Dublin with kids

[sailorsgal]

Have been prior but taking D's 8 this time. I am on a training day but looking for something fun for dh and D's to do for a day.

Bump

National aquatic centre, dead zoo, leperacaun museum, duck tours, wax works, dublivinia, there is loads

Depending on how mature ur 8 year old is Kilmainham gaol tour

TBH I wouldn't take child to Dublin except to visit family. My experience has been that they are not welcome in restaurants or bars or pretty much anywhere where they might be seen or heard.

Sorry to put cold water on your plans but I was pretty shocked by how intolerant restaurants and cafes were. Signs up everywhere telling you how your children had to behave or else... and bar/resaurants that were empty at the arse end of the afternoon (but still open) saying "no children- tis the rule" when we were willing to spend proper money on three dinners and drinks (our boy was 13 at the time). My cousins tell me that they get hounded out of places if they appear with a pushchair (they live in Wicklow).

All this stuff about how welcoming the Irish are (I am Irish but I live here) is all a load of ballacks as far as I have experienced.

Orange Dh is from Dublin so we head up there and out in the city a lot with our 3 children and I can honestly say I have never experienced what you are talking about. I don't doubt there are places which don't work well with children bars being an obvious one but we have eaten out, played out and find Dublin excellent with children.

Imaginosity - supposed to be excellent. Booking recommended.
Mine were thrilled with just the Luas and Dart trips (we are country bumpkins)
The Dead Zoo or Natural History Museum. Small but interesting (mine are 4 and 10)
We had a picnic in Stephens Green, walked along the seafront near Sandycove and Dunlaoighre and had a great time.

I did not find anywhere intolerant of children but we stuck to places like Gourmet Burger and Milano's.

Dublin Zoo is great (but bring a picnic as nowhere decent to eat) and my kids also enjoyed the Viking Splash. Have never experienced the unwelcoming attitude to kids on my many visits home. Gotham Cafe on south Anne street (just off grafting st) was particularly welcoming though.

Spent October half term in Dublin with DS 12 and 9. We did open top tour bus, Dublin zoo, Kilmainham jail, Guinness tour, Croke park/Aviva stadium tour, museums. St Stephens Green is lovely is the weather is nice. We enjoyed it.

Thanks everyone. I am sure they will find something of interest. Ds is house trained and used to going to restaurants so I don't see it as a problem. I had such a great time and the people were fantastic so looking forward to it.