Ireland has a wealth of fantastic family friendly facilities and things to do and see with the kids for a great family holiday. It has cosmopolitan cities of Dublin, Galway, Cork and Limerick which burst with youthful energy and are vibrant, thriving and active places with plenty to see and do for families. They are very family friendly with young and growing local family population and are full of fun activities for adults and children alike.
Have a look at our Family Events section for forthcoming family friendly events and things to do with the kids and for what to do with the kids this week.
The East Coast and Midlands provide a great opportunity for a family friendly holiday and a world of exciting activities close to Dublin with lots to see and do with the kids. Families can absorb Irish heritage at sites from the ancient world as well as in elegant Georgian country houses and gardens. The Newgrange site and the historic hill of Tara will be of interest to kids who have an interest in history.
The South East or the Sunny South East is it is better known is an unforgettable holiday experience. You can have a great family holiday experience in the sunniest climate in Ireland. It has a unique heritage of castles and ancient monuments, vibrant towns and villages and a strikingly beautiful landscape that provides a perfect holiday base for a family activity holidays. It is currently part of a Bord Failte pilot scheme to promote family friendly holidays and this is no surprise as it has everything you would want in a family holiday.
The South West of Ireland and Shannon region has dramatic coastlines and beautiful lakes. There are breathtaking walks, fun packed city breaks, gourmet delights, exhilarating water sports and popular festivals which will delight all of the family. Cork has the beauty of the Bear Peninsula and Mizen Head, the world famous Blarney Stone, Cobh’s Titanic centre and the exotic wildlife and fauna in Fota Island not to mention the Fota Safari Park.
In Kerry the family will find an entrancing panorama of deep blue lakes, rugged coastline, subtropical fauna and wild mountainous landscapes. Kids will love the resident dolphin Fungi who is resident in Dingle Harbour and all of the family will enjoy the beautiful national parks, lakes and mountains with superb adventure and water-based activities.
In the Shannon region in Clare you will find famous attractions like the Burren, the Allwee caves, the Bunratty Folk Park and the Cliffs of Moher. Clare also offers glorious golf and surfing and scuba-diving on the blue flag beaches.Limerick has a superb shopping, festivals and pretty villages like Adare.
The West is a great area for families who enjoy active holidays including walking, cycling, fishing and horse riding along spectacular Atlantic beaches and truly unique landscapes. It is incredibly family friendly with lots to see and do with the kids. You can explore Ireland's traditional heritage in beautiful islands and mountainous parks or live it up in one of Europe's most cosmopolitan cities, Galway. The West can provide a family holiday full of fun, activities and festivals all within beautiful surroundings. The windblown Connemara Peninsula is breathtaking and traditional culture is alive and well in the Galway Gealtacht where Irish is still spoken as a first language.
The North West of Ireland has inspirational beauty and great activities for a family friendly holiday. The landscape has a captivating beauty and it has inspired famous poets. It offers a great array of activities for families including horse riding, cycling, boating, walking, world-class golf, swimming and surfing on the delightful beaches and angling.
Booking.com have a good range of family accommodation in hotels and self catering properties at discounted prices and you can search for family rooms and apartments which is a great feature. You can read reviews by families who have actually stayed there by category such as families with young children or older children.
You will find lots of family friendly travel tips and advice in our research and advice section to help you book the right family holiday. Check out also the experiences of other parents and travellers in our parents forum and add your own experiences as we are a great believer in real parent's experiences as the best measure of whether somewhere will suit you for your family holiday.
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