Name: An Táin Arts Centre
Rating: 5.0

An Táin Arts Centre

An Táin Arts Centre, Crowe Street, Townparks, Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland

1-90 Years

Paid

Website

Contact

Message

Description

An Táin Arts Centre is an independent arts space located in the town centre of Dundalk, County Louth. Based in the historic Town Hall building, this cultural hub features a 350-seat main theatre, a 55-seat studio theatre, a dedicated visual arts gallery, and production studios. It is widely considered one of the best things to do with kids in Dundalk if you are looking for an inspiring indoor activity venue that regularly hosts live children's theatre, music events, and family films.

Pricing at the venue is designed to remain highly accessible for the local community, with family cinema tickets and children's event entry typically starting from £6.00 to £8.50 (€7.00 to €10.00) per seat. Ticket prices vary depending on whether you are booking a seasonal workshop, a professional touring stage show, or a youth theatre production. The venue frequently offers discounted family bundle packages for designated shows to make a day out more affordable for parents.

If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that combines creative storytelling, hands-on community workshops, and an all-weather indoor environment, this arts hub is an ideal choice. Children can watch their favourite book characters come alive on stage, participate in weekend crafting classes, or look at vibrant public gallery displays. It provides a welcoming, relaxed setting where children can discover the arts while parents unwind in a spacious, professionally managed facility.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Activity Features

Interactive Exhibits & Galleries: A bright, dedicated visual arts gallery showcasing a rotating line-up of regional and national artists that introduces kids to contemporary painting and sculpture.
Educational Day Out: Frequent school matinees, literary theatre adaptations, and heritage events aimed at building confidence and curiosity in young minds.
Sensory Play & Accessible Shows: Relaxed morning performances designed for toddlers and children with neurodivergent needs, featuring ambient lighting and gentle sound volumes.

Detailed Highlights

The Main Theatre Auditorium: This 350-seat tiered theatre space is the heart of the venue's live performance schedule. The sloping seat layout means smaller children always have a completely clear, unobstructed view of the stage costumes and live action.
The Studio Theatre: A smaller, highly flexible 55-seat performance room used for intimate early-years storytelling and acoustic events. This space feels less imposing than a large theatre, making it perfect for toddlers who might feel nervous around big crowds.
The Visual Arts Gallery: Located on the ground floor, this free public space introduces children to artistic textures and designs in a calm environment. The exhibits rotate regularly, so there is always something new for families to look at.
An Táin School Matinees: Special daytime performance runs organized specifically for local primary and secondary school groups. These shows link directly to literature and drama topics, combining education with the excitement of a live field trip.
Creative Seasonal Workshops: During school holidays and select weekends, professional tutors host dedicated arts masterclasses in the studios. Children can try out physical puppet making, stage crafts, or introductory acting games under safe guidance.

Detailed Inventory

The Annual Christmas Pantomime: A classic family theatre tradition filled with high-energy dance routines, colourful fairy-tale characters, and slapstick crowd participation.
An Táin Youth Theatre Productions: Energetic stage plays and musicals performed entirely by talented young actors from the local community.
Family Film Club Screenings: Affordable weekend afternoon cinema events displaying popular children's animations and classic family-friendly titles.
Quintessence Theatre Showcases: Imaginative, physical live storytelling productions created by the venue's professional company-in-residence.
Traditional Musical Matinees: Lively afternoon concerts where children can learn about folk music and instruments in a relaxed performance space.
Culture Night Family Workshops: Free evening drop-in events where parents and kids can participate together in drawing, clay modelling, and music trials.
The School Shakespeare Festival: Specialized, condensed drama performances tailored to help older kids and teenagers understand classic plays through live interaction.
The Open-Submission Community Exhibit: A special gallery display that frequently includes artwork and creative models built by local schoolchildren.

Facilities

Toilets: Wheelchair-accessible toilets and baby changing facilities are conveniently located on the ground floor near the box office.
Buggy Parking: While there is no locked external pram storage bay, pushchairs are permitted inside the spacious ground floor foyer, and staff will happily direct parents on where to leave them safely during auditorium shows.
Lockers: Secure customer storage lockers are not available on-site; families should plan to keep personal coats and bags with them under their theatre seats.
Food Options: A foyer bar kiosk provides a selection of kid-friendly juices, soft drinks, and light confectionery items before showtimes. Great town centre cafés and family restaurants are also located within a 2-minute flat walk of the entrance.

What to see

What Visitors Love

The main auditorium is intimate, meaning every single row feels close to the stage and kids can see the actors' faces perfectly.
The front-of-house staff and volunteers are exceptionally polite, welcoming, and patient with younger children.
Excellent, accessible ticket prices that offer genuine value for money compared to massive city-centre theatres.
Its convenient position in the centre of Dundalk makes it very easy to pair a theatre matinee with a quick visit to a local park or sweet shop.

What Visitors Don't Like

The arts centre does not own a private customer car park, meaning parents have to find parking on the surrounding public streets or town lots.
The main entrance foyer area can become quite congested and loud for a few minutes right before the theatre doors open.

Pro-Tips

Look Out for Family Ticket Drops: When purchasing tickets for large holiday shows online, look for the special family bundle deal (usually covering two adults and two children) to save on individual seat rates.
Arrive 20 Minutes Early: The box office counter can get busy right before a popular weekend show. Arriving early gives you plenty of time to collect physical tickets, buy snacks, and settle the kids into their seats without rushing.
Check the Show Age Guides: Every family event listing on the official web portal includes a recommended age bracket, helping parents choose between shows meant for tiny toddlers or older teenagers.

Website

Contact

Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Advanced booking is highly recommended for weekend family theatre events and panto runs, as seating is limited. To view the complete seasonal line-up and choose your exact seats, visit the Official An Táin Arts Centre Tickets Page.

Pricing URL: https://www.antain.ie/whats-on/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Box Office & Gallery Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Performance Days: On show nights and Sundays, the box office desk and front doors open exactly one hour prior to the advertised curtain time.

Address: An Táin Arts Centre, Crowe Street, Townparks, Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland

Post Code: A91 W20s

Council: Louth County Council

County: County Louth

By Car: Dundalk is situated just off the main M1 motorway connecting Dublin and Belfast. Take Exit 16 or 18 and follow the clear town centre signs towards Crowe Street.
By Train: Dundalk Clarke Train Station is situated approximately 0.7 miles away, offering daily regular rail services on the Dublin-Belfast Enterprise line and local commuter networks.
By Bus: Regular regional and national bus routes stop at the main Dundalk Bus Station, which is less than a 10-minute flat walk from the arts centre entrance.