Staycation ideas??

[Breadhead1]

Can't afford to go abroad this year, moneys a bit tight. There's a 16 and 10 year old. Looking at a few days away in the summer, preferably self catering or a cheapish but nice hotel. Don't really mind where in the country although not Kerry. Any ideas?

Carlingford for the activity centre or Delphi?

(I'm biased) @Breadhead1 But you could consider Northern Ireland. I'll give some recommendations:

• County Down, good road connectivity from Dublin, only 1.5 hours
• Bangor is a nice coastal spot, marina, nice walks, sea, sports center, places to eat
• We have a few visitors in the last number of years (for funerals!) and they got amazing prices booking in advance in Premier Inn. So much cheaper than elsewhere!! 10 min walk to marina and 5 min to places to eat.
• Regular train from Bangor to Belfast, to avoid parking in there, all the usual stuff including Titanic, Botanic Gardens, Peace lines/walls, etc.
• Further south in Down is very different, but the mountains are special there, great walks, scenery, Game of Thrones
• Nice day trip to drive to Glens and Giant's Causeway, great scenery too
• If you're considering Down, don't stay in Newtownards, it's cheaper for good reasons!!
• Antrim is nice, Down is much nicer :)

I always say Westport!, loads of great hotels as well

I'd second @DonnaHadDee's recommendation. Look at Strangford Lough area, the ferry across it makes a nice journey. If you have small kids then Pickie Fun Park is a great way to spend the day.
There's the Titanic exhibition and W5 in Belfast.
Gobbins which is a kind of cliff / cave / sea walk adventure and also Colin Glen.

Sorry just saw ages of kids, that will teach me to read the post properly first.
Gobbins, a wander around Belfast still good.
If you like walks, the Mourne Mountains / Newcastle has a good adventure centre.

I always say Westport too - mainly 'cos it's about 10 miles from me - but there are great beaches, stand-up paddleboard lessons, surf lessons and board hire, electric and normal bike hire, horseriding, restaurants, pubs (obvs), the Museum of Country Life if you have a car (near Castlebar), Croagh Patrick for the energetic and/or religious, the National Famine Memorial, Westport House - loads to do for all ages, even if it's (inevitably) raining.

Ha re the rain!!
We go a lot because we love it there!
Have had some fantastic weather as well as dreadful. Some of the hotels have lovely swimming pools and the cinema in the town is lovely as well.

@orangelotus I meant to mention the cinema! My favourite pool is the one at Westport Woods hotel - the Beech Club (I think it's still called that, been a while since I went) - big windows at one end with massive trees (probably beeches, hence the name), jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna too. The Castlecourt pool is supposed to be nice too, though I've not been.

Ballycastle and the surrounding areas. Lots to do- giants causeway, rope bridge, paddle boarding in Ballintoy harbour, boat trip to rathlin. Some lovely restaurants and bars in Bally castle itself.

What sort of holiday are you looking for OP? We've stayed at a cheap place on the Gower but if you want more than nice walks and lonely beaches then it won't be for you.

I've heard people speak highly of boat holidays on the Shannon, but they may be a bit pricy and weather dependent.

I like Galway city (Park House hotel is central, you can walk everywhere and it's beside the bus station and the tourist office if you want to do day trips (eg the Burren Inishmor) without having to drive yourself).