D&D in Galway
Dungeons & Dragons youth facilitation in Galway & West of Ireland. Small groups, big imagination, no screens.
Looking for a smaller, calmer group? See neurodivergent-friendly D&D.
Looking for birthday party activities? See kids' birthday parties.
Weekly sessions, one ongoing story.
Fable Forge runs structured, in-person Dungeons & Dragons campaigns for young people, giving them a dedicated space to unplug, socialize, and build confidence through tabletop storytelling.
Groups of up to five meet weekly or fortnightly for sessions of two to three hours. The same characters carry on from one session to the next, and the players get closer, because the only way through the adventure is to work together.
The first session is free.
After that, sessions are €40 per hour for the group, however many players.
What Parents Say
“Ruairí has been just amazing with my two boys (11 & 12). They are in two separate groups and both went in with some trepidation. Through gentle coaxing as well as confidence building and quite a bit of magic, they have both had wonderful experiences and come home utterly buzzing. They both seem to have an excellent understanding of the intricacies - there are a LOT of technical conversations happening here! Thank you Ruairí for opening up this magical world to them and inspiring them with your passion. I can't recommend you enough as a game master and both mine are counting down to the next session...”
What is Dungeons & Dragons?
Dungeons & Dragons is a collaborative storytelling game played around a table with pencils, paper and dice. There are no screens or consoles, and nobody wins or loses. Players create characters, like a brave knight, a cunning rogue or a wise wizard, and work together through an adventure run by the Dungeon Master (DM).
The DM describes the world, plays the characters the group meets and keeps the story moving. Players make choices and roll dice to see how things turn out, and the story they end up with needs everyone at the table.
Think of it as an improvised novel where every player is both the author and the main character.
No screens, no special equipment
All it takes is a table, some dice and a story your child will still be thinking about long after they get home.
Most afterschool activities cost €15 to €25 per child per hour. This one is €40 an hour for the whole group, which works out at €8 each with five players. Kids start reading, writing and drawing on their own, and meet their friends at lunch time in school to plan the next session.
Every session ends with a summary document: a recap of the story, how the characters have developed, and any new rules or mechanics. Parents can see what their child has been doing and learning, the players get to look back on the adventure, and there are ideas to keep them reading, drawing and writing between sessions.
Your home, your time.
Sessions are usually held in one of the players' homes, but a local library or community centre works too. Groups meet at a time that suits them: after school, at weekends or during the school holidays.
Groups run across Galway City and County, including Salthill, Knocknacarra, Barna, Oranmore, Athenry, Tuam, Headford, Claregalway, Loughrea, Gort, Moycullen and Oughterard. Groups further into the West of Ireland are possible on request.
Groups can be:
- Private groups
- Afterschool clubs and daycare centres
- Community groups
- School groups
Looking for a smaller, calmer group? See neurodivergent-friendly D&D.
What actually happens during a session?
A typical session starts with the DM setting the scene: a village in trouble, a mystery to solve or a dungeon to explore. Players make decisions as their characters. Do we take the mountain pass or the forest road? Do we try to talk our way past the bandit, or sneak by?
When a decision has stakes, like a sword fight, a daring leap or a speech to win over the king, the dice decide how it goes. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and often it lands somewhere in between.
Sessions run for roughly two to three hours, and the story picks up where it left off at the next one.
Is it appropriate for my child?
D&D can be played at many levels of intensity. At Fable Forge, sessions for young people are run in the same spirit as a 12A film.
Combat is part of the story. Heroes do fight goblins, dark wizards and fearsome creatures, but the tone is adventure rather than horror, somewhere between The Avengers and The Lord of the Rings. The stakes feel real, but nothing is graphic or gratuitous.
Ruairí sets the tone from the first session. Dark themes, graphic descriptions and anything beyond age-appropriate adventure don't come into it. The aim is a story your child wants to get back to next week.
Why it's good for kids
D&D asks young people to do things that screens do not:
- Listen and pay attention: you need to know what's going on to make good decisions.
- Communicate and negotiate: most problems get solved by talking, not fighting.
- Read and write: character sheets, notes and backstories are all part of the game.
- Do basic maths: dice rolls, hit points and sums come up all the time.
- Think creatively: there's no set answer, only the one the group comes up with.
- Work as a team: the adventure only goes well when everyone chips in.
None of this feels like learning. The game needs it, so it happens.
Safe, Supervised D&D Youth Facilitation
Every session is run by Ruairí McNicholas, an experienced Dungeons & Dragons youth facilitator and Game Master for young people. He is a Scout leader and trained in safeguarding (Tusla Children First certified). Groups are small, sessions are structured, and parents are always welcome to stay.
Ages
10 to 17
Group Size
Up to 5
Duration
2 to 3 hours
Cost
€40/hr per group
Documents for Parents
Before the first session, a parent or guardian fills in a short consent form covering emergency contacts, any medical or additional needs, and permission to take part.
Fable Forge has a formal Child Safeguarding Statement setting out the procedures and commitments in place to keep every young participant safe.
More From Parents
“Ruairí set up a campaign for my 12 year old son and his friends, who were interested in learning how to play. He brought all the equipment they would need, including sound and led them on an exciting adventure over a few sessions. He explained it all clearly, and they spent lots of time outside of the sessions discussing their characters, the plot and the choices they would make. Ruairí really brought DND to life for them, and has introduced them to a whole new exciting world of possibility and adventure. I would highly recommend him as a dungeon master.”
“Ruairi introduced my daughter and her friends to DnD and did so with great patience and knowledge, the result of four now obsessed teens certainly speaks for itself 😁”
“Ruairi is an incredible Game Master. He is dedicated, passionate and my son is now the biggest DND fan! Ruairi was very welcoming, and my son and his group of friends are always full of praises! DND is a great way to develop their imagination, their creativity, but it wouldn't have been possible without a fantastic Game Master. So thank you Ruairi!”
First Session Is Free
Get in touch to arrange a free first session for your child's group.
Get in TouchQuestions first? I'm happy to answer anything. Book a free call and we can talk it through.