildare and Balally, Dublin 16.Dates and times: July 13th-August 7th, 10am-2.30pm.Ages: 4-13.Cost: €90.Website: nextstage.iePhoenix Stage SchoolThe Co Galway stage school provides education, entertainment and recreation for students in a nurturing environment through dance and musical theatre. The camps are called Dance! Dance! Dance! and Musical Mania.Locations: Salthill and Moycullen, Co Galway.Dates and times: August 4th-7th (Salthill), August 10th-14th (Moycullen). Ages: 5-12.Cost: €105.Website: phoenixstageschool.comPlayactImagination, creativity, drama and play mixed together to let children become the maestros of their own theatric tales. A way for kids to connect with people, develop new skills and learn about drama, the arts and music.Locations: Several Dublin venues – Crumlin, Dún Laoghaire, Inchicore and South Circular Road.Dates and times: Five-day camps throughout July.Ages: 4-12.Cost: €165.Website: playact.ieRéalta DramaRéalta will be running an Alice in Wonderland-themed camp focused on script work, stage skills and character work. This will be a week of enhancing drama skills and creativity and exploring the themes of Alice in Wonderland. Spaces are limited to just 10 students.Location: Castlebar Social Services Building, Castlebar, Co Mayo. Dates and times: July 13th-17th, 9am-noon.Ages: 7-9.Cost: €120.Website: realtadrama.comSearsolSearsol covers a range of topics including touch typing These classroom computer skills camps are ideal for children and teens who want to improve their digital literacy skills. The course covers a range of topics, including touch typing, word processing, image editing, creating avatars, comic books, collages and online drawing. Locations: Whitehall and Lucan, Co Dublin.Dates and times: Five days, 9.30am-12.30pm (Level 1) and 1.30pm- 4.30pm (Level 2).Ages: Ages: 8-12 (Level 1) and 13-18 (Level 2).Cost: €100.Website: searsolcomputercamps.comSegotiaA camp designed to help children reconnect with creativity, curiosity and the joy of play through an immersive week of storytelling, movement, art and self-expression. Children create their own original stories, design costumes and props, explore movement and yoga, and bring their imaginations to life through collaborative creative play.Location: Rathmines, Dublin.Date and times: June 29th-July 3rd and July 6th-July 10th. 9am-1pm daily. Ages: 7-9. Cost: €180 (€200 with early drop-off option).Website: segotia.ieSinging & SongwritingTwo separate camps. One is a singing summer camp, aimed at tweens and young teens. It promises games, solo and group singing as well as learning techniques, with a concert at the end of the week. The other, a songwriting summer camp, is for older children and includes writing, recording and performing a song. Location: Arclight Drama Studio, Cornelscourt Village, Dublin.Dates & Times: Aug 4th-7th (singing). July 13th-17th and August 10th-14th (songwriting).Ages: 10-14 years (singing). 13-17 years (songwriting).Cost: €125.Booking: Email darraghcullen31@hotmail.com or arclightdrama@gmail.comStarcampNow in its 19th year, tens of thousands of children will attend Ireland’s most popular multi-activity and feel-good camps. They will feature dance, drama, music, magic, comedy, news and weather-reporting, arts and crafts, and outdoor games. For 2026, a circus theme has been introduced, with everything wrapped together in the core ethos of building self-esteem and confidence. The traditional Starcamp is aimed at the four-to-eight age group, with Starcrew introduced for those aged eight-plus, designed around activities that are more engaging for the older children such as Spy Academy and imposter games.Locations: 250 locations in almost every county.Dates and times: Five-day camps through the summer, 9am-2pm daily (free early drop-off 8.45am).Ages: 4-12 years.Cost: From €100. (Sibling and multi-camp discount. €20 secures a place with balance paid monthly. Website: starcamp.ieSummer ArtThere is lots of outdoor space for large-scale painting at these four-day camps – perfect for children who love art and creativity. A large bell tent is used as base camp, with a sheltered art shack to work in along with shelters dotted around the garden in case of a shower.Location: South Co Carlow.Dates and times: July 14th-17th, 21st-24th, 28th-31st.Ages: 6-13 years.Cost: €135.Website: siobhanjordan.comTechkidzYou can boost your child’s creativity at this technology and STEAM camp. Kids dive into coding, robotics, animation, web design, game design, graphics and much more. A place to make friends and learn with every click and code. Locations: Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Tipperary, Limerick and Waterford.Dates and times: July to August, five-day camps. 9.30am-3.30pm daily.Ages: 7-13.Cost: From €140.Website: techkidz.ieTutti MusicImmerse yourself in a week of ensemble playing, live performances, composition and percussion workshops, chamber music and conducting sessions. It is all led by distinguished professional musicians Peter Ryan, Martin Johnson, Ailbhe McDonagh, Lynda O’Connor, Caitríona Frost, Sinéad Frost and Paul Kiernan. The week culminates in a concert for family and friends – a celebration of creativity, collaboration and musical growth.Location: Rathmines, Dublin 6.Dates and times: August 10th-14th, 10am-3.30pm.Ages: 11-17.Cost: €350.Website: tuttimusicireland.com (contact: Ciara@tuttimusicireland.com for further details).WhizzKidsDigital skills are essential in everyday life and these summer camps introduce children to the world of web design, game development, 3D modelling, app development and a host of other digital skills. Held in venues such as UCD, DCU and UL, they operate out of nine university campuses. In operation since 2003, they have built a reputation for making learning fun, blending sports and high-tech challenges into an “edutaining” day.Locations: Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Athlone, Clare and Tipperary.Dates and times: Camps through July and August. Monday-Friday, 9.30am-1pm or 9.30am-3pm.Ages: 8-15.Cost: €145/€195.Website: whizzkids.ieYoung PianistsYoung Pianists is an immersive camp This course, by the Royal Academy of Music (RIAM), is an opportunity for young pianists to spend an immersive week training in person with eminent RIAM Keyboard Faculty tutors, bringing their piano playing to the next level and developing skills.Location: Royal Irish Academy of Music, Westland Row, Dublin 2.Dates and times: Monday to Friday, July 6th-10th.Ages: 13-18 years. Cost: €230.Website: riam.ieYouth AcademyThe Youth Academy in University of Galway is offering camps this summer for “high-ability” primary and secondary school students. The course classes include “Analysing media and making your own radio show/podcast”, “Understanding electrical circuits”, “A journey through biology”, “The Secret Life of Microbes”, “Inside the Mind: The Psychology of You” and “A Journey Through the Human Body, Medicine & Health”. Location: University of Galway.Dates and times: Primary: July 6th-10th and July 13th-17th (10am-12.30pm). Secondary: July 6th-8th and July 13th-15th (10am-3pm).Ages: 4th-6th class and 1st-3rd year. Cost: €150.Website: universityofgalway.ie/youthacademyYoyogaYoyoga are truly unique These camps are truly unique in that they run at a slightly different pace to most camps. They start each day with yoga, done through storytelling, games and songs, before moving on to meditation. The children then get outside to play and do arts and crafts, before finishing the day up with more yoga and meditation.Location: Griffith Barracks MDS, South Circular Road, Dublin.Date and times: August 10th-14th and August 17th-21st. 9am-1pm daily.Ages: 5-9.Cost: €135.Website: yoyoga.ieIN THIS SECTION