Family holiday in Ireland?

[Ohalpro]

We are a family of 3 (one dd aged 10) and thinking of a summer holiday in Ireland this year. I’ve never been anywhere apart from Dublin but would like to go somewhere rural or coastal. Does anyone have any recommendations?

We’d like to stay somewhere self catering, where you can walk to a village/ shop … we don’t need lots of entertainment but a few things to visit or do would be fun

Causeway coast in Northern Ireland, rural but lots of villages and plenty to do

Thanks! What’s the weather like in summer?

Like all of Ireland, hit and miss. But if you get good weather the beaches are glorious. Look up Bushmills, Ballycastle, Portrush and portstewart, all great spots to stay for a week

Have a look at Dunfanaghy, falcarragh, and greencastle in Donegal.

Also have a look at Wicklow it's gorgeous.

Ritual and coastal both north antrim around Ballintoy and the above villages I mentioned are beautiful, lots of friendly people, small with walks etc

If you have anymore questions post in and I will do my best to answer

Carlingford is lovely or Mayo (Westport)

The South East Waterford and Wexford are the sunniest counties.

Westport is lovely for hiking and beaches. Take a trip to Old Head or Bertra beach, climb Croagh Patrick, visit the pirate adventure place at Westport house (some amusements, visit the house itself and there’s some new indoor VR thing there now too). Take a boat out to Clare Island (use O’Malley ferries - I was in school with one of the guys that runs the boats). Killarey Harbour is beautiful too, you could take a boat trip there and also go to Delphi Adventure Centre. Lots of this is weather dependent…
Cork is fantastic eg stay in Kinsale and travel around - a day in Cork city, a day on the beach at Clonakilty, visit the Clonakilty model railway, take a trip to Skibbereen, visit Spike Island and Fota Wildlife Park.These are the places we went to when we stayed in Cork during Covid.
Many people enjoy Kerry too, though I haven’t been there in a while.
Hope you come to Ireland and have a lovely time! 🇮🇪

Thank you thank you! I am going to do some research and may well be back with some more questions

Kerry is absolutely gorgeous. There is loads to do and the scenery and beaches are absolutely breathtaking.

Westport is lovely and sounds like what you want.

Another vote for West Cork; Skibbereen, Schull, Cobh are all gorgeous with beautiful little beaches and coves, I'd recommend one called Tragumna near Skibbereen that was a favourite of ours when we holidayed there as children. Fantastic places to go visit for children as mentioned above, and great food, culture and people. The weather tends to be better the further south you go, too!!

The Helm are good central apartments in Westport

it can be pricey to eat out so it’s a good way to keep cost down and make sure to go to Matt Molloys pub for a bit of Music and a drink (of course a bag of Tayto)

We took the kids to a cottage near Galway a few years ago and explored the coast to the north and south. Was great.

We've also taken our eldest to Northern Ireland. The area near Giant's Causeway. Absolutely loved it, along with Carrick-a-rede bridge. Superb.

Wild Atlantic Way in Mayo is worth looking at. Mayo/Galway/Connemara is beautiful.

Agree with Kerry- we stayed in an area called Camp and plenty of sightseeing and lots of touristy things to do in Dingle.

Donegal is beautiful.

I'd love to do a trip to Armagh/Giants Causeway, stunning scenery

North coast is great. Very busy in July

We did a hol couple of years ago, 5 nights in house on Galway coast, v gorgeous , nice trip to Aran islands , up coast to clifden, whilst there , then we drove down to kinsale, for few nights in hotel my fav place , gorgeous town and lots of amazing beaches to visit . Really lovely holiday, would like to go to Kerry next time

I would suggest Clare. Beautiful beaches if weather proves favourable. Definitely a day trip out to the Aran lslands. There is also the Burren National park high has spectacular scenery and walks. A visit to the Cliffs of Moher is a must and good caves in the area too and lots of great walks. Traditional music in the pubs at night. Good cafes and restaurants. I don't live there but it is our favourite area.Could try Ballyvaughan/ Doolin/ Liscannor..all lovely seaside villages.

Another vote for Westport. Excellent things to do as per previous poster. Also day trip to Achill Island lovely beaches

thanks everyone! I’m looking at these places and they all look amazing. What’s the best way to travel to Westport or Clare from south England - presumably fly to dublin and then hire a car?

And all in the UK. OP asked for a holiday in Ireland!

OP, I would say Kerry or Galway. But its expensive.

iamklaus that controversial - many people see the North of Ireland as Ireland

It's not controversial, it's a fact. Ireland is a country, NI is not in it. People's opinions on whether it should be do not alter the facts.

The places mentioned are in the UK, that's not something that can be argued about.

Are you in a position to take a ferry? If so Fishguard to Rosslare in Wexford is a good bet. That part of the country has the best weather, fabulous beaches, lovely little towns (see Kilmore Quay for example) and plenty to see and do. Google what to do in Wexford.

You are also beside the Copper Coast in Waterford which is beautiful too.

If you can't take the ferry then fly to Dublin and hire a car and drive down. There are some lovely stops you can take in Wicklow also which is another beautiful place that has everything, mountains, trails, rivers, woods, beaches etc.

I know that Kerry, West Cork, Wild Atlantic Way, Clare, Galway and all the rest are fab too, but they are a long drive away from Dublin, unless you can fly to Shannon (for Kerry) Cork, or Ireland West airport (for Westport etc.)

I think you will have so much choice you will have trouble deciding! Enjoy.

There’s a lovely place in Ireland called Moville and from nearby you can get a small ferry (with your car) over to N Ireland to see the Giant’s Causeway https://loughfoyleferry.com/connecting-the-causeway-coast-wild-atlantic-way/

There’s a lovely boutique hostel in Moville https://www.movilleboutiquehostel.com/ or you could find a holiday cottage. Donegal is lovely and has lots to do. Maybe find somewhere in between Donegal Town and Moville and then you would be about an hour away from places like Glencolmcille.

You can either get a Ferry to Belfast (it is a long journey but overnight you can get a cabin) or fly to Derry and then travel to Ireland from there. My son and I travelled from Fishguard to Donegal and then took the Ferry from Belfast to Liverpool a few years ago.

Alternatively Galway is lovely too.

Northern Ireland is in Ireland as is Southern Ireland, Western and Eastern Ireland. It’s all Ireland.