Why
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. For family events this week and things to see do with the kids in the West look at our what is on for kids this week page and what to do for free.
Baboro-brilliant family arts festival in Galway and great value too!
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. In this section we cover Galway Mayo and Roscommon. This is a 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.
Families can experience the wild beauty of in the Connemara National Park where they can walk or cycle and may spot red deer or wild ponies. Ireland’s newest big family friendly attraction is the Roscommon Lough Key Forest Park which offers all weather attractions, outdoor play centres, canopy walks and fun activities for all the family.
You can discover unique night life, shopping and food and the acclaimed arts scene in Galway city among the mediaeval streets.
The holy Mountain of Croagh Patrick is an ancient site of pilgrimage with breathtaking views over island strewn Clew Bay. This is manageable for most older members of the family and worth a trip even if you only get as far as the base with toddlers.
A great day trip is a visit to the ancient fort of Dun Angus on the remote Aran island of Inis Mor which in itself is fantastic day trip or place to stay for families. Here you will see not only a stunning island landscape but also a taste of what Ireland looked like thousands of years ago. There is always a warm welcome in the Aran Islands and on Inis Boffin off the coast of Connemara.
The West is a fantastic adrenalin destination full of sports which are perfect for enjoying the natural beauty. Families can try anything from horse riding over the mountainous terrain of Connemara, swimming or surfing on beautiful Atlantic beaches, golfing on fabulous links courses with breathtaking views, kayaking or abseiling at adventure centres, hiking through forest parks and boating on tranquil lakes or fiords.
When
The West is fantastic to visit at any time of year but is best between April and October when the weather is better. There are world-famous festivals of every kind including the Galway Arts Festival and the Galway Races in July. There is a Salthill Airshow which is fun for kids in June in Galway as well as the Connemara Pony Fair in Clifden which is also great fun to the family. Have a look at our Family Events section for forthcoming family friendly events and things to do with the kids.
Westport has the Westport House and pony show in June which is great for children who love horses. Westport has an Arts Festival in September which is great fun for kids and Ballina has a Street and Arts Festival in July. You will also find lots of traditional, walking and food festivals in the West.
Saving Money
Ireland visitor discounts is a fantastic free downloadable discount voucher for leading Irish cultural and heritage visitor attractions. You should download a form for each member of the family and bring this with you when you are travelling. Discounts include two for the price of one in leading tourist attractions, free admission at some attractions and between 10 and 20% off other attractions. This really could make a considerable saving for your family.
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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