Book any of our wonderful self-drive vacation packages before the 15th of June 2024 to receive a 15% discount off your tour price!
This offer cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts or special event packages.
It has been a difficult time for all of us. I booked a self driving tour through Irish Tourism that was cancelled due to Covid issues with travel. The booking process was excellent and thorough. It wa Read more »
Stephanie was an amazing source of help, assistance and knowledge for our first trip to Ireland. She kept us informed of the every changing covid rules as well as adapted to our many - at least three- Read more »
Staff was extremely attentive and very flexible when it came to organizing our trip. All questions were answered quickly and in great detail. When some aspects of our selected trip had to be altered d Read more »
Stephanie at Irish Tourism booked our trip- she was wonderful to work with. I am picky about my rooms - when we booked the trip I requested more spacious accommodations and paid accordingly. We had Read more »
Every thing was as promised. B&B's were awesome and the proprietors very gracious. Big van with lots of space for the 6 of us as well as our luggage with room to spare. We will definitely use Irish ... Read more »
During this Family Vacation around Ireland you will spend your time exploring this magical land using Dingle in County Kerry as your base location. The Dingle Peninsula offers some of Ireland’s most stunning scenery from the Brandon Mountains to the spectacular seascapes of Dingle Bay. A drive around the Dingle Peninsula will leave you and your family with memories of Iron Age forts, early Christian monasteries and remarkable intact traditional Irish culture. Gaelic is still spoken in many parts of the peninsula and can still be heard by passers-by on the quaint and colourful streets.
Other highlights for this Ireland family Vacation include visiting some of Ireland top tourist attractions from the stunning Ring of Kerry, the rugged Cliffs of Moher, the unique Burren, journey deep underground at Ailwee Caves and Kiss the blarney stone at Blarney Castle.
While on your family vacation of Ireland, we understand that it is sometimes difficult for families to move from hotel to hotel so our Ireland with Kids tours are ‘one-centred’ and planned in such a way as you would just collect your rental car, drive to your hotel base and check in for the duration of your vacation. When you confirm your tour with us you will receive a comprehensive tour pack which will include numerous day tours that you can chose to take from your base location. You may decide to take all of the day tours, some of them or you may simply choose to enjoy the great family facilities of your hotel and its surroundings.
All of the hotels we have chosen for our Family packages have great family facilities, many of them have kids clubs during the summer holidays, playground or playroom, special meals, movie nights, babysitting and great escapes for mom and dad including leisure centres and spas, bars, restaurants and live music.
Given that Dublin was named as a UNESCO City of Literature in 2010, there can be no better place to start your literary tour of Ireland beginning with a visit to the William Butler Yeats Exhibition at the National Library. The National library has the largest collection of Yeats manuscripts in the world and in addition holds other fascinating material donated by Mrs George Yeats. You may choose to visit The Chester Beatty Library which houses a great array of manuscripts, miniature paintings, prints, drawings, rare books and decorative arts assembled by Sir Alfred Chester Beatty or The James Joyce Centre which is located in a beautifully restored Georgian house and includes an exhibition area with computer installations, videos, re-creations of period rooms, and items relating to the life and work of James Joyce.
Near the James Joyce Centre you will find the Dublin Writers Museum where Dublin’s literary personalities are brought to life through their books, letters, portraits and personal items. Other attractions include Christchurch Cathedral which was founded in the year 1030 by Sitric, King of the Dublin Norsemen, Trinity College which houses the famous Book of Kells which is widely regarded as Ireland's finest national treasure. Transcribed by Celtic monks around the year 800, it contains the four Gospels of the New Testament in Latin, and is a spectacular example of the tradition of illuminated manuscripts. You may decide to end your day’s touring with a trip to the Guinness Storehouse which provides an unforgettable welcome and a magical journey deep into the heart of the world famous Guinness brand and company and finishing with a pint of the famous 'Black Stuff’ in the Gravity bar!
Today you will travel from Dublin to Sligo which is long renowned for being associated with the Irish playwright William Butler Yeats. En-route you may decide to visit the ancient sites of Newgrange or Knowth or to break up your journey you might decide to stop along the way at the heritage village of Ardagh which has an interesting literary past. In 1744 one of the most famous incidents in Ardagh’s history occurred; this was the visit of young Oliver Goldsmith who was tricked into mistaking the mansion (Ardagh House) for an inn. His endeavors to court the Fetherston daughters in the belief that they were servant girls formed the plot of his most successful play ‘She Stoops to Conquer’ , a comedy which explores the contemporary themes of sexual morality and double standards. You may wish to visit the Ardagh Visitor Centre which recounts the tale as well as the curious history of the area. You may choose to visit Strokestown Park House& Famine Museum before travelling onward to Sligo.
The Famine Museum which is located in the original Stable Yards commemorates the history of the famine through informative and interesting interactive displays. The Great Famine is now regarded as the single greatest social disaster of 19th century Europe and hence has been the subject of many books, poetry and song. In Sligo you will find the William Butler Yeat’s Memorial Building which has a photographic exhibition detailing the famous writer’s life, the churchyard at Drumcliffe where Yeats is buried and the Sligo County Museum & Art Gallery which also has Yeats’ work on display.
From Sligo, travel to Galway via the Museum of Country Life in Castlebar. This award winning museum is home to the national Folklife Collection which represents traditional life in Ireland throughout the 19th and early 20th century. Here you will see for yourself the traditions, folklore and history of the real people of Ireland that would have inspired many famous Irish writers. Or take an alternative route via the Coleman Irish Music Centre where Interactive multimedia terminals will tell you about local lore, traditional music, Irish dancing, how musical instruments are made and much more. Other attractions on your route include King House a magnificent Georgian Mansion, or the village of Knock which is best known for its religious associations. On arrival in Galway, places of interest include Galway City Museum, Galway Cathedral and Nora Barnacle’s House. Wife of James Joyces, Nora Barnacle House was the Barnacle family home from 1894-1940. It is now a small private museum, faithfully restored to its former character. Galway, the ‘City of the Tribes’ is also known as Ireland’s Cultural and festival capital. With its street entertainers and traditional pubs with great music, Galway and in particular, the Quays area of the city centre will enthrall you particularly in the evening time. Other sites in Galway include Ireland’s largest medieval parish church, the Collegiate Church of St Nicholas of Myra dating back to 1320. Christopher Columbus reputedly worshipped in this church in 1477. Also nearby are Galway Cathedral, the Spanish Arch and Eyre Square.
Today you might decide to tour Connemara or take the ferry to Inis Meáin*, which is the middle of the three Aran Islands. The characteristic features of Connemara include its rugged, unpolluted coastline, dramatic mountains, numerous lakes and rivers and woodlands and the renowned Connemara National Park, Lough Corrib and Kylemore Abbey. Inis Meáin has managed to suppress the intrusion of the modern world to a large extent and remains the quietest and most traditional of the three Islands. The islanders still speak their native language but will have no problem in communicating in English. This enchanting island was frequented by the distinguished playwright John Millington Synge. It is the subject of numerous books, and proves continually to be of inspiration to visual, dramatic, literary and other artists. On the Island you will visit many sites including the historic fort of Dún Chonchúir, an impressive oval fortress measuring approximately 20ft in height, Dún Fearbhaí, the second stone fort on the island most notable for its unusual shape (almost square in shape as opposed to the normal round shape), ‘Cathaoir Synge’, the place where Synge was inspired and regularly wrote and ‘Teach Synge’, the cottage where Synge stayed while on the Island.
Today you might decide to tour Connemara or take the ferry to Inis Meáin*, which is the middle of the three Aran Islands. The characteristic features of Connemara include its rugged, unpolluted coastline, dramatic mountains, numerous lakes and rivers and woodlands and the renowned Connemara National Park, Lough Corrib and Kylemore Abbey. Inis Meáin has managed to suppress the intrusion of the modern world to a large extent and remains the quietest and most traditional of the three Islands. The islanders still speak their native language but will have no problem in communicating in English. This enchanting island was frequented by the distinguished playwright John Millington Synge. It is the subject of numerous books, and proves continually to be of inspiration to visual, dramatic, literary and other artists. On the Island you will visit many sites including the historic fort of Dún Chonchúir, an impressive oval fortress measuring approximately 20ft in height, Dún Fearbhaí, the second stone fort on the island most notable for its unusual shape (almost square in shape as opposed to the normal round shape), ‘Cathaoir Synge’, the place where Synge was inspired and regularly wrote and ‘Teach Synge’, the cottage where Synge stayed while on the Island.
Today your journey will take you to the beautiful Dingle Peninsula. This mountainous finger of land which juts into the Atlantic Ocean has supported various tribes and populations for almost 6,000 years. You might wish the visit Inch Strand which is regarded by many as one of the most beautiful beaches in Ireland. Not far from Inch you will find Minard Castle, said to have been built by the Knight of Kerry, it is the largest fortress on the peninsula and one of the locations used in the film "Ryans Daughter". On the tip of the Dingle Peninsula, stop at the Blasket Centre which celebrates the story of the Blasket Islanders, the unique literary achievements of the island writers and their native language, culture and traditions. Sadly, An Blascaod Mór was abandoned in 1953 as a result of the decline of its once vibrant population.
You have a number of touring options today. Chief amongst these is the Ring of Kerry driving tour. The Ring of Kerry is a journey through some of the country’s most outstanding scenery around the Iveragh Peninsula. Stunning mountain and coastal scenery combined with colourful towns and villages will make this one of the highlights of your tour. For those who wish to take a break from driving we can arrange a bus tour through this route. Following the peninsula drive, you then arrive at Muckross House. Muckross House is a magnificent Victorian mansion completed in 1843 for Henry Arthur Herbert. The location of the House is spectacular, close to the eastern shore of Muckross Lake and set beneath the impressive backdrop of Torc and Mangerton Mountains. As an alternative to the Ring of Kerry tour you may prefer to take a wonderful tour by pony and trap that takes you through the Black Valley in the Gap of Dunloe. After a snack at Lord Brandon’s Cottage, you will return to Killarney by boat via the beautiful Lakes of Killarney
Today you will travel back to Dublin, your Irish Tourism detailed itinerary will help you decide which route to take. On arrival you may decide to continue your sightseeing in Dublin visiting the many historical and modern attractions that this cosmopolitan city has to offer. Of course, you may wish to take time out to shop in Grafton Street or any one of a number of narrow and quaint streets that the café strewn city centre has to offer or spend some time in the Temple Bar area. This small area boasts a dazzling choice of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops to suit all tastes and pockets, all within easy walking distance of Temple Bar's many cultural centres and galleries. Its narrow cobbled streets are pedestrianised and are ideally suited to a leisurely stroll through the quarter. This evening we recommend that you partake in a Literary Pub Crawl of Dublin (which we can arrange for you in advance) where you will tour Dublin's historic pubs in the company of two actors who introduce writers such as James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Brendan Behan and Oscar Wilde and perform fascinating scenes from their works along the way.
Book any of our wonderful self-drive vacation packages before the 15th of June 2024 to receive a 15% discount off your tour price!
This offer cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts or special event packages.
During this Family Vacation around Ireland you will spend your time exploring this magical land using Dingle in County Kerry as your base location. The Dingle Peninsula offers some of Ireland’s most stunning scenery from the Brandon Mountains to the spectacular seascapes of Dingle Bay.
Accommodation Type | B&B's | 3* Hotels | 4* Hotels & Manor Houses | Combination |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jan - Mar & Nov- Dec | €953 | €890 | €1,590 | €1,289 |
April & October | €953 | €1,359 | €1,790 | €1,366 |
May-June | €1,079 | €1,490 | €2,090 | €1,590 |
July - September | €1,190 | €1,640 | €2,243 | €1,690 |
Notes
Standard Family Room can sleep 2 Adults & 1 Child or 2 Adults & 2 children when one child sleeps on rollaway bed
All prices quoted in this section are per family as specified
This hotel accept children to age 14 sharing with two full paying adults
Prices above include:
Prices in other currencies are indicative only. Please note that we charge in Euro.
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