Ireland recommendations

[Roosty38]

We are planning on a holiday for a week in Ireland in August. Can anyone recommend where to go with a 2 year old and 6 year old. Looking for exploring, beach type of holiday maybe some where that has indoor activities incase it rains.
Thanks

For a week (and avoiding extortionate prices) I would recommend Lahinch in Co Clare. Bustling village with beautiful beach and great surf schools for kids. Close to Burren and Cliffs of Moher for sightseeing. There is a public indoor pool if the weather is dire. Ailwee Caves are another good rainy day activity.

I like County Kerry - the Dingle Peninsular is stunning - fab little town (especially if you like gin as they have their own) and lots of nice beaches. Inch Beach is stunning, even during a hurricane 😅 I've not done it yet but a trip to Skellig Michael island is on my to do list. From Dingle you can go on boat trips, dolphin spotting etc. For rainy days there is an aquarium, the Aqua Dome at Tralee and I think from memory there's a chocolate factory somewhere that you can visit.

I would try Wicklow/Wexford.

There are gorgeous beaches, nice little towns, mountains/ trails, places to eat, and you can nip to Dublin for a day of feeding ducks in Stephen's Green, or shopping, a boat ride, or riding the Dart along the coast.

Dublin itself is lovely too - lots of beaches that are easily accessible by Dart both north and south of the city, several child friendly attractions, and you can get out to walkable hills/ forestry very easily (Marley, Carrigolligan aka 'The Scalp') that would be nice with small children/ a sturdy stroller.

Definitely Westport Co Mayo best beaches some wonderful family hotels much better value than Galway Kerry etc
You will have a wonderful time

Co Wicklow if you want easy travel from Dublin.

Galway if you want a mix of coast, lovely pubs, shopping within a city with character, aquarium, swimming pool.

Co Kerry if you want rugged coastline, beautiful beaches and scenery, lots of outdoors with villages to stop off in for pubs and restaurants.

I know you said Ireland, but if you were considering Dublin (for example if you are flying and not planning to hire a car) I'd probably choose Belfast instead. I LOVE Ireland (I live here!) but I'd easily choose Belfast over Dublin with children.

But a lot depends on if you are driving or flying and hiring a car or not. And how far you plan to drive either to your destination or each day for day trips.

Also have a look at Waterford and Sligo.

Tip: don't be looking for 'child friendly' pubs. Wacky warehouse doesn't exist and all pubs are child friendly 😊

@CornishGem1975 OMG do not do Skellig Michael with a 2 and 6 year old! My husband and I did it pre-kids. Very memorable trip in lots of ways. It was the first trip of the year out there in April to be fair, but it is the land that health and safety forgot! 😂 We were not prepared to be dropped on an island with no facilities, numerous vertical drops down cliffs, and told they'd be back for us in a X hours can't remember, think it was 3 or 4). 100% our fault for not being prepared and researching where we were going, and I'd definitely recommend it, but do not go without at least a bottle of water and a very good head for heights!

@LivingOnAPrayerYes Haha maybe not for the faint hearted with kids then 🤣🤣🤣

Co Donegal has nice beaches and scenery also

West Cork is beautiful, fly into Cork city and hire a car. The model village in Clonakilty is good for small kids. Inchydoney strand is a spectacular beach (the hotel there is lovely), drive West to Skibareen via Glandore and Union Hall. Stop at Rosscarbery on the way. Amazing beaches everywhere and places are generally very family friendly.

All of the above places are lovely to see when in Ireland, maybe do a bit of a road trip and go to two or three places, a child friendly self catering holiday resort with activities in Ireland I would recommend
trabolgan.com it based it Cork close to Cobh and fota wildlife park.

Best of luck with your search.

Unfortunately Funghi the dolphin is no more :( but Dingle is still a lovely place to visit.

I’m loling at ‘the land that health and safety forgot’ in relation to Skellig Michael, as I used to work on one of the boat dropping people out (normally left for 3/3.5 hrs). It’s a fabulous place, but not for the faint hearted for sure. And children aren’t allowed until they’re 12.

I will reccommed the Iveragh Peninsula in Kerry. The views of the Skellig are fab if that is your thing but there are also amazing beaches, cafes, walks, harbour boat trips, water sports (even for young kids, mine have been doing it at the local seasports centre since about 2!), family friendly pubs, and yes a chocolate factory (Skellig chocolate) that you can visit.

Happy to dm if you want specific village, activity or accommodation recs!

I agree with a PP who suggested Westport, Co. Mayo. Beautiful beaches nearby, surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, safe swimming and lots of sand for sandcastles etc. Westport House is good if it's damp - there's lots for children to do there. Westport itself was voted the best town to live in Ireland, and has won the Tidy Towns Award several years in a row. There's loads of child-friendly places to eat, Westport Woods Hotel, the Castlecourt Hotel and, I think, Hotel Westport all have indoor swimming pools with kids' pools/areas.

@Spidey66 Oh no! That's sad sad news!

Just be mindful of the cost though. Ireland is way way more expensive for everything than U.K.

Thanks everyone for all your tips. I will research your suggestions and hopefully have something booked soon.
@thinkponk48 is dublin expensive or all of ireland?

All of Ireland.

are you coming from england?
I think some things are more expensive for example
wine
, but standards on things like eating out are so much higher.
with young children there are not all the money grabbing things at seaside places in my
experience. You can paddle catch crabs etc if you go to places without all the trick of the loops. no paying fir parking at beaches ( in Mayo)
Would you rent a house?

Claire, Dingle, Galway anywhere west coast

If flying to Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford are great. Wicklow has lovely gardens and walks. Glendalough and Powerscourt Waterfall (nice playground there) are definitely worth a visit. Then just a short drive to Wexford where there are some lovely beaches and Wells House (lovely gruffalo trail,playground, cafe and picnic spots) the Lavender Farm, Hook Head lighthouse would all be worth a visit. There are also some nice farms to visit with lots of activities for kids. You could even go down as far as Waterford in the sunny south east.

If you fly to Cork, West Cork is lovely with lots for kids. Kenmare is a lovely town to visit.
Kerry is lovely too, Killarney, Tralee etc
You could travel up along the Wild Atlantic Way to Clare

Mayo also lovely and Galway, Sligo and Donegal.

You will find prices high compared to UK as wages are higher in Ireland but personally I feel food and service is much better in Ireland.

I hope you have a lovely time and I hope the sun shines for you.

We are driving over from England from holyhead.
Got some great tips thanks

Hi Everyone.
So we decided to go in car over from fishguard to rosslare. Looking at the ferry prices and they are so expensive. Its coming at £560 in august return journey for a estate car and a roofbox on top. Is that the price for the ferry or will it be cheaper near the time. Didnt expect it to be that much?

Thanks

Do you really need a roofbox? Ferry is slightly cheaper without one, but price looks about right. Compare with Irish Ferries from Pembroke to Rosslare, slightly longer crossing but nicer boat.

I just checked and we booked an Irish ferries crossing from holyhead to Dublin last august (one week in advance) and it was £560. We were on the Swift though (the fast ferry, which is more expensive). Normally pay about £400, regardless of time of year.