This post is part of my Traveling Tuesday Series. Also see my post on traveling to Dublin and Northern Ireland.
When our daughters were young, we were able to move abroad and experience life in Dublin, Ireland for 2 1/2 years. My eldest daughter was 1 1/2 when we moved there and our second daughter was born during our time living there. They were almost 2 and 4 years old when we moved back and those years exploring Europe and Ireland were some of the best family adventures we’ve had yet.
We loved our Irish home and spent as much time as we could exploring as much as we could, often renting a car and taking weekend trips to visit new places. We took in as much history, culture and beauty as we could during our time there.
Here are the basics of traveling to Western Ireland with kids:
Getting Around
We did not own a car while living in Dublin but often rented a car for the weekend to do shopping or to travel. Most of the big cities in Ireland are walkable and there is intercity train service from Dublin to all the other big cities in Ireland but many of the best sites to see in Western Ireland with kids are outside the cities and so renting a car for visiting this area may be your best bet.
Be sure to bring your own car seats and boosters so you know your little ones will be properly restrained if renting a car (be sure to use your car seats on the airplane as well to keep your little ones safe and avoid your car seats being damaged or lost.)
Kid Accessibility
Cork and Galway are easy to get around with kids walking or in strollers/buggies. Most of the train stations in Ireland are handicapped accessible though you need to be careful of finding the handicapped train cars on the intercity trains (I once got stuck standing next to the doors when my double buggy wouldn’t fit through the doorway into the main seating area of the train car!)
Eating in Western Ireland with kids
Cork, Galway and other cities in Western Ireland offer tons of family friendly eating establishments from pubs (children are generally allowed in pubs in Ireland until 8 pm and most pubs have a full menu) to cafes and it is easy to find something that is pleasing to even the most picky palate from traditional stews to chicken fingers or a burger and chips (NOTE: in Ireland, “chips”=US fries and “crisps”=US potato chips).
Preparing for a trip to Western Ireland with Kids:
I’m big on planning our trips ahead of time because traveling with kids makes things just a little bit more complicated as they aren’t always very patient when you don’t have a plan so I always did a lot of research and planning before our trips. Check out my tips and advice for:
- Finding the perfect hotel
- Pre-Planning as much as possible and finding the best Sights to See
- Packing for the kids
What to see and do in Western Ireland with Kids:
These are the highlights when traveling to Western Ireland with Kids and can be easily covered in a few days:
Near Cork:
Titanic Experience Cobh
Cobh (pronounced “cove”) was the last stop of the Titanic before it’s doomed maiden voyage into the Atlantic. The little museum in Cobh is not nearly as grand as the exhibit in Belfast but, in my opinion, it is just as wonderful and well worth a visit. The seaside village of Cobh is also very cute and great for a lunch or dinner break overlooking the water.
Kinsale
Another seaside village south of Cork, Kinsale is full of brightly colored buildings, lovely little artist and craft shops and delicious restaurants. It’s a great place to spend the afternoon walking along the sea and exploring or head to Charles Fort.
Blarney Castle
No visit to Western Ireland would be complete without a visit to Blarney Castle. Whether or not you want to kiss the Blarney Stone (we chose not to), exploring the castle and grounds is a wonderful experience. We loved climbing up through the castle and imaging the people who used the live there though the top is a little terrifying with its uneven floor and lack of barrier. There is also a sweet little tea room perfect for a morning or afternoon snack.
Rock of Cashel
The Rock of Cashel is the supposed location of St. Patrick’s conversion of Aenghus, the King of Munster, and is now the site of 12th and 13th century buildings which sit high upon a hill overlooking the Irish countryside and village of Cashel.
Other sites near Cork:
- Fota Wildlife Park
- English Market
- Cork City Goal (jail)
- Blackrock Castle
Near Galway:
Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher on the Atlantic coast of Ireland are one of the country’s most spectacular natural wonders. The drive up along the coast and creeping gradually upwards is an experience in itself. We happened to visit on a cloudy afternoon and could only hear the roar of the ocean but the visit was still wonderfully magical and it’s definitely on our “must see again” list. There is also a nice visitors center and gift shop.
Kylemore Abbey
North of Galways is Kylemore Abbey and Gardens. The estate, which was built in the mid-1800s, is now the home of Benedictine Nuns and a visit includes seeing the main house, gardens and private chapel hidden in the woods. There are also three restaurants on site that feature ingredients grown on site.
Other sites near Galway:
- Galway City Museum
- Ferry trip to the Aran Islands
- Dunguaire Castle
- Galway Atlantaquaria, National Aquarium of Ireland
Other sites near Limerick:
Limerick is nestled on the west coast of Ireland between Cork to the south and Galway to the north. We never made it to Limerick but there are many things to do in and around Limerick including:
- King John’s Castle
- Hunt Museum
- Limerick City Museum
- Frank McCourt Museum
The Ring of Kerry:
If you’re up for a scenic drive (our kids were never able to handle that much time in the car), the Ring of Kerry is a lovely circular route on the Iveragh Peninsula west of Cork.
Things to do along the Ring of Kerry:
- Muckross House
- Muckross Abbey
- Killarney National Park
- Ross Castle
- Torc Waterfall
- Derrynane House
- Cahergall Stone Fort
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