Help me find a lovely place for a break in Ireland!

[TheMouse]

I'm looking for somewhere with plenty of activities for my 3-year old (e.g. any or all of beach, animals, playground, softplay, indoor pool if when it rains..., maybe a kids club but this isn't really necessary). Would consider self-catering or a hotel. Budget up to ?1000 Euro for the week for self catering or ?1500 for full board; hoping to go in late August/early September so not quite high season. This amount could hopefully get us something really nice - though of course I don't need to spend all of that and actually the facilities are the most important thing.

Google The Skellig hotel in Dingle, Co Kerry. Has a good rep for families. Lots to do in the area.

Do you have a location in mind? Might be easier to give suggestions then. You can often get good deals at hotels out of season but don't know how far in advance they advertise them.

Thanks for the quick response. I had seen the Skellig hotel and it looks lovely but I thought the activities and facilities seemed a bit more geared towards slightly older children (4+). As far as location goes I don't mind really (hmm, am I actually making it more difficult for myself??) A beach would be lovely but not essential.

Hopeful bump...

Haven't actually stayed at the Skellig but think there is a kids club & presumably a pool? I was thinking more in terms of what is available to do locally. I'm pretty sure there is a softplay somewhere around Dingle & know there is an animal place near Killarney. And of course the beaches are fab!

Don't think you will find many resort-type places with everything on site.

We have found a place for a week in August. Its Carleton Village in Youghal, East Cork.

Its a complex of apartments and villas with outdoor pool, tennis courts, and kids club. Its also on the beach. The reviews on Tripadvisor are good.

We booked it through Dream Ireland and it cost about 500 euro for the week which I think is good value.

There seems to be things to do in the area.. Fota Wildlife Park seems great for the children.

I was concerned about the outdoor pool, but there is a new swimming pool complex in Youghal (an option for a rainy day!!)

Thanks. There's something up with their website at the moment (I can't click through to details) but that looks like it might be an option.
I'm also considering the Quality Hotel in Clonakilty which seems to have loads of good facilities and an indoor pool (though slightly mixed reviews on Trip Advisor).

In terms of location I would prefer Clonakilty to Youghal. More scenic area, nicer town.

Haven't stayed at that hotel but think my parents have. There is another posher hotel outside the town - the Incheydoney. It has self catering appartments attached which might be better with kids. A little further down the coast is Rosscarbarry, which also has a hotel w/ pool. Another great town. If you didn't want to stay in the hotel there are nice holiday cottages in the town & you can arrange to have use of the pool.

take a look here Kerry coast, amazing beach very close and lots to do on site as well as off site.

I stayed here with the family when I was nannying in Ireland. We spent days on the beach, fed the swans on the lake, went on pedal boats on the lake (me and the childrens mother were horrific at steering...) Went down to Skull which is gorgeous, wandered around Clonakilty and also went to Fota Wildlife Park (about an hour but then spent the whole day there) We all had a fab time and the pool etc is very good as are the childrens menus.

Oooh I think we're going to go for either the Quality Hotel in Clonakilty (the cottages) or the Banna Beach apartments near Tralee in Kerry. I'm tempted towards the latter but I'm worried they might actually be a bit too cheap! Also there are no proper reviews on TripAdvisor which always worries a little Anyone else have any recommendations or additional experience?

Thanks for all the help so far! I do love booking summer holidays but I get more than reasonably stressed out about the decision-making process :-)

Ah Goawaysnow - that is the hotel near Rosscarbery I mentioned, couldn't remember the name. Rosscarbery is one of my favourite places.

It's not far from Clonakilty TheMouse if that's what you decide on...

Ah ha. It was lovely, we had interconnecting rooms and hotel staff were fab with the kids (4 under 5years)

We also spent a day on the islands (left from Baltimore) and on my day off I went whale and dolphin watching with Whale Watch West Cork.