Okay, I am going to do a bad thing. I have researched, read threads, looked at guide books and I just can't decide on an itinerary for Ireland. We are going for three weeks in August, we have two girls, ages four and six, and we like historic sites, farms, museums geared towards children (but they like nature and history and "olden days" so it's not bad). We plan on staying in B & Bs that are kid friendly, for three days or so per location and then we will travel around in that small area before we move on. We'd really like one of the stays to be on a working farm where the kids can get up close and personal with the animals. Ideas?

Where are you flying in and out of?

Bill

MonicaRichards

www.irishfarmholidays.com

www.ireland.ie -- Under accommodation, look under farm houses.

Your plans could easily be on Ireland farms the whole trip. We usually spend our trips on farms. They are quiet, friendly, good cooking, and very nice for kids. The hosts will take the children around and show them what a farm is. The farm B&Bs are all over the country. They will have "family" rooms that will keep you all together.

Here's a place very NEAR Killarney. They only do self-catering, but it is also an 'attraction':

http://www.killarneypetfarm.com/index.htm

While in the vicinity of Killarney, do also check out the Muckross House Traditional Farms, Ross Castle, and the Gap of Dunloe horse drawn jaunting car / and Killarney Lakes boat tour. Your kids will probably love all three.

Bob

I would recommend the Tower View B & B in Dingle. It's not a working farm per se, but the owners have quite a few animals and a couple of daughters of their own. We stayed in a very nice family suite with two bedrooms and bath, and it was quite delightful, as were the proprieters.

Thanks for the help. We are flying in and out of San Francisco. The thing is, I have tried to research a loop but I couldn't determine which cities/ towns I should include. They all kind of sound the same to my uneducated mind. So what would you recommend for three weeks with three days at each stop? Also, I was kind of hoping to avoid "family rooms" and rather get two rooms next door (I realize they won't be adjoining). My kids don't settle well if we're all in the same room, and experience has shown we have a better vacation if everyone is getting enough sleep! Italian Chauffer, you must know my family! That is exactly the kind of stuff we like.

Doh, I mean we are flying SFO to Dublin and back out of Dublin. Man, I shouldn't type past ten!

Had you considered Conty Clare? Bunratty is a good base to discover area's such as (obviously) Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Coast (little farm called Moher Farm close by), aran Islands via Doolin etc.
Check shannonheritage.com

Also, in neighbouring County Limerick - popular destination for children is Buttercup Farm.

Hope that this helps

If you go to Kilmore quay in wexford there are a couple of potentials. I noticed on a website that one B&B in Kilmore Quay advertises itself as a working dairy farm:

http://www.millroadfarm.com/

I stayed in a B&B just outside Kilmore Quay last summer called Fortview House (or perhaps Forthview House, I did a search on the internet and it came up as both). We had a great time there and while not a farm as such it was like a menagerie, the owner Pennie's dog had just had puppies (she breeds them) and she was hatching eggs into chicks in one of the bedrooms. For breakfast she offered us haddock she had smoked herself. I would highly recommend it but it falls short of the farm experience you're looking for.

If you have three weeks, why not look to stay in self catering facilities in three seperate areas?

I found that when traveling with my two sons, self catering was alway sthe best option. You could find one south central and do Day trips to Killarney, Cork, Dingle, Etc; Then locate one nearer to Galway for touring the West & the Connemara. Then use the last week to complete the loop and stay in B&Bs.

Consider something Like this:

Week one - Croughmore Cottage, http://www.cork-guide.ie/mitchels/croughmore/index.htm - which is in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork

Week Two - Caheroyan House, http://www.caheroyanhouseathenry.com/, which is in Athenry, Co. Galway

Week three - split between Donegal, Derry and Belfast before finishing up in Dublin.

That would provide you a good coverage of all that Ireland has to offer, room enough for the kids to unwind and relax, and a more enjoyable trip for all of you.

Slan Beo,

Bit Devine

I talked to my husband and we like the idea of a week at that pet farm in Killarney, and use that as a base to explore Kerry. Then I do want to see Limerick just because I like the name. Thanks, I think I have a better idea of what we should do. Any other suggestions welcome!

I like the advice you've gotten so far. Since you have 3 whole weeks, I wonder if you might find Irelandyes web-site useful. Michele Erdvig is an expert, she gives good free advice and for a very small fee she does itineraries. Another expert is Pat Preston of IrelandExpert. Right now she is guiding a tour in Ireland.

You'll get really great advice right here. Maybe check out the other web-sites and come back here also.

Good luck, Joan