Leisure and Recreation
Local authorities provide and maintain a variety of leisure and recreation facilities to help you make the most of the local area. This includes looking after parks and beaches, outdoor sports equipment and grounds, fitness facilities, public caravan and camping parks, and trails and greenways.
In this section
Public parks and beaches
Ireland is known for its natural landscape, and our public parks and beaches allow residents and visitors to spend time outdoors, experience nature, and explore our biodiversity. Keeping these spaces in good condition, protected and accessible allows everyone to make the most of them.
Local authorities develop and maintain public parks for us all to enjoy. You can find out where your nearest parks are on your local authority website.
Parks can include a range of amenities and facilities including:
- Pathways and cycleways
- Playing pitches and courts
- Playgrounds
- Skateboarding areas
- Outdoor gyms and exercise equipment
- Dog parks
- Performance and exhibition areas
- Tea rooms
- Gardens and flowerbeds
- Bins
Local authorities also look after our beaches by:
- Cleaning and managing litter
- Providing changing facilities for swimmers
- Providing lifeguards
- Enforcing parking
- Providing beach wheelchairs
- Protecting the biodiversity of the beach
- Working towards Blue Flag and Green Coast status for high environmental standards at our beaches
Sport and fitness facilities
Providing spaces for sport and fitness allows everyone in the community to enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle.
Local authorities provide several sports facilities. These can include:
- Pitches
- Basketball courts
- Tennis courts
- Running tracks
- Public swimming pools
- Gyms
- Public golf courses
- Public pitch and putt courses
If you want to find out about the facilities near you, check your local authority website or the Get Ireland Active website.
Local authorities can also provide grants and funding to sports clubs through the Local Sports Partnership.
Trails, greenways and blueways
Walking, hiking, and getting out on the water can all be great for both your physical and mental wellbeing. Trails, greenways and blueways are all great ways to explore, spend time outdoors, and discover the rich biodiversity of an area. Greenways combine walking and cycling routes, often connecting towns and villages through the greenway system. Blueways are water trails where people can paddle, canoe or kayak.
If you are interested in visiting walking or hiking trails, greenways or blueways, visit the local authority website of the area you are visiting.
Public caravan and camping parks
Many people choose to camp or stay in a caravan when travelling around Ireland. Camping can be an exciting way to experience a new place and reconnect with the outdoors. However, we all have a responsibility to protect the environment, respect landowners, and inform ourselves of the rules around camping in certain places. It’s important to know where you can and cannot camp in a tent or caravan when you’re travelling around Ireland.
If you are planning on camping in a tent or caravan, plan your trip in advance and know where you are going to stay each night. Wild camping (staying outside of a designated camping site) is generally not allowed in many parts of Ireland. If you are staying on private lands, you will need permission from the landowner.
Some local authorities run public camping and caravan parks which include facilities such as caravan bays, camping areas, showers, toilets, and waste and recycling facilities.
Find out about the camping and caravan parks in the area you’re visiting on the local authority website.