Family Travel in Ireland, Part 1: Planning a Trip to the Emerald Isle

My family recently spent around two weeks in Ireland.

It’s not a destination that many families have on the top of their bucket lists, but with castles, farms, fairy trails, beautiful coastal scenery, unique cities, and some beer and whiskey for the adults, there’s certainly something for everyone. 

This was a trip we had originally planned for 2020, so it was nice to be able to finally go after postponing it for the pandemic. Since my parents and sister also joined us, there were some challenging booking and trip planning logistics involved. 

Let’s take a look at how I approached planning the trip for the entire family.

The Destination

Ireland is a large island off the coast of the United Kingdom.

The southern and larger part of Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, is its own sovereign country and is part of the European Union. The smaller, northern part, Northern Ireland, is part of the United Kingdom. 

Currently, there are no border restrictions for crossing between the two territories on the island. If you plan on travelling to both parts, consider bringing both euros and British pounds. 

The land is divided into 26 counties in the south and six counties in the north. You’ll find a mix of small towns and cities throughout the counties, each being unique in its own way.

Between the counties are stretches of gorgeous green landscapes, with attractions spread throughout.

In the north, you can visit the Giant’s Causeway, some Game of Thrones filming sites, and the city of Belfast, home to one of the largest Titanic exhibits.

In the east is the urban city of Dublin, home to Guinness. In Dublin, you’ll find plenty of lively bars and distilleries.

In the south is the town of Cork, known for its fine dining and the famous Blarney Castle.

In the west, you can drive along the scenic Ring of Kerry, visit a coastal town, hike around the Aran Islands, or climb Skellig Michael. Parts of the Star Wars movies The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi were filmed at Skellig Michael.

A little further north from here, one can continue onward to the heritage village of Adare, before heading to the Cliffs of Moher. Alternatively, head inland to explore the laidback town of Killarney.

When considering Ireland, there are a couple of things to be aware of.

The first is that there’s a lot to see and do beyond…