Ogham Name on Clay Workshop — Kids Ogham Carving in County Dublin

Ogham Name on Clay Workshop invites children aged 6 to 11 to touch a piece of Ireland’s earliest written language while making something they can keep. Held in the castle’s first‑floor Exhibition Room in County Dublin, Ireland, this 1.5‑hour free workshop runs for National Heritage Week and mixes a short, child‑friendly introduction to the Ogham alphabet with hands‑on clay carving. Booking is essential; sessions cap at ten young makers and all materials are supplied.

Start to finish, the workshop is deliberately small and tactile. A guide explains where Ogham came from and how it was used in early Ireland, then demonstrates the linear strokes that make up each letter. Using fast‑drying clay, participants press and carve the ancient symbols to spell their own name, learning to translate letter shapes into marks on a soft slab. The room’s historic stone setting frames the lesson without overshadowing it, and kids leave with a fired or fast‑dried clay keepsake that turns a classroom moment into something personal and portable.

This offering stands out in the County Dublin visit calendar because it translates archaeology and epigraphy into a child‑level craft. Rather than a passive museum stop, this is active learning: children handle materials, practice fine motor skills and repeat a script that appears on ogham stones around Ireland. For families looking to pair outdoor time on the grounds with an indoor cultural experience, the workshop adds a meaningful pause to a castle visit. Brambles Cafe is open on site from 10:00 to 16:30, making it easy to combine the session with a family snack or lunch.

Practical details are straightforward: ages 6–11, 1.5 hours long, free with booking and limited to a maximum of ten participants. The Exhibition Room on the first floor is the meeting place; organizers recommend arriving a few minutes early so the session can start promptly. All clay and tools are provided; children should wear clothes that can tolerate a little clay.

Beyond the hands‑on learning, the session connects young visitors with a living cultural thread—the Ogham alphabet appears on ancient stones across the Irish landscape, a small but vivid tie to place and history. For families visiting County Dublin during National Heritage Week, this workshop is an accessible, low‑cost way to introduce children to local heritage through making, marking, and memory.

Parents are welcome to stay and photograph the process; the simple marks make excellent close-up shots for kid‑friendly portfolios. The session also encourages cross‑disciplinary learning—linking story, language and manual skill—so teachers and homeschool groups often schedule visits. Spaces move quickly during Heritage Week; if you plan to attend, reserve early; spaces fill quickly.