Family programme
Family Fun Day
Saturday 17 October 2026, 10.00am to 4.00pm, Tallaght Library and Parthalán Place
Bring the whole crew along for a full day of comic book creativity, living history, magic, music and messy play across Tallaght Library, Parthalán Place and the Civic Theatre.
You will meet bestselling graphic novelist and Milly McCarthy illustrator Karen Harte, the wonderfully bright and inclusive comic artist Kate Escolin, co-author of Have I Got Your Attention, and Philip Barrett, the mind behind the bestselling Where's Larry? series and Savage Town, alongside Viking reenactors, a pirate magician, light saber duellists and plenty more.
Face painting, stories and more
A taste of the Family Fun Day
Good to know
Age guidance
Activities run from age 3 upwards, with drop-in fun for all ages and bookable workshops for older children and teens.
Accessibility
Tallaght Library is a step-free, welcoming setting with space to move around between activities, and a quieter sensory play session opens the day at 10.00am.
Free registration
Free to attend. Drop-in activities need no booking, while workshops have limited places and workshop tickets are released Wed 10am.
Venue details
Tallaght Library and Parthalán Place, with the Karen Harte draw along in the Studio Space at the Civic Theatre and further family sessions in libraries across South Dublin County.
What is on, hour by hour
Filter the day by the hour to plan your visit. All activities are free, with drop-in sessions and bookable workshops running from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
11.00am to 3.00pm
Meet the Vikings
Dress up like a Viking with shields and weapons, meet a tame raven and several owls with Raven Haven Aviaries, watch a cooking demonstration from 1,000 years ago, see a weapons display and step aboard a real Viking longship. Living history reenactors Lakes Vikings and Boyne Valley Events will be in Parthalán Place all day.
- Location
- Parthalán Place
- Age guidance
- All ages
- Booking
- No booking needed
10.00am to 11.00am
Sensory Explorers
Tuff tray messy play for neurodiverse children with play therapist Rebecca McDermott, exploring fine and gross motor skills. One ticket per child and children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Location
- Tallaght Library
- Age guidance
- Ages 3+
- Booking
- Booking essential
11.00am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 4.00pm
Introductory Dungeons and Dragons
Take on the role of a fantasy character, navigate treacherous dungeons, fight monsters, solve puzzles and find treasure using teamwork and imagination. Suitable for complete beginners.
- Location
- Tallaght Library
- Age guidance
- Ages 12 to 15
- Booking
- Booking essential
11.00am to 3.30pm
Green Screen Photobooth
Call in to YBF Photography, pick your favourite backdrop, strike a pose and take your photo home with you.
- Location
- Tallaght Library
- Age guidance
- All ages
- Booking
- No booking needed
11.00am to 3.30pm
Light Saber Duelling Demos and Taster Classes
Ever wanted to try light saber combat? Drop in for a demonstration or a taster class with Ludosport Ireland, the official light saber combat academy. Places are allocated on the day.
- Location
- Tallaght Library
- Age guidance
- Ages 12+
- Booking
- Sign up on the day
12.00pm to 4.00pm
Face Painters, Balloon Modellers and Character Visits
Face painting and balloon modelling run right through the afternoon, with Venom, Spider-Man, Deadpool, Harley Quinn and the K-Pop Demon Hunters stopping by.
- Location
- Tallaght Library
- Age guidance
- All ages
- Booking
- No booking needed
12.00pm to 12.45pm
Captain Ho-Ho: Pirate Magic Show
Set sail on a voyage of fun and imagination. Captain Ho-Ho makes water disappear over a child's head, conjures a pirate flag from thin air and pulls a playing card from a sealed orange, with tales from the high seas along the way.
- Location
- Tallaght Library
- Age guidance
- Ages 6+
- Booking
- No booking needed
12.30pm to 1.30pm
Cartoonify Yourself with Philip Barrett
Create a cartoon mashup of yourself and an animal or mythical beast, then drop that character into your own mini comic adventure. Imagination required.
- Location
- Tallaght Library
- Age guidance
- Ages 8+
- Booking
- Booking essential
1.00pm to 2.00pm
Make a Superhero Mask
Join artist Kim Jenkinson to design and decorate your own superhero mask. Choose your special powers, pick your colours and create your logo with plenty of materials to hand.
- Location
- Tallaght Library
- Age guidance
- Ages 7+
- Booking
- Booking essential
2.00pm to 2.30pm
K-Pop Demon Hunters Show
A 30 minute tribute to the movie, with singing, dancing and in-character performance. Fun for fans and families alike.
- Location
- Tallaght Library
- Age guidance
- Ages 6+
- Booking
- No booking needed
2.00pm
Effie is Offline Draw Along with Karen Harte
Draw along with Karen Harte, author and illustrator of the bestselling graphic novel Effie is Offline and illustrator of the Milly McCarthy series. Her playful work spans comics, publishing, editorial and arts education.
- Location
- Studio Space, Civic Theatre
- Age guidance
- Ages 8+
- Booking
- Booking essential
2.30pm to 3.45pm
Let's Make Comics! with Kate Escolin
Join illustrator and comic artist Kate Escolin to turn your stories into comic strips, creating characters and exploring new worlds through drawing games and storytelling exercises.
- Location
- Tallaght Library
- Age guidance
- Ages 6 to 8
- Booking
- Booking essential
