christinaf

We are leaving for Ireland (Dublin) on Friday, arrive Saturday am. My husband and I are traveling with our two boys ages 5 and 6, my parents and then my sister will be there for 10 days of the 15 we are there (we are late 30's parents 59 and 72). My father was born in Ireland and I have been there a couple dozen times, my husband once, children have never been. We have loads of family there, always visit them, never do many touristy things, but I am looking for fun and memorable things to do with the boys. We figured this would be a great time of year to go, but apparently it has been raining for the past month and a half, so I think we may need to take that into consideration. My dad rented a van to take us around. Any advice on "touristy" places to go and restaurants is very much appreciated. thank you!

littlejane

Some fun things with kids:

1. The Viking Splash tour (they may be too young to appreciate it but check it out) - leaves from Stephens Green and St Patricks Cathedral

2. Feeding the ducks in Stephens Green (and there is a small playground there too)

3. Some of the museums have good tours / mornings specially for kids. The national museum (May be closed now due to a recently collapsed staircase) and the Museum of Modern Art in Kilmainham certainly have kids activities and I'd be surprised if the National Gallery and Collins Barracks don't also. Their websites will have details.

3. Kilmainham Jail (again, they may be too small?)

4. The Zoo, depending on where you are from

5. The Dublin Bay Sea Safari - leaves from near the IFSC - a boat trip in Dublin bay, if you are lucky you may see a seal or two

6. Bray - a tacky seaside town but they have Sea World aquarium (like the zoo, this is OK if you have never been to an aquarium but if you come from somewhere with a great acquarium it will be rubbish by comparison!) and there's a funfair / rides for the kids at weekends, maybe during the week too. You go there on the DART along by the seafront so that might be fun

7. The Lambert puppet theatre in Monkstown

8. One of the churches in town (St Audoens? not sure) has catacombs with mummies including a mummified cat and dog. Not everyones cup of tea but lots of kids like it.

9. The national aquatic centre (North west of the city) I believe has good facilities for kids - swimming pool with waterslides etc. Families allowed at specific times at weekends, I think their website is www.nac.ie

10. They might enjoy the "hooley nights" in Johnny Foxes pub? Trad music and dancing, very touristy but I believe enjoyable

There's a great book called "things to do in Dublin with kids" or some such. It's split out by age group and you can get it in good book shops (and Daisy and Tom in Dundrum shopping centre). Might be worth a look for some ideas.

Good news - the weather's not SO bad today... you might be lucky!

Jane

kaneda

Just north of Dublin is Malahide Castle which dates from 1185 and houses the Fry Model Railway Museum which has the largest model railway in Ireland.

The DART train travels from Malahide and Howth along the coast, giving excellent views of the Bay of Dublin, from Dublin south to County Wicklow and back again to the Central Station in Dublin.

You can take a train from there to Belfast where just outside of town is a huge railway museum with many full-sized engines.

christinaf

Great information! I grew up going to Bray, my Gran lived there, never visited in the summer but alwasy remember the ads for the fun fair, plan on taking them. I love all the ideas, I think my boys in particular will love everything! This is perfect, thank you so much!

littlejane

OK now I feel bad for calling it a tacky seaside town Hope you enjoy the holiday.

Jane

IrishEyes

Are you leaving THIS friday? Do you have Dublin reservations?

christinaf

No worries of the reference to Bray-not at all offended.
My uncle has an extra house we will be using in Wicklow town.
Thank you for all the great information, very much appreciated.
Cheers!