Help me to persuade DH to bok a family holiday to Ireland please, he needs reasons apparently...

[purplemoon]

I've wanted to go to Ireland for a very long time and really fancy going this summer.

However, I know absolutely nothing about Ireland , i.e where to stay, what there is to do with a large(ish) family (4DC, 5yo- 13yo).
I have heard that it is very beautiful and googled for info but DH needs more to be convinced so I figured some personal MN recommendations might persuade him, what d'ya reckon?

Anyone fancy helping me out here so I can plead a good case?

(Options are camping (campervan) or perhaps a cottage.)

TIA

good luck xxx

i tired to get xp over to ireland so that dd could see his side of the family, no go. then a couple of months afgter we split, hey gues what? he said he would take me!!! sod off i will go on my own!!!

i do really hope you can get there, it sounds lovelyxx

Thanks FM, sorry for you though. Are you going?

Wanna come with us if my plan works?

tee hee hee that would be lovely! but can't afford it unfortunately xxx

i will be going tho it may take me til retirement to save lol

I love Ireland .. we went by ferry last year to Rosslare and stayed here for a week .. great playground on site and bungalows are really spacious

this is right next door to the beach where the Saving Private Ryan landings were filmed and is the most gorgeous white sand and empty beach

can also strongly recommend County Wicklow and Dublin .. you must visit Glendalough

Awww FM, I'm sure we could hide you in the roof of the campervan, and I bought DD2 a teepee for Christmas...you could sleep in that for free! !!

Wow, that looks great Twiglett. Sound really quite perfect
...ooh I do love to be beside the seaside sorry

be aware the only problem with holidaying in ireland is you can't trust the weather .. at all .. you might be lucky with some sun but no guarantees

tell you something .. the restaurant was surprisingly good for an Italian .. and I say that as a spoilt Londoer

throws runaway 'n' at previous post, insert at will

Would the three bed bungalows sleep six ... or be cramped do you think? What time of year did you go? Just wondering if it would get v busy? (Probably a v stupid question given that if we go it will be peak season!)

yes, the weather, I think that's what's putting DH off.

god yes .. we booked a 2 bed and were upgraded to the 3 bed closest to the playground for some reason

it was really spacious (I say this compared to the Devon cottage we booked the year before where you couldn't swing a cat)

it had a double bed with an enuite (our room)

a room with 2 singles in it and fitted furniture with decent space between the beds

another room with a bunk bed and a single bed in it .. you could walk between the beds plus there were drawers and a wardrobe

a main bathroom

spacious living room cum kitchen (with washing machine, fridge, cooker, microwave) .. tv and satellite

a small veranda

That sounds really good Twiglett...are you on commission??!

BRB, DC calling....(Damn them interuppting my MN time )

you just need rainy day plans in place (we went August I think and got 3 days of sun whilst there)

.. but there's loads to see and do (you'll need a car) .. check out the visit ireland site for ideas ...

we didn't see many other families although the kids joined a roving gang of Irish kids .. aged from about 5 to 12 .. and my 6 year old learned what a bit of freedom and gang play could be about ..he also learned Irish Bulldog .. it's like it was when we were growing up

not on commission , don't know them from Adam really

I'd say the photos on the site are pretty accurate tbh

I think Ireland is a fabulous place for kids and families (despite the everybody seems to smoke rule)

as in DRINK, FECK, ARSE KM?

LOL

Me to DH "So shall we go Ireland this summer?"

DH "Why? what's so special about Ireland, just reminds me of Father Ted!"

KM, are you sure you're not my DH in disguise?

I grew up in Ireland in Mayo and would reccomend the following:

Ceide Fields for amazing historic interest. www.museumsofmayo.com/ceide.htm Newgrange is pretty impressive too. www.knowth.com/newgrange.htm

Westport in COunty Mayo is a lovely lovely town. www.mayo-ireland.ie/Mayo/Towns/WestPort/MOS.htm

Lovely sandy beaches.

Coastal journey from Westport through to Galway is pretty amazing taking in the only Fjord in the British Isles. www.totalireland.com/mayo/

Depends what would float his boat. Is he the literary type? Yeats, Joyce??

Historical stuff is his bag Fruit fly Drosophila , Ceide Fields will definitely appeal - Yeats would be mine.

What a beautiful place to grow up.

drosophila is that Leenanne then? (Fjord thing) We always go to Galway, lovely beaches. Sea is cold tho' so take wet suits. Tell your dh he can go in the pub with the kids in the day and drink guiness!

Why do you want to go there if you know nothing about it

Ooooh! I want to go to Knowth at Winter Solstice!!!

To broaden my horizons CD, no particular reason why but it has long held appeal.Heard how beautiful it is and I like a beautiful places!

Guiness... that sounds persuasive CS