Holiday question - where to go around Thurles/Cashel/Tipperary with 3 year old

[MrStateTrooper]

Evening all,

I'm planning our first holiday in four years (hooray!), and we've decided to visit my parents in Ireland at the end of May. My folks live there now, but I grew up in England, (although have visited plenty - mum is from Waterford), so don't know the geography all that well.

Parents live in a very rural location near Cashel, in a one bedroom farmhouse that isn't really suitable for us (me, DH and DD) to stay in. Plus, to be honest, I would prefer it if we had our own base, as they are late risers/night owls and we, well, we have DD so that's not an option

Our plan is to fly to Dublin, hire a car, drive down and stay somewhere within 30-40mins drive to my parents. DD is quite often car sick, so trying to avoid staying somewhere that's very far away, but willing to push it to one hour commute (we're just going to have to stick it out for the drive down from Dublin).

Mum and Dad don't really do morning activities, but we'll obviosly be up and out with DD. Can anyone recommend somewhere in the area to stay that's relatively close to Cashel but has plenty to do locally or a reasonably short distance away? DD is 3 and loves the outdoors, so happy to do a mixture of indoor and outdoor activities. At the moment, we're looking to stay for about 7 nights.

Thanks in advance

[30daysoflight]

Well it's a long way for a young child

[MrStateTrooper]

@30daysoflight haha, are you taking the piss out of my lovely holiday plans ! I bloomen love Ireland, I cannae wait to have some delicious irish ice cream again, yumyum.

[30daysoflight]

Sorry boozy lunch. Farewell Leicester Square. Just can't resist the word Tipperary , love Ireland very much, particularly Cork.

[MrStateTrooper]

@30daysoflight ah, I get it now! Sorry, long day, slow brain!

[30daysoflight]

[MotherForkinShirtBalls]

Tbh, I'd probably suck up the distance and go to Waterford or Dungarvan, and get your folks to come to you some of the days.

[Apileofballyhoo]

I'd look at Kilkenny and Clonmel for places to stay.

Kilkenny Castle and Park. Great river/wood walk and playground.
Note Valley Park. Open farm and activities.
Fota Wildlife Park just over an hour from Clonmel.
Co Waterford beaches just about an hour from Clonmel too in Ardmore.
Mitchelstown Cave.
Rock of Cashel (might be a bit tiring for 3 year old).

What kind of activities are you thinking of?
Both towns have soft play, cinema, plenty of shops and places to eat out.

[Apileofballyhoo]

That should be Nore Valley Farm, not Note. There's also Ardmore Farm and mini zoo.

[MrStateTrooper]

@Apileofballyhoo the activities you've described are exactly the sort of thing I'm after - beaches, parks, nice walks etc for the good weather days, nice places to go for lunch, and soft play/cinema for rainy days

Thank you, your suggestions are really helpful

[Apileofballyhoo]

Ballykeeffe wood between Cashel and Kilkenny has a nice walk.

River Court Hotel in KK is lovely for lunch, food is quite good and you can sit out by the river across from the castle. Staff are very nice to children. It's a real heat trap if the day is fine. Lots of places for food all over the city.

I think you can do a little boat trip on the river.

Shopping centre McDonagh Junction in KK has a small food court in the courtyard and a free soft play area in the middle of it.

Road train for a little tour of KK.

Clonmel has M&S (small one) and Tesco as well as Aldi (I think) Lidl and Dunne's. The first two might be handy for meal deals and that kind of thing if you're self catering.

There's a good playground by the river in Clonmel, did I mention that already?

I'll post again if I think of anything else.

Did you consider flying into Cork?

[MrStateTrooper]

I have looked at flying into Cork, but I think it's generally a bit more expensive isn't it? So far as I've seen, it's just Aer Lingus that flies in there. Although to be fair, one you add taxes, baggage allowance etc onto a Ryanair flight, it might not be much difference

[Apileofballyhoo]

Ryanair do Cork. I like it because it's smaller and easier and there's less traffic. It would be slightly nearer for Clonmel, much of a muchness for Kilkenny.

[Apileofballyhoo]

Screenshots of a few flights from London - that's what Google is saying anyway.

[Apileofballyhoo]

Trying again.

[SageRosemary]

Aer Lingus, Ryanair, Flybe all operate to Cork. The airport is small but perfectly formed. Attached link shows direct routes from Cork

www.corkairport.com/destinations/route-map

If you want to look at self-catering you could check this out

www.garnavilla.com/about_us.html

I haven't stayed there but the setting is very rural and glorious, no walking to a pub from it. About 20/25 minutes from Cashel. It would give you easy enough access to Ardmore Beach (lovely beach with life guards, lovely restaurants and chip shop too, Armore Pottery gift shop, supermarket with cones etc) Ardmore Petting Farm, Suir Valley Railway at Kilmeaden (vintage restored railway, our children loved it). There is a greenway from Waterford to Dungarvan with option to walk or cycle

www.deisegreenway.com/index.php
www.discoverireland.ie/Arts-Culture-Heritage/the-copper-coast-unesco-global-geopark/15361

Fota Wildlife Park is fantastic for children and adults too

[MrStateTrooper]

Thank you so much, this is all really useful!

[Apileofballyhoo]

Oh we brought DS on that train when he was about 3, he loved it. Goes right along the Suir.

[eggandonion]

Cork Luton flights are often very cheap. Alternatively Shannon is also about an hour from Tipp!