to ask for best holiday destination in Ireland?

[grecian100]

Spent easter in SW Donegal and fell in love. Amazing landscapes, scenery, mountains, rivers. Stayed in a lovely SC cottage with all the mod cons just outside a lovely village.

Would love to go back next easter or summer, but would like to go for longer therefore would like somewhere that has something for the dc. Obviously not on a theme park level, but something to do other than sight seeing. Three dc between 10 and 17. Any recommendations?

The north, Belfast is a fantastic city, loads to do for adults and kids and the Antrim coast and glens are stunning and an hour out of the city. You can drive the whole way along the coast from Belfast all the way to north Donegal and it's gorgeous. White sand beaches, elmerald green land- you can surf, swim, sail, bike, kayak around. Derry worth a look too. People are so friendly there too.

I had a great holiday in Kinsale.

Wonderful people, fantastic seafood.

Avoca in Wicklow
Mullaghmore (you could see Donegal too)

Dunmore East is really lovely. Lots of beautiful cliff walks and nice beaches. Fantastic water sports, sailing etc and at Dunmore Adventure the kids could do full days or half days of activities. Kayaking etc. As well as a kind of obstacle course out in the water. Also you are not too far from Waterford where there is a new cycling greenway and you can cycle all the way to Dungarvin (if you hire the bikes they'll pick you up and bring you back to the starting point). Lots of other good sight seeing in the area too including hook lighthouse - well worth a visit. We're just back from a week down there. We normally go to the west coast (which I aslo love) but I'd highly recommend Dunmore East

Sligo, Mayo and Galway are beautiful and have lovely beaches if the weather is good

For a family holiday I'd probably be thinking Cork. Loads to see, great food, beautiful scenery.

West Cork, stay in Kinsale, loads to do there.

Wicklow is also great, easy striking distance of Dublin.

Dublin airport. A gateway to magical lands where it doesn't rain constantly.

Stop it Doris! Ok, ok it never stops raining in Ireland , that's how they get such lush grass and lovely shades of greenery.
Parke Castle( a reconstructed Planter's Castle) in Leitrim on the shore of Lough Gill ( if I remember rightly) is very interesting and fun for kids.

Go to the West, it has the most beautiful coasts and to be honest no matter where you are you can reach the rest of Ireland very easily in a car as it's not exactly huge.

We stayed in the West this summer (we live in the North) and it was stunning. I also love the North West too, gorgeous!

Hey mulhuddartdrive. "Waves".
I live in Mulhuddart Maybe we're neighbours)

We stayed in a border town which really highlighted the difference in the cost of living. We could shop local for the same price as we do at home but go South over the border and the prices hike up! It was quite an eye opener. Still a great holiday but just keep that in mind when choosing where to stay. Bundoran food was nearly twice as expensive as it is up North and I hated paying over the odds for it.

Would love to go to Cork but the drive from Belfast (where we would be doing a stopover with relatives) puts me off....unless someone can sell it to me? What is there that is so amazing? Don't include anything food related as dc2 has severe food allergies which means we are strictly self cateribg

If you are going near Sligo you might want to check out Boda Borg for the kids. Our 15 and 11 year olds loved it. They call it a 'crystal maze' type of activity and it was like a bargain basement version but still very enjoyable. It is set in a great forest park with lots of other things to do too.

Causeway Coast - Portrush, Portstewart, Ballycastle. Stunning beaches, loads to do and you're only an hour into Belfast. Love it there.

Another one adding Galway. Connemara is beautiful. And Galway city had lots to do too. A real hippy vibe. Very artistic and the music

My suggestion is Rent a house in Lahinch in County Clare. Surf camp every morn for your teen. Love that.Also pitch and putt nearby and golf. Then trips to spectacular Cliffs of Moher. Boat out to Aran lslands for day from nearby village of Doolin. Hire bikes and explore.Trip to Burren ..outstanding National park. Also caves beaches lots of coffee shops restaurants bars You will love it. I dont live there but have holidayed in the area many times.
Its on the Wild Atlantic Way.

gabsdot, no, I'm much further south, but I love the word

Plenty of places to break the journey between Belfast and cork, but a manageable drive if you wanted to do it in a day.

I'm holidaying on the Antrim coast right now and it's absolutely fantastic - really wish we'd booked a fortnight instead of a week, because there's so much more we would have liked to do but don't have the time.

Dc are 12 and 13. We've been to Giant's Causeway/Carrick-a-Rede, Ballycastle, looked at lots of Game of Thrones locations (obvs these mean nothing to the dc but they've enjoyed it anyway), Titanic Quarter and shopping in Belfast, country parks/waterfall walks/scenery/beaches - you name it. Came home every evening to a secluded coastal cottage with a view of seals and lighthouses.

Weather's been crap, mind, but you expect that .

West of Ireland is beautiful, Westport, Achille Island, Galway, Salthill etc. Harbour Mill appartments in Westport are great and Westport house nearby has lots of activities.

Has anyone been to Buncrana? It seems to have a family feel, although I suspect it is a very busy resort type of holiday?

If you are flying to Belfast, then Antrim coast. Rope bridge, Rathlin Island, Giants Causeway etc.

The West, especially Clare. Lahinch as suggested is good, or Ennistymon, to stay.

There's loads to there - I've tried typing them but auto correct went into overdrive so I'll link a list instead!!

www.tripadvisor.ie/Attractions-g186595-Activities-County_Clare.html

I am from Skibbereen in West Cork and do think it's amazing. I live near Belfast though and I think NI has its to offer. Buncrana is lovely and I would head to Belfast, portrush etc for a few days.

West Cork is lovely but if you're coming from the North, go West. You cannot go wrong in Connemara. Look at Gurteen Bay and Ballyconeely, towns like Clifden, all lovely. If you get nice weather, you'll never want to leave but allow for rain.
www.connemara.net