Holiday in Ireland, hire a car seat but not a car?

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I am going to Ireland with my children, DS who will be nearly 4 and DD 6 months. I have a car I can use but need to hire car seats. So two questions:

Does my 4yo have to have a car seat? Is it dependant on age or height?

Any ideas where I could hire a car seat from? I have tried all the car hire places but they will not hire out a seat without a car hire. I could bring the seat on the flight (aer lingus) but will have to buy another seat to do so. I could take it as checked baggage but worry about it being thrown around in the hold with all the suitcases, something could bash into it and damage it.

Any ideas? WWYD? Thanks.

I don't know about the law in Ireland, but whatever it says, yes, your four-year-old needs a car seat for his own safety.

I did a quick google for baby equipment hire in Ireland, and found this company which rents out car seats from Dublin airport: The Stork Exchange.

Or you could just buy basic ones online eg from Smyths and get them delivered to whoever it is you are borrowing the car from.

Trunki boostApak rucksack that turns into a car seat age four and over. From halfords or amazon.

Trunki boostapak is great.Can take as hand luggage.

And most airlines let you take a baby car seat for infants for no extra charge(not sure re Aer Lingus though).

Drive straight to the nearest Tesco & buy a booster seat?

I've put car seats into the planes hold, they do put them in separately with the fragile luggage! I've never seen any evidence they've been thrown about!!

Yes, your 4 year old will need to be in a car seat. I've copied this from the Irish Road Safety Authority website:

"Now it's EU law: All children must travel in a child seat, booster seat or booster cushion.

Rule of thumb: if there's a safety belt, you must use it. It's the drivers' responsibility to be sure their passengers are using seat belts and appropriate child restraints.

The specifics:

For cars and goods vehicles (including MPV and SUVs):

Children under 3 can only travel in cars or goods vehicles if there are fitted with the appropriate child restraint. Taxis are exempt from this rule.
Children between ages 3 and 12 must use an appropriate child restraint in cars or goods vehicles if they are fitted with safety belts
If the car or goods vehicle doesn't have safety belts, they must sit in the back seat.
In passenger seats with an active airbag, rear-facing child restraints must not be used.

For buses:

Children between 3 and 12 must use safety belts if they are fitted
If seatbelts are available, bus drivers are required to tell passengers that it is the law to wear them.

The exemptions:

Taxis, hackneys and limousines do not need to have every kind of child restraints available
A child over 3 can wear a seatbelt in the back seat of a car or a goods vehicle if there is no more room for a child safety seat
If it is not possible to place your child in the back seat of your vehicle, they can ride in the passenger seat, as long as they are using the appropriate restraints.
Child restraints come in several weight classes so you can find the appropriate one for your child."

Hi - the new legislation in Ireland means your child has to be in an appropriate car seat for their weight - so you can't necessarily put a four year old on a trunki cushion if he / she is not heavy enough. A four year old would definitely need a back support. Airlines don't charge for one baby item - eg pram or cot, but they do if it's more than one. If you come to ireland a lot, it's worth considering buying a stage 1-3 seat, like Argos's www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/9139848.htm

I've used the Stork Exchange and they're brilliant! They'll meet you at the airport or your hotel and have loads of baby/child kit to hire too!

We have checked car seats with Aer Lingus and have been absolutely fine.
They go in oversized luggage. No extra charge.

If you are borrowing a car from friends or family, then ask if they can borrow a car seat from someone for you. My Mum and her friends have a "Granny circle" that shares a car seat and couple of boosters between them according to who needs them for visiting relatives.