Dublin with large Family

If you can, I would separate and do Italy in one trip and Ireland in 1 trip. Each deserves its own time and 2 weeks at least if you can.

We are a family of 4 and reserve 'family rooms' in Europe. This usually means 1 double or queen bed and two twins. 2 family rooms would probably work well for you.
If you want to really get a good taste of Ireland, you also have to venture out of Dublin.

We would have a stopover in Dublin either way - so we have the option to extend it for 2-3 days. That's why we're combining. Also as a family of 6, not sure we'd get back so easily...

I would add the 2-3 days to Italy then and give myself more time to cover Italy.

Id say you can "make a dent" in the dublin experience in a couple of days. My experience with two bus tours through ireland is that the average hotel room seems to have a double bed and a twin, so getting rooms for 3 should not be difficult. You can do the campus of trinity college (book of kells) a museum, check out some architecture ..listen to music......there is also an Irish Jewish museum, if that is of interest to you

What do you want to see in Italy? Even if you spent your whole trip there, with no time in Dublin at all, you'll only see a few places.

Remember that the larger the group, the slower it moves. On a 10 day trip, you can only hit some highlights; if you include Dublin for a few days, you will only be able to see two destinations in Italy (say, Rome and Venice). If you skip Dublin, you can squeeze in three destinations (say, Rome, Florence, and Venice). It will still be rushed, but doable - if you can wrangle your brood not to oversleep and miss trains! (Again, it would be rushed for a single traveler or couple, but with six, it's harder).

So, what are your (and your family's) priorities? Is seeing Dublin more important than seeing Italy? Only you can answer that. Do be sure to get input from everyone, so there's less resentment. Also prepare everyone (including yourself) for the fact that you can't do it all, and can't even do a fraction,of a sliver, of a piece, of Italy or Ireland in 10 days. I only get 10 days at a time myself, so I now how difficult cutting destinations is. But don't try to see too much, or you'll really be sorry.

A good start would be getting Rick Steves Europe Through The Back Door, which has the nuts and bolts of traveling in Europe (planning an itinerary, picking hotels, transportation, etc). Then, once you've decided on destinations, you'll want his Italy and/or Snapshot Dublin and/or Ireland books.

Our frequent poster Chani keeps kosher, so she would have specific advice for you. She's in Italy now and so may not be able to respond right away. You can start a new thread about kosher food in your destinations once you've picked them.

Both Dublin and major Italian cities have interesting Jewish histories, if that's an interest for you or your family. At least a few years ago, I read an article about how Dublin's current Jewish community was small (I think a few thousand people), but still could support a kosher butcher! Rome's Jewish community predates the diaspora; their synagogue has regular tours and there are also tours of the Jewish quarter. And Venice gave us the word "ghetto," and has multiple synagogues to visit.

I love Dublin.. been twice.. and last time we took our two adult daughters ( 19 yr old who was backpacking around Europe on her own for a few months met us there, and 26 yr old and her boyfriend. ) Also had daughters friend and her boyfriend meet us there.. so there was 7 of us!

We rented a house near Temple Bar Area.. as we were only there for 5 days.. ( we daytripped out of city twice) and wanted to be central.

We did a rural pub tour, we visited New Grange, we took the train to Howth and walked the cliffs.. as well as visited several excellent museums in Dublin.
Loved every minute of it.

However.. I am going to advise you to continue on to Italy and add the days there.. two isn't enough. .especially hauling three or four kids. And once in Italy you will likely want to see so much.. it really is worth two weeks on its own.. or at least a full 10 plus days..

Don't worry, your oldest two can go back to Dublin on their own one day.. and next trip with just four of you would be more mangeable and you could add more time and visit more of Ireland than just Dublin.