Will take ferry with parents (ages 66 and 76 but very energetic)to Rosslare in July. Have my 6 and 8 yr olds in tow also.
Any recommendations on 7 day stay, we probably will not go further west than Cashel, so what could keep us all busy in the SE corner?
Also any self catering within an hour of ferry that you recommend?
THANKS

I thought I should attempt to answer this for you, and immediately got the sense of running into a stone wall. How do you accommodate the needs of the children?

Wexford has some good beaches but even in July Ireland is not a country for beach holidays. This is particularly so if, as I suspect, you are travelling from France. There are good scenic places within easy reach, and a good deal of historic stuff -- but how would that go with the children?

I presume you will have a car. Tell us more about what might interest the group, and I will try to make helpful suggestions.

I live in the USA and will be visiting parents in North Devon. thus the plan to ferry it from Wales to Ireland. Since dad at 76 is not able to rent a car and I sense he will enjoy it more if he can participate in some driving I am not now planning to do all the neat west coast stuff on this trip and re-focussed on SE corner. We want to go to Cashel, my grandmother was from there.
Girls are very experienced travelers and love the outdoors. Walks, forests, mountains, coastal views all would be great (we live in DALLAS!!) Castles/historic structures would be a great bonus, this would be our first time taking them to anything like that. They love nature and are always happy to visit gardens etc. "Experience" places are good at their ages, be it a country house with people in costume, or a working mine etc. Mum is interested in Waterford but I hope we can bypass, not really enthusiastic after notes from visitors on this site!
Other than a trip to Cashel for day/overnight, probably keeping the traveling to an hour or so from weherever we stay. Am thinking self catering so that we can have down time in between activities and prep our own meals some of the time

Okay. That's a brief I can work with. But I'm going to turn it over in my head for a little while. Look for my thoughts tomorrow. You'll probably have other suggestions on your plate by then.

Much appreciated! If anyone knows of a car compnay that will rent to a person over 75 please let me know, a frustrating restriction!

Ballymaloe Cookery School in Shanagarry offers lunch with students (they prepare the food during morning class hours and you get to eat it) and has beautiful gardens to stroll through including a unique shell house, potager garden, herb garden, etc. Go to website www.cookingisfun.ie and call to make arrangements. Darina Allen and her mother-in-law, Myrtle Allen have made Irish cooking famous in Europe. The students are in high demand. They have an organic farm with animals the kids might enjoy as well. After lunch go to Ballycotton, a small fishing village a few miles from the school and take a walk along the "cliff Walk" where there is awesome scenery - we used to harvest mussels for lunch on one of the small inlets along the walk.

Hi dendleju; You will have to pay an extra fee, but try this autoeurope.com ENJOY Iris P.S. When companies say, 'coverage inclusive' keep in mind they mean a dweductable anywhere form $1200. to $1800. dollars. You then can buy additional coverage to reduce the deductable to a respectable amount. But usually you can only buy the additional coverage at the counter in Ireland. Inquire from the renting company [Auto Europe]if you can buy this additional coverage for a person at age 76.

Okay, dendleju, I'm back, having slept on the question.

My first problem is suggesting where you might base yourselves. There are many nice places within an hour or so of Rosslare Harbour that you might enjoy seeing, but I am not sure which might engage you most as a good place to be in.

If your Dad has a car in Devon, it might be a good idea simply to take it on the ferry. If he drives there, the Irish roads will not trouble him.

Read these notes with a map to hand. I will reference them from Rosslare Harbour (which is not the same place as Rosslare).

Up the N11 towards Dublin; branch off at Arklow and go up the Vale of Avoca to Rathdrum (visit Avoca, Ballykissangel of the TV series); near Rathdrum, visit Avondale Forest Park and Avondale House (home of Parnell, significant figure in Irish 19th century history); then up the Vale of Clara to Laragh; visit Glendalough. That's the biggie. You can't do SE Ireland and ignore Glendalough (well, you can, but most people would consider it a wasted opportunity).

The south coast of Wexford offers little in the way of mountains and cliffs, but is scenic in a quiet way. There are some pleasant villages and lots of interesting old buildings, mostly in ruinous state. It is the location of the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169, and the Normans left their mark in the landscape. Tintern Abbey, near Wellingtonbridge, and the 13th century Hook Lighthouse (not surprisingly, on Hook Head) are worth visiting, and you can find other bits to engage you moving around the area. Cross Waterford Harbour by ferry from Ballyhack to Passage East, and continue along the Waterford coast -- Dunmore East, Ardmore (try not to notice Tramore), Dungarvan. Inland, you have Lismore with its castle (still used, and not open to visitors), a cute little cathedral, and lots of built heritage.

I have not spent much time in New Ross, but I gather it has some interesting survivals from its days as a walled town and important inland port. It has a full-scale replica of a "famine ship" which might be a good visit, especially for the children.

Kilkenny City is in striking distance of the SE, and you will find much about it by searching this forum.

Back to the N11: you can head for Wicklow town to see the jail there, which am told is a good visit and might appeal particularly to the children. I have not been there yet -- anytime I have been nearby, the weather has been good so we never invoked our rainy day plans.

As you move between places, there are all sorts of things, large and small, that might attract your attention and persuade you to stop the car and get out for an hour to look at or to do things.

I suggest that you google on some of the places I mentioned, see what interests you, and come back with any questions you have.

New Ross is okay for a visit to the Dunbrody famine ship, but not for anything else.

Graiguenamanagh is a cute little village that specialises in second hand bookships - www.booktownireland.com .

A hidden gem is Mahon Falls - between Waterford and Dungarvan - is a great stop for a picnic and a bit of a hidden gem - www.dungarvantourism.com/index.cgi?art_id=20
www.newtownfarm.com/comeraghdrivingtrail.shtml

So too is Woodstock House - http://www.woodstock.ie/

I second the advice about visiting Lismore, Ardmore and Dunmore East. Passage East is also nice.

With any luck either Waterford or Wexford will be playing a hurling match as part of the championship while you're there. If you can't make the match (they could be played in Dublin) then make sure you find a nice pub to watch it in. Hurling is almost a religion in that part of the country! Dunmore East or Ardmore might be good places to base yourselves - take a look at the Irish Tourist Board website - www.discoverireland.ie

ter2000 wrote: "With any luck either Waterford or Wexford will be playing a hurling match as part of the championship while you're there."

And probably losing!

We have booked self catering ccomodation in Dunmore East which looks like a great spoty for our group with ages 5- 76!
We are looking forward to this trip so much and have had great fun chasing down the wonderful suggestions made in the postings here! THANKS!