National Play Day, supported by the Department of Children, Disability & Equality, promotes play and recreation opportunities for children and young people.
National Play Day
National Play Day is an annual event organised by the Department of Children, Disability & Equality to promote play and recreation opportunities for children and young people across the country by providing funding to Local Authorities.
In recent years Waterford City & County Council, in collaboration with Waterford Sports Partnership, has used the funding for the following initiatives in Waterford:
· Cycle skills session in Dungarvan
· Orienteering for under 12s in Kilmacthomas
· Surfing for teenagers in Tramore
· Playful Street Event in Waterford City
· Play Packs / Sensory Play Packs
· Grants to Family Resource Centres to purchase play equipment
National Play Day 2025
The theme for National Play Day 2025 was ‘The Power of Play.’ Waterford City & County Council, in partnership with Waterford Sports Partnership, hosted a series of events across the City and County between the 5th and 13th July 2025 to mark National Play Day.
Activities included Story Sack Workshops and Play, Music & Movement Sessions in local libraries, and a number of ‘Playful Communities’ events in partnership with Healthy Waterford, including a special ‘Playful Communities’ celebration in Ballybeg as part of the Ballybeg 50-Year Celebrations.
Community Play Packs
The Community Play Pack is a community resource, funded from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality’s National Play Day Grant, to support residents’ associations, community groups and organisations in hosting playful streets, family fun days and similar community events.
The bags are available to borrow from the Community & Sport Department, Waterford City & County Council.
For further information, email Ger Mulhall, National Play Day Coordinator at GMulhall@waterfordcouncil.ie
