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Extra Weekend in Ireland with 6 + 10 year old

Posted by (Spokane, Washington) on

Hi all!
Myself, husband and two kiddos are headed to Ireland at the end of August for a family-related trip. We will be spending 3 days in Dublin before heading west to spend five days with extended family in rural County Mayo. At the end of the trip, we have a weekend (Friday afternoon, Saturday, Sunday) when we can do what we please. We have a car, and we'd like to end up back at Dublin airport Sunday night.
Our kiddos are a bubbly six-year-old and a quiet, 10-year-old bookworm with some mild physical limitations (no long walks or adventure courses.) Any suggestions for a weekend destination that might be fun for the kids? I was considering Limerick and Bunratty castle, or maybe heading to County Meath to do Trim Castle, Newgrange, or even Tayto Park. Or even just a great hotel pool would be an option. Thanks for your thoughts and happy travels! :-)

Posted by
1386 posts

I’ve never been to Bunratty Castle and haven’t been to Limerick in 30 years so can’t help you there. I personally enjoyed Trim and Trim Castle 4 years ago. Trim Castle is particularly interesting because they discuss how its use changed as the fortunes of its occupants rose and fell. Its use as a movie set for Braveheart might also interest the kids. Plus there’s just lots of running around room in Trim and the River Boyne, There are a lot of stairs at the castle though so if there are mobility issues that may be a consideration. Newgrange is very interesting, lots of running around room, spooky chamber and a nearby petting farm. Meath in general intrigued me and I wouldn’t mind spending more time there.

Posted by
3 posts

Thank you! That is really helpful. I am betting the kids would find the castle interesting and stairs aren’t an issue for our kiddo. Thanks for the tips. :-)

Posted by
189 posts

Staying in greater Galway area will give you a lot to do.

Easiest way to visit Cliffs of Moher by car is to use the large parking lot at the visitor center.
Best option is to prebook your date for a "morning visit". It simply means you need to arrive at the parking lot latest at 10:59 but you can stay as long as you like. The earlier you are there the less crowded it will be.
https://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/
On the way back I would propose to leave the main road and choose side roads trought the Burrens.
Don't miss the Burren Perfumery. Located in the middle of nowhere it offers a herb garden to stroll around, a tea room to rest and the possibility to shop same small local souvenir.
https://burrenperfumery.com/pages/about-us
Or alternative you look for one of the caves http://doolincave.ie/ or http://www.aillweecave.ie/

What else did we like?

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