Any Experts On Ireland / Ferries / Top 3 to see in Ireland From Uk ?

[MermaidsInABox]

Need Help as short of time, we had a holiday to Germany that's been canceled due to flights or the lack of !

I am trying to put together a four-night break to Ireland from London but am confused about the best / shortest ferry and the best thing to see.

DH wants to see the giant's causeway but I'm conscious of excessive driving

What are the Irish family hotels to try? like a premier inn? We are not fussed about Dublin and would like to see the star trek location that's an island there but I cant remember the name of it to google it

thanks

I think it's a Star Wars island you're thinking of, Skellig Michael.

Giant's Causeway is amazing, well worth travelling to see. (Depends on the age of the kids of course). You would probably want Fishguard to Rosslare as the crossing, to avoid a lot of driving in the UK.

Other than that I am posting to follow for advice, as we are planning to going to Ireland next year with a wheelchair user, so wanting to pick up tips.

Thanks - whoops don't tell DH I mixed up his beloved star wars and star trek !!

it does look amazing

I would stick to the sunny South East - Wexforsd/Waterford/ Kilkenny Carlow- for such a short break, but it’s peak season so suggest finding somewhere to stay first. It’s hard to get accommodation at peak season anywhere- lots of tourists and returned emigrants,.. Waterford ( Viking associated)and Kilkenny (Medieval with castle ) have a lot to offer and the Waterford coast is lovely - steeply wooded coves, places you can hire a surf board, seashells tinkling and gentle waves Woodstown, Dunmore East, Passage East .Inistiogue. The distances between villages are short and the villages are really child friendly. The 3 sisters rivers are in the South East- some of the villages like Graiguenamanagh and Thomastown have lifegaurded swimming areas. There are playgrounds and picnic areas and castles and woodlands and gardens and all manner of touristy things like the Dunbrody Famine ship or the tower in Waterford or the greenway in Dungarvan. The national stud in Kildare.The South East is gentle and child friendly and you can just downshift completely and discover places even most Irish people haven’t found. So while the West and North West have dramatic scenery, if you want to make memories with the kids that don’t involve endless hours in a car, I’d recommend Waterford:)

If you're going to Kerry it's probably better go via Holyhead-dublin, driving times much the same and more choice of ferry times on that route.

The two places you mention are very far away from each other (and from the ferries). You need to research the Skelligs before going there - amazing place but involves treacherous steps, need a head for heights, need to book in advance etc. The Giant’s Causeway - best done as part of a trip to Northern Ireland if only going further 4 days eg Belfast, Antrim coast etc. as previous poster said, easiest is probably a ferry to Rosslare and then either base yourself in Co. Wexford or Co. Waterford.

I wrote the following before so copying it in here. You don’t mention kids/ages so not sure if relevant.
The Wexford/Waterford coast is lovely, and relatively crowd free. A route could be Rosslare to Kilmore Quay (good food/small village), Hook Head (visit to lighthouse) then take little car ferry across to Waterford and go to Dunmore East (check out the adventure centre if you’ve kids; also fab. For food, great cliff walk to a ‘secret’ cove, bring picnic). Tramore for surfing, amusements, huge beach, traditional seaside town), there’s Kilmeaden little steam train/Curraghmore House in Portlaw. Visit the small city of Waterford - great museums, food, Waterford Crystal visitor centre etc) Hire bikes and do part of the Greenway (start at Kilmacthomas and cycle to Dungarvan or reverse, tunnel, sea views, viaduct etc); hike up to the very cool Coumshingaun lake (see pic); Mahon Falls is a nice walk as is Crough wood; West Waterford has Dungarvan which is a lovely bigger town, also nearby is Ardmore village (posh hotel there and nice craft shops, nice cliff walk). Tipperary (Rock of Cashel, Cahir castle) and Kilkenny good for day trips or to stay in - but further from sea. Hotels are mostly non-chain I’d say - and as previous poster mentioned - you need to check out accommodation and decide from there availability is limited now. PM me if you need specific info on anywhere. Good luck!