Giant's Causeway and the West in one trip?

Make sure you all have your ETAs before you cross the border and get them only from the gov.uk website

I like your son's thinking. Giant's Causeway is pretty amazing. The entire Antrim Coast is worth a visit; and I'd consider an overnight in Belfast.

Sounds like your flights are booked. I think it depends on where you are flying in from on how jetlagged you'll be. Day 2 for the trip sounds like a lot especially if you've flown in from say the west coast of the US. On the other hand, everyone can sleep on the bus.

But going from the all day bus tour on Day 3 to getting the rental car and driving 4 hours to Killarney on Day 4 also seems a lot.

So maybe Day 2 isn't a bad idea.

(We did something like this kind of thing in Germany. Flew in from CA; the next day did a long all day tour out of town; running on adrenaline; then the following day 3 hit the wall; so that's why I'm thinking if you do it on Day 2; you have time to not rush Day 3 in Dublin perhaps not booking Kilmainham Gaol for first thing in the morning. Enjoy the day 3 in Dublin; then day 4 head out to Killarney?)

Thanks for reminder about the UK ETA!

We are flying direct from Boston, so definitely some jet lag, but better than from the W. Coast. If we were staying an extra night, I would add an overnight in Belfast, but at this point, I think the convenience of keeping our luggage in Dublin and returning to the same hotel might be easier.
Your advice on day 2 vs. 3 makes a lot of sense!

Kilmainham Gaol might be a bit much for an 8-year-old. EPIC is better. I think you need a reservation there. Better than either of these is the Dead Zoo (the natural history museum) and the bog bodies at the archeology museum. Both of these are free. Honestly, with kids that age, I'd get the hell out of Dublin and stay gone. People on the forum are all about getting over jet lag by spending a couple of days in Dublin, but if you're gonna drive anyway, just get the car and go. Even if you don't go far. Take a walk on the beach in Howth or anywhere in that area. Hit the Boyne Valley and visit Newgrange (the kids will like this). Then do GC on your own so the kids have all the time they want there and at Dun Luce. Stay in Bushmills. We had a great AirBnB just outside the village. By skipping Dublin (and Galway--what are you planning to do there?), you could do a longer drive across the north to Derry (walk the walls and visit the fort nearby; also do-able as a day trip from Bushmills) and then come down through Donegal (see the Slieve League instead of Moher--I saw something about Moher viewing area being partially closed off this summer? Also, Slieve League is nearly 3 times the height--seen from land and sea out of Killybegs--I can recommend a great AirBnB there, too) and drive the Wild Atlantic Way down to join the masses in Killarney, Dingle, etc. If you really want to spend that time in Dublin, maybe take the train (so the kids can get up and walk around instead of sitting in a car) to Limerick and pick up the car where you're planning to drop it off, saving that fee.

I'd suggest Little Museum of Dublin for something the kids might like. It's just two rooms with lots of posters and antiques, but the guides make it lots of fun. They are really more performers than guides. As adults, we liked it. Also the Dead Museum has lots of extinct animal skeletons, dioramas, etc.

I'd swap a night in Killarney for Belfast or surrounds. A day trip from Dublin sounds like an awfully long day.

If you take the Kilmer Ferry on the way to Doolin, you can do the Cliffs of Kilkee, which will make the next suggestion more appealing.

You can combine the Inisheer boat trip with a boat trip past Moher. I think they tack the cliffs on when you get back to the dock. July will be crowded up above. If the weather is bad, you have a better chance at the islands departing from Galway.

I would say you're missing out on a lot by not spending more time in the north- you could spend a whole day on the Causeway Coast, plus visit Rathlin Island, and go down to the beautiful Mourne Mountains, not to mention Belfast itself. I like the idea suggested above of working your way north (including Bru Na Boinne) and up across to Donegal. However, if you are really keen on the west the itinerary you already have, while a bit intense, might be your best bet.

I am a bit confused about how the ETA works when you are visiting the north from the republic as there is no border infrastructure to speak of (nor is there likely to ever be, given the upset it would cause within local communities). I'm not saying not to get one, as it's better to be safe, but I'm wondering if/how they would check.

Coming from Boston are your kids city kids? Like museums? Mine are. Epic is very interactive & think younger kids will like it. You do not need tickets in Advance for Epic. We did not in Aug last year. The ship Jenny? May have that name wrong I think would also be good for kids. Right there too

I would not go to Goal with them. Think the 8 year old wouldn’t understand & it is very sad story but you know your kids.

Alas the dead zoo is closed for renovations. We were there the day before it closed last year not knowing it was closing. Really wanted a tshirt with Dead zoo on it.

We did a one day NI tour with Wild Rover tours. Loved Giants causeway. Our tour had an option of the Titanic museum or a black Cab tour. We did the black cab but not sure I would take young kids. It was a really long day. 12 hours. We really liked the tour but it is a lot to expect with young kids. Our bus was full late Aug. Every seat. Great guide though.

Our wonderful to travel with your kids. Enjoy

Thanks everyone for these great suggestions! We do like cities and museums, so I still want to spend a bit of time in Dublin. But will reconsider Kilmainham Gaol - or maybe split up and just the 12 year old goes with one parent!

I'm going to give more thought to staying in the north longer. I'm also wondering, if we still opt for 1 day tour, whether it might be better to take train to/from Belfast, and then book a private chauffeured tour for the family, rather than taking a big coach bus tour from Dublin. I see some private tours to Giant's Causeway and Dunluce that are 5-6 hours from Belfast, great reviews, and prices not that much more than bus tours. Train might break up the travel, plus a more personalized experience?

How not “ our “ wonderful to take your kids. Crazy autocorrect. Private tours are always nice. I would make sure they are comfortable with families & kids. You would want a personalized experience. Rick usually lists tours and guides in his books. I have had good luck there for other countries Not sure if he lists ones that provide transport though.

Enjoy

Further to Cat VH- just because it is an open border is not an excuse to get an ETA. There is no confusion, the border is open, passports and ETA' s are not normally checked. But without one you will still be in Northern Ireland unlawfully with all the consequences that brings.
There is always the chance you could inadvertently get caught in a police incident when they end up checking identity.
Getting to the Causeway coast is very easy by public transport with hourly trains from Belfast to Coleraine then a half hourly bus.
There are also direct buses, #221 from Belfast Laganside Bus Station and Donegall Square to the Causeway.

Maybe when done in Dublin rent the car and drive north to Giant’s Causeway, stay if tired, then continue driving counter-clockwise around or through some of the middle to get where you want to spend the last half-2/3rds of the trip before Shannon. And if they’re Star Wars fans and you’re near Skellig Michael think that should be on the list.

The idea of bartering the Giant's Causeway for Skellig Michael sounds promising. We were underwhelmed by the Causeway when we finally went, although we had been to Staffa, which is the other end of the same fault line and IMHO is much more impressive. It's a pleasant walk (or bus ride) to the formation, but you're in a crowd of people
marching in a mass.

No one part of Ireland is staggeringly more interesting than any other part. If you can get the north and northwest done in one 12 day trip, you've done well. We did Belfast to Dingle two years ago, but it was with 21 days, and it was our fourth trip, so we were able to skip a lot.