Two & a half weeks in Ireland - itinerary ideas?

[OneFootInTheDave]

Heady to Ireland for 2.5 weeks in the summer hols with the kids (12y & 8y) and looking for some recommendations on top areas to stay, unmissable spots and beautiful views. We’re going by ferry with the car, ideally arriving into Rosslare and exiting via Dublin.

Really want to see:
> Copper coastline / Waterford (where?)
> West Cork / coastline (where?)
> Bantry Bay / Dingle
> Achill Island / Connemara region

Ideally don’t want to have to move more than 3 times (Airbnb / self catering).

Would love to get the kids along to some pony trekking (beginners) and maybe some farms / birds / animal petting based activities. we love gardens and beaches.

No epic day long hiking, but we like a ‘big walk’ 🙏

I love Galway and we might do a day trip, but I've been 2-3 times before and driven along the coast (ish) to Roundstone and Clifden, which was fab. I didn't get to see Achill properly last time, so really want to get a bit further up to Mayo this time :). If only we had longer!

We had a lovely holiday once near Toe Head, between Tragumna and Castletownsend, south of Skib. Sadly the cottage is no longer a holiday let.
CastleTE has a really interesting Anglo-Irish vibe which makes it very different from the rest of the Republic. The woman who wrote ‘Irish RM’ lived there. It’s fascinating (but horrifying) to contrast its history with the terrible history of famine in Skib.
There’s a gorgeous sandy family beach a few km west of CastleTE, I think from Googling it might be called Sandycove.

Two women! Somerville and Ross (really Violet Martin of Ross Castle, Galway, and her cousin Edith Somerville, whose family home was Drishane in Castletownshend) — they’re buried together in the graveyard of St Barrahane’s in CastleT, a gorgeous spot.

Of course, so it was - thanks for the reminder. We have the book somewhere.

There’s a lovely aquarium in Dingle that the kids would enjoy OP, it’s Ireland’s largest aquarium. There are also boat trips from the town plus lots of lovely beaches on the peninsula. Dingle is a buzzing tourist town so loads of restaurants, cafes, music etc. Also a Gaeltacht area if you fancy hearing a bit of Irish spoken.

Quite a bit to do here https://loughkey.ie

Rosslare has fabulous beaches.
Hook head lighthouse is fabulous on a sunny day
Mt Congreve gardens (although it is a winter garden more that Summer, famous for its Magnolias and Rhododendrons), close by is a little steam railway and also access to the Waterford Greenway and bike rental. You can also rent bikes in Dungarvan at the west end of the Greenway.
Ardmore is a gorgeous little seaside town with some lovely cliff walks.
Cork has Ballymaloe house (famous cookery school) lovely café for lunch.
Cobh - Titanic experience, you get a ticket each on the way in with a passenger name and find out where you would have been on the boat and can see the various cabin classes, then you find out at the end if you survived (the children generally do).
Fota wildlife park which is incredible - Lions, tigers, Rhino, kangaroos, giraffe, zebra, crazy monkeys and also Fota house and gardens to explore in the same parkland.
Cork - English market for lovely picnic bits and pieces and fresh meat and fish if you are self catering. Harbour cruises. Marina Market a fabulous market full of food trucks and on to the newly opened Marina walk which goes along the river towards the Blackrock observatory if your children are into stargazing and space.
Blarney castle. Climb up to kiss the Blarney stone and the 70 acres of garden are stunning.
Kinsale is a lovely town - especially if you are into your food. You have the Dock beach near town. Charles Fort up on the bluff looking out to the harbour.
Clonakilty is lovely and has Inchadonny beach, red strand, long beach near Castle Freake with the Fish Basket. Great fish and chips, spectacular views. The Warren is another gorgeous safe sandy beach near Roscarbery, which has smugglers cove that was mentioned earlier and also a water activity centre in the Lagoon.
Castletownshend, Glandore and Union Hall are all gorgeous villages along the wild atlantic way.
Glengariffe has Garnish Island, a stunning island garden, you get a boat out to it passing seals on the way. The house is open as a museum to the owners and creators of the gardens. Glengariffe woods, fabulous long and short loop walks.
Dingle - On the way down the peninsula you pass the massive Inch beach. Dingle is a great town to stroll around, there are lots of different marine tours. The aquarium is great for children. A trip back west around the head of the peninsula is like nothing on earth if you get a sunny day. There are also plenty of megalithic sites to explore if that's your bag. The OPW website will list them.
Take a hair raising spin over the Conor pass and drop down into Castlegregory. Great pizza at the Forge. The back beach is (in my opinion) one of the most wild and beautiful in Ireland. You can go pony trekking along it. And there are also surf schools and water parks. The sunsets are phenomenal, especially with a drink in your hand from the hatch in Spillanes bar.
Tralee has the Aquadome and a big cinema on a rainy day.
Bunratty castle and folk park is another great day out with children. Its so much more than just the Castle.

I don't work for the Tourist board! We live in Cork and my husband is from Kerry.

Cork is fantastic. The city Gaol tour is interesting and Cobh is a lovely coastal town. I’m just in the process of obtaining my Irish passport as my mum was born in cork city. I would love to retire to county cork

For the Copper Coast I’d stay in Dungarvan, head that way from Rosslare and it’s an easy drive on to Cork then also. You can explore the Copper Coast and Comeraghs in that area - maybe do the greenway as others have suggested time allowing.
Ardmore also worth a stop on way to Cork, nice seaside village with a round tower to visit.

Hyne.

Wow @almondfinger - this is absolutely fantastic, so many amazing tips. Thank you so much💟

Definitely stay in Westport, it’s lovely there and the surrounding area.

I'm jealous, Inextremis that you’ve moved there! We’ve been to visit a few times as have family near Belmullet.

Hi
As you're a resident may I please dm you too? am a non driver and going to be based near Kilkenny..

@wavingfuriously Of course you can - I'd be happy to help :)

@Inextremis - resident Ireland expert💗

Thanks so much everyone, but I am back...

We are almost sorted with the itinerary, but am having a hard time making the final decision on which self-catering rental to book, so I am back and hoping that some of you will have a nose at them and let me know your thoughts on the locations (and the places too if you like!).

West Cork Options:

1. Durrus / Schull: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/54217345?
2. Kilcrohane: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/8285658?
3. Eyeries (Beara): https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/1154788651611621367?
4. Ardgroom (Beara): https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/1367477554440788074?

If this helps, then I will post the Mayo/Galway options later..

Help me choose 🤗

I haven’t clicked into the actual properties, but if you’re wanting to a base to explore west Cork in general, rather than just something for a night or two I’d choose either Durrus or Schull. Eyeries is lovely (and has a pub with the best views of sunset ever), but is a long way out onto the Beara peninsula, meaning you have a long way to track back before you can go anywhere other than Beara, if you want to explore further inland or the other peninsulas. Ardgroom likewise. But Beara is spectacular in itself. It really depends on what other places you want to e poorer from that base. Schull is a town, Durrus a village if that makes a difference.

@TrolleySong - that is super helpful feedback and it's what I was worried about being so far into Beara that it would be a big old mission if we want to see much else of W. Cork. You speak sense!

How about Kilcrohane?

I’d agree. Schull/Durrus. The other 3 are much more remote.

Thank you - I think we’re going to focus on the area close to Schull / Skib now :)

OP if your grandparents were born in Cork, you could apply for Irish citizenship now. No requirement to wait until you move there.

https://www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/citizenship/#My%20grandparent%20was%20born%20on%20the%20island%20of%20Ireland.%20Am%20I%20an%20Irish%20citizen?

On the holiday question, agree with PPs that Westport and the surrounding area is amaaaaaaazing and should not be missed.