holiday in ireland next year - any suggestions?

[mabel1973]

DH has said we might actually be able to afford to go on holiday next year!! Yipeee!
We would like to rent a cottage in southern Ireland. Having never been there before can anyone give me any suggestions of where is good to stay and maybe reccomend a reputable holiday cottage company?
We have 2 children DS1 will be about 2.5 when we go away and Ds2 will be about 8 months, so being near a beach would be good.

We went went ds was only 8 weeks, dd was 9. Stayed in a hotel in Cork (sorry know thats not what your looking for) but we had a lovely time, lots to do we went to Blarney Castle, Cobh, Kinsale and the Jameson Distillery. Lots of lovely scenery and churches.

Could recommend the Cresta Ireland brochure, we use it every time we stay in Ireland, but never book through them, just book with the property direct

see my thread a bit further down....We have just booked to go to County Mayo (Achill Island) in July 2007. As a kid I went there with my parents around 10 times (well achill, connemara,Galway,Mulranny to name a few) and loved it.
DH has never been so wanted to see what I love about it .

Where we are off to is the west coast but is such a lovely relaxing place surrounded by several beaches. IMO its ideal for us as dd will be 2 and ds2b will be about 5 months, we just wanted to chill.

BTW we booked with www.ireland.ie (have different accomodation available all over ireland) as recommended by a fellow mn on my thread, obviously no holiday yet but they seem genuine.
Cottage (bungalow which is ideal for dd, no stairs to worry about)for 2 weeks is around £1100 and we just need to book the ferry which apparently is approx £150 or we can use tesco vouchers which will help loads..

Let us know how you go on..xx

btw, if you view the online brocure (west coast) it gives you an idea of whats available. Obviously when I went I was alot older than 2 so can't really suggest what ther is to do for lo's but this brocure will help. It's given us loads of ideas of thing to do with the lo's and places to visit if only for a walk and fresh air..

Our chance to be a "proper family" .

We stayed here last year. I cannot recommend it highly enough and you are practically on top of a virtually private beach! Stunning views from the house and plenty of things to do/see within driving distance.

thanks everyone!
Aero - looks lovely!
Shhh - will have a look at your thread

thanks everyone!
Aero - looks lovely!
Shhh - will have a look at your thread

here

Clonalis house in Castlrea Roscommon, we stayed there in the hoiday cottages last year and it is the most amazing place.

We had a fabulous week in a west coast town/village called Lahinch in County Clare, with 3.5,2 & 2 months old in late August this year.We flew, rented a people carrier-DO NOT USE HERTZ THEY WERE AWFUL.
It is an hour from Shannon airport, a very quiet airport.
The beach is blue flag, long and sandy with loads of shells, rock pools and lots of people surfing. There is a leisure centre with a clean pool, clean soft play,aquarium, and an excellent children's farm at Moher.
I would also recommend Keel in Achill for the beach, but there is less to do if the wather isn't good..

oooh, let me find a link for somewhere great.... hang on...

Here you go

Its Republic, but not south though.

I live in Ireland and parts of it are really lovely. However its probably pricey enough in comparison to UK, and you really can't rely on the weather (it really isnt a joke - it does rain quite a bit even in summer - there is nothing between us and America so we get all the bad weather first! However, food is usually always freshly prepared and the pubs are more relaxed about children (upto 9.00 at night anyway).

I'm tempted to go to Ireland on holiday too. Been chewing it over for 6 years but I don't fancy the rainy days stuck indoors. Or being blown about in a gail outdoors.

Co. Wexford is lovely, great beaches and the weather can often be warmer there because it's in the south-east

You would probably get more for your money if that is a consideration in the north (Northern Ireland, not Donegal which is further north but part of the south). The Antrim coast is fantastic. I live in Cork so we hardly ever get up there. West Cork is beautiful, Swansea Cork ferry is useful if you are that direction.

we stayed here at half term, its in a quiet spot yet 5 minutes from shop, smoke free pub and 2 nice restaurants. The kids loved it and the house was spotless!

www.holidaylets.net/prop_detail.asp?id=17778this

we stayed here at half term, its in a quiet spot yet 5 minutes from shop, smoke free pub and 2 nice restaurants. The kids loved it and the house was spotless! holidaylets.net/prop_detail.asp?id=17778this

sorry - here