Important Notice: Vacation Coaching and Itinerary Services will be paused from April 5 - May 15 while I am leading tours in Ireland. If you want guided assistance please book soon.
I’m going to be very (very) honest when I say that I had thought about creating an Ireland Scavenger Hunt for my kids when they were a bit older, but had kind of written it off as too much work. And, knowing my Type-A self as I do, it likely could have been and overwhelming project….
Ireland has an amazingly vast history for such a small island. Celts, Picts, Vikings, Normans, and the English all called Ireland theirs at one time or another. A stroll through Ireland’s history at Craggaunowen takes you from the late Bronze age (1200-500 BC) through the Elizabethan Period (1558-1603) in an interactive history lesson that is…
Ireland Family Vacations reader question: As we prepare for our first trip to Ireland this summer with our 7 and 3 year-old, we are a little nervous about the food, and making sure we can find things the kids like. They are finicky eaters as it is — never mind throwing foreign fare into the…
Bringing home fragile items like bottles of mead, Bulmer’s or Irish Whiskey – not to mention a lovely Kerry Glass vase – has always been a bit nerve wracking for me. These items breaking could likely ruin a lovely gift or a souvenir for myself. Not to mention the mess. No one wants to see…
Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny is the perfect hotel for your visit to the north of County Donegal, Glenveagh National Park, and the stunning Inishowen Peninsula. The hotel is easy to find as you enter Letterkenny via the N56 or N13/14 and is just east of the Port Bridge Roundabout and its stunning Polestar sculpture….
Ireland Family Vacations reader question: We are touring Ireland with a family of 8, including a 7 year old and and infant. Besides renting a self catering cottage, are their B&Bs that would accommodate us and, should the baby be fussy, not bother other guests? We will stay in the southwest much of the time…Dingle,…
Bunratty Castle is familiar to visitors to western Ireland. Located just south of the Shannon Airport, you pass the majestic castle walls on your way to Limerick and destinations south. Famous for their Medieval Banquets, which are fabulous but not a great option with young children, Bunratty Castle also offers a less expensive and livelier…
Traversing heather-pocked peaks and harmonious forests, the Ring of Kerry is a popular tourist trail situated on Ireland’s mystical and unblemished South-West coast. The 120 mile route covers vast expanses of imposing wilderness, welcoming hamlets and secluded waterways, as well as one of Ireland’s most spectacular storm pillaged coastlines. To find out more about what…
We dipped our toes into our first Ireland self catering slowly, at the invitation of Killyhevlin Chalets in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Located just behind the 4* Killyhevlin Hotel, steps away from the waters of Lough Erne, 13 lovely chalets provide the perfect retreat for an Ireland family vacation. Staying at Killyhevlin Chalets on…
Few visitors realize that Waterford is Ireland’s oldest city. Established by Viking raiders in 853, the city was established, overthrown by native Irish and re-established a number of times by both Viking and Norman invaders. Today you can revisit over 1000 years of history in three Waterford museums. The Museums of Waterford Treasures Known collectively…
After crossing the glorious south of Ireland during our family vacation with. I knew that I could expect the hotels on our itinerary to be family friendly with a full service of amenities and spacious rooms. But even knowing that didn’t prepare me for the room I walked in to in Adare. If you are…
Horse racing is the sport of Kings, and the birthline of many winners of races across the world can be traced to the Irish National Stud in County Kildare. Only 30 miles from Dublin, the National Stud is a terrific first stop if you’ve just arrived in Ireland, or a great final day exploration…
Peat bogs have long provided the Irish with the sweet smelling fuel visitors look forward to seeing stacked on hearths across the country. But when the peat has all been cutaway and the land is out of production, what is to be done with it? Ireland’s Lough Boora Discovery Park were once one of the oldest…
When planning a family vacation in Ireland, most people think of the history and the landscape. Few think of science. Yet, that is exactly what you will find at Birr Castle Demense in County Offaly- a world of science spread across the estate of the Earls of Rosse. Visiting Birr Castle Demense Birr Castle is…
This post is part of the initiative “100 cities to home swap before you die” from Knok.com Killarney is, undisputedly, the center of southwest Ireland tourism. The “gateway” to the Ring of Kerry and home to some of Ireland’s most scenic views, Killarney draws visitors year round. What to do in Killarney A single, perfect day in Killarney…
Many tourists in Ireland pass through the Ballyhoura region and don’t even realize it. This area of southwest Ireland, stretching from just south of Limerick city through the northern part of County Cork, isn’t marked on any map. And though you will drive through it on the way to destinations like the Rock of Cashel or the…
Ireland is well known for its walks. No matter where you are in the country, it’s likely that you are near a marked way of some sort. County Offaly is filled with such walks. The Offaly Way, the Slieve Bloom Way and half a dozen Looped Walks weave across and through the county. To combat…
To wrap up 2012, I wanted to share my 10 most popular posts of the year. The 3rd most popular post came about after a conference with my daughter’s teacher last year. Originally published November 17, 2011, I take on the topic of children missing school to travel and how traveling helps your child’s education….
Ireland is a land filled with true magic. It permeates the earth, promising untold wonders if you will only search just a bit deeper. Lough Gur, in County Limerick, may be the most magical place of all. Long before Ireland became the ‘Land of Saints and Scholars’, it was the land of Druids and Celts. …
Close your eyes and imagine an Irish Country House. It’s stately, with lovely lands surrounding, a beautiful view and spacious rooms. Ardmore Country House Bed & Breakfast in Kinnity, County Offaly is the house you’ve imagined, complete with stone wall and gated entrance. Arriving at Ardmore House Ardmore House is very easy to find, situated…