Fairy trails with
a side of Guinness

Ah, Ireland. Land of rolling green hills, toe-tapping music, suspiciously friendly cows, and skies that somehow manage to be sunny and rainy at the same time. Like stepping into a fairy tale - a great family friendly, kid loving adventure.

Ireland with Kids: Cows, Castles & a Pint of Magic

We packed up the family, rented a car, and hit the Irish highways and hedge-lined byways for a week of fairy trails, farm fun, and a foam-topped finish at the Guinness Storehouse.

Here’s how it all went down—with a few giggles, muddy boots, and more than one “Are we there yet?”

10 Reasons Ireland Is a Dream Destination for Families

  1. Storybook Scenery Everywhere
    Rolling green hills, castle ruins, misty cliffs, and winding country roads—it’s like driving through a live-action fairy tale. Even the kids stopped asking for screens (well... almost).

  2. Farm Stays That Kids (and Adults) Love
    Feeding animals, collecting eggs, tractor rides—farm stays in Ireland offer wholesome, hands-on fun and plenty of muddy boots. Fresh air guaranteed.

  3. Fairy Trails and Forest Magic
    Tiny fairy doors, woodland paths, and just enough whimsy to keep kids wide-eyed and curious. Bonus: adults get a peaceful stroll while pretending they don’t believe in fairies.

  4. Walkable, Welcoming Cities
    Places like Galway, Killarney, and Kilkenny are packed with charm, easy to explore on foot, and full of friendly locals who love a good chat with kids.

  5. Music on Every Corner
    Live traditional music in pubs and on the streets is a built-in soundtrack to your trip—and kids love it. Dancing encouraged, bedtime optional.

  6. Surprising Outdoor Adventures
    Think beachside saunas, island ferries, hiking trails, and castles you can actually climb. Rain or shine, there’s always something to do outside.

  7. Castles, Legends & Real-Life Knights
    Medieval forts, haunted towers, and ancient myths come to life in Ireland. It’s basically a live-action history lesson—with swords.

  8. Easy Drives, Big Payoffs
    Rent a car and you’re just a short drive from something incredible—like a hidden waterfall, a seaside village, or that one pub with the best stew you’ve ever had.

  9. Pub Culture That’s Family-Friendly
    Unlike some places, pubs in Ireland are for everyone. Many welcome kids during the day, offer high chairs and crayons, and often come with a side of live music and storytelling.

  10. The Warmest of Welcomes
    Irish hospitality is legendary. Locals love chatting with kids, offering directions, sharing stories—and making you feel like you’ve just come home.

8-10 days break

We recommend this destination as a 8-10 day getaway. You could easily extend this and add Northern Ireland to this family adventure - We did. As it’s a longer flight from the UAE it is worth making the most of.

  • We kicked off our Irish adventure with a smooth Aer Lingus flight from London Heathrow to Cork Airport—a quick and easy hop across the Irish Sea. Cork’s airport is small, friendly, and wonderfully stress-free—perfect when you’re traveling with kids and a bit too much luggage.

    After exploring the countryside, coast, and cities, we wrapped things up in Dublin and flew direct to Dubai with Emirates. The flight was comfortable, the in-flight entertainment was a lifesaver for the kids, and the direct route made the long-haul surprisingly manageable. Door to door, it was a breeze—proof that family travel doesn’t have to be chaotic.

    We Drove. We Conquered (Mostly).

    Renting a car in Ireland with kids is a bit like parenting itself: mildly terrifying but absolutely worth it. Yes, the roads are narrow. Yes, the steering wheel is on the other side. And yes, someone will absolutely shout “COW!” from the back seat every ten minutes. But with the freedom to pull over for castle ruins, rainbow sightings, and emergency ice cream stops, we’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.

  • Everywhere and anywhere. Explore the towns unheard of. We stopped at a few little villages along the coast from Galway to Northern Ireland and where taken away by their beauty.

    We stayed at Timoleague near Cork on the south coast. It was stunning and very family friendly.
    Galways itself was fun for a day but the surrounding have more for kids than Galway itself.
    Whilst Dublin was a great city escape but also only for a few days.

  • The beaches here are understated all year.
    Check out a local pub.
    Fairy trails.
    Stop at one of the many castles and do a tour.
    Guinness factory tour.
    Go to a Trad session.

Stop 1 - Cork: Farm stay by the Atlantic

Our first stop was a picture-perfect farm stay near Cork. We met up with family who were also travelling and had a great stay at a farm house nestled Along the atlantic coast. Think cozy cottage, misty fields, and the sweet smell of... well, cows. The kids got stuck right in—feeding chickens, befriending cows, and attempting to race through the paddocks daily.

Meanwhile, we enjoyed homemade soda bread, peaceful mornings, and watching the kids burn off energy the old-fashioned way—by playing in the paddocks. Five stars, two muddy boots, and one very happy family.

Beach Sauna? Don’t Mind If We Do.

Next came one of Ireland’s greatest plot twists: a sauna on the beach. Yes, a real, wood-fired sauna just a few sandy steps from the freezing Atlantic. As our brother in-law is from the area he amazingly had a few hidden gems for us. One being this little set up beachside on Dunworley beach. It was hot, it was steamy, and it was absolutely glorious. The kids dipped their toes in the water, screamed, and immediately wrapped themselves in every towel we owned. We, however, braved the heat and ice of the Atlantic like champions—and promptly added “sweated on an Irish beach” to our travel brag list.

Galway: Where the Streets Sing

We then drove the stunning roadway from cork - Galway. A 2.5hrs drive. We rolled into Galway, and if cities had personalities, Galway would be that effortlessly cool friend who plays guitar, hosts the best dinner parties, and always knows where the good chips are. We stayed in an Air-bnb by the beach in Salthill just out of Galway. As we had the car it made for a great destination that wasn’t too chaotic.

Live music echoed from every corner, shopfronts were bursting with color, and the energy was downright infectious. The kids danced in the street (voluntarily!), and we all ended the night sharing fish and chips and clapping along to a fiddle tune. It’s impossible not to love Galways energy. Trust us—we tried.

Fairy Trails: Yes, They’re Real

Ireland may be full of history and heritage, but it also knows how to charm the socks off little adventurers. Enter the fairy trails—woodland paths dotted with miniature doors, tiny houses, and enough magic to make even the adults pause and squint at trees.

We followed a trail near Killarney, where the kids left notes for the fairies, made wishes on ancient trees, and fully believed they saw something flutter. Honestly? So did we.

Dublin & The Guinness Factory: Foam, Fun & Rooftop Views

We wrapped up our trip in Dublin, where the highlight (for the adults, anyway) was the legendary Guinness Storehouse. And guess what? It’s not just for beer lovers.

The interactive displays, huge bubbles, and waterfall exhibits kept the kids entertained while we learned how to pour the perfect pint. The rooftop Gravity Bar offered views, vibes, and one very satisfied sip of smooth, dark magic. It was a bubbly way to toast the end of an unforgettable trip.

Would We Go Back? In a Heartbeat (and a Raincoat)

Ireland ticked every box on the family travel list—adventure, culture, cute animals, walkable towns, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting. We laughed, we danced, we steam-sauna’d on a beach. The kids didn’t just see Ireland—they experienced it, muddy shoes and all.

Our advice? Hit the road, chase a rainbow, believe in fairies, and don’t be afraid of a little drizzle. Ireland’s got a pot of gold in every memory you make.