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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Ireland in June - recommendations please

28 replies

Astrophe · 20/01/2007 07:31

We'd like to see a bit of the country, but have a 2.7 yo and a 10 mos old, so some realistic ideas on where to go, what to do, whre to stay would be much appreciated. We will take our car I think, and will stay about 7-10 days.

Thanks

OP posts:
KTeePee · 20/01/2007 08:37

Personally I wouldn't want to spend a week constantly driving from place to place with two small children - I would book a cottage somewhere and base myself there and concentrate on one part of the country (but then your children may not be like mine in which case you can ignore what I've said!)

Do you want to visit the cities or stay in the countryside?

The Dingle Peninsula in Co Kerry might be a good spot - lots of nice beaches if the weather is good, a few things to do if it's not (aquarium, soft play, boat trips to see dolphins).

I also like West Cork for the good beaches.

Galway is also good...basically anywhere on the west or southwest coast will have great scenery

You need to bear in mind that the road network is not what it is here - it will take much longer to get somewhere once you get away from the main roads joining the cities(especially if you get stuck behind a tractor).

Original poster
Astrophe · 20/01/2007 10:33

Thanks, thats helpful. I have been to Ireland before but not with kids. I don't think we will drive much, but was thinking of 2-3 places for 3 days each or something.

do you know of a good website?

OP posts:
KTeePee · 20/01/2007 10:36

What sort of accomodation are you looking for - would think most cottages would want bookings fior a week but you might be lucky if it is before Irish schools break up (end June)

Gloworm · 20/01/2007 10:47

this is the official irish tourism site

Original poster
Astrophe · 20/01/2007 10:51

hadn't thought of that KTP - we will def be there outside holidays though. I guess a cottage is what we are after - pretty basic as we are a bit poor! Even a static caravan thing would be fine for us.

Thanks for the link!

OP posts:
Gloworm · 20/01/2007 10:52

and here is another one

Gloworm · 20/01/2007 10:56

and perhaps bump your thread at different times of the day...there are plenty of us irish one here

Gloworm · 20/01/2007 10:56

*ON here

tirnanog · 20/01/2007 11:12

Co.Wicklow could be a good base for you-there are some lovely beaches along the South East coast and you would be roughly an hour to an hour an a half drive from Dublin.Co.Wicklow is known as "The garden of Ireland",and it is a lovely part of the country with lots to see and do with children-that does'nt involve spending money.

KTeePee · 20/01/2007 13:19

I would warn you that a holiday in Ireland is not particularly cheap - the ferry over is quite expensive and holiday cottages will be no cheaper than they are here. It does depend where you are travelling from though (but we are planning to go to France for a change this summer and I think it will work out cheaper than Ireland).

If I haven't put you off, post again when you have decided on which areas you want to visit and we can try to help with finding accomodation, etc

Original poster
Astrophe · 20/01/2007 23:44

Thanks all,

We will have to look into ferries and decide where to go, then I will def hop back on here and get some more advice!

Tirnanog, I went on 2 Tirnanog Tours in my youth! They were fab, and the reason I want to return to Ireland.

OP posts:
corkgirl · 22/01/2007 08:03

Astrophe we have a lovely cottage in the south west which is very family friendly and gives a discount to mumsnet members - see here in the nmumsnet classifieds
cottage

KTeePee · 22/01/2007 11:22

Apostraphe, the Swansea-Cork ferry is not running this year btw, so if you go by one of the other routes you will have a longish drive to the Cork/Kerry region.

corkgirl · 22/01/2007 13:11

the fishguard - rosslare ferry is a good alternative though

Original poster
Astrophe · 22/01/2007 22:05

That cottage looks lovely, and thank you for the link. I'm afraid its a little higher than our bedget allows (although it really does look like excellent value for such a nice place).

It does look like rather a long drive to Cork/Kerry with two toddlers - does anyone know of a nice place to stop on the way across? (ie between Dublin and Cork area?)

OP posts:
cerys · 22/01/2007 22:20

We went to Ireland last August with three children aged 6, 4 and 22 months at the time. We sailed Fishguard to Rosslare and stayed just outside New Ross, which was about an hour's drive from the port.

this was our favourite place we visited
The beach was great for little ones and there was a lovely play area about 5 minutes drive from it.

We loved Ireland and found everyone very friendly and the children were always made welcome.

corkgirl · 23/01/2007 16:42

Astrophe a week in june would be £475 with the Mumsnet discount.

stleger · 23/01/2007 17:13

Try Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow on the east coast, the drive from rosslare to Cork and Kerry is longer than it looks on the map.

sunnydelight · 27/01/2007 11:09

I'm off to see my dad in West Cork in half an hour or so! It's great for kids if you get good weather, can be a bit tedious if it rains. Do you want to CAT me and I can give you more specific info? Payback for all the Sydney info you gave me It will be Tuesday though before I pick up my e-mails.

corkgirl · 28/01/2007 15:01

what part of west cork?

sunnydelight · 29/01/2007 17:57

Rosscarbery.

corkgirl · 30/01/2007 16:48

O Callaghan Walshes still there? and that nice coffee shop?

KTeePee · 30/01/2007 20:32

O Callaghan Walshes is still there. The coffee shop (Pilgrims Rest) has changed hands in the last couple of years and while still nice for coffee/lunch doesn't stay open as late in the evening now... There is a new fish and chipper though which is very good...

corkgirl · 31/01/2007 09:51

really looking forward to going back at easter - any other recomendations nearby? We are based in Castletownshend

KTeePee · 31/01/2007 10:01

For adults only or child-friendly too? I have to say that there is a limited choice of family restaurants in the area - must be an opening there for someone! (though most of the pubs serving food will do the obligitory chicken nuggest/sausages + chips...)

We don't tend to eat out as a family very often when we are there - too expensive (I was charged 3 euro in a place in Clon for a bowl of plain pasta last summer...)