We rented an automatic minivan when we were there. Rented just south of the city.

Here's what I would suggest (and I wish I was doing this!):
-- Dublin, singing tour of pubs, tea someplace
-- Outside Dublin, the archaeological sites at Newgrange, etc.
-- Bunratty Castle and Folk park
-- Giant's causeway is supercool, but maybe a bit of a drive unless you're doing other things in Northern Ireland
-- Find someplace to ride ponies or horses
-- Find a farm to do a farm stay
-- Cashel is one of my favorite places because the ruins are just kind of out there to explore. It's a cute little town also.
I'm a wreck driving in Ireland because almost all the cars are manual, unless that has changed recently, and trying to drive stick with the other hand and adjust to the other side of the road was just not working for me...
Also, I recall there were issues with renting in Ireland and driving into Northern Ireland, so you may want to check whether that's still true.

Anonymous wrote:^PP here- we rented a car from Cork and returned it when we arrived into Dublin and it worked out well. DH did the driving and I will say it wasn't super easy to get used to driving on the wrong side of the road but it worked out just fine. There are not many highways in Ireland so you are mostly on back roads. It was part of the adventure for sure!

It's not the wrong side, it's the left side!

^PP here- we rented a car from Cork and returned it when we arrived into Dublin and it worked out well. DH did the driving and I will say it wasn't super easy to get used to driving on the wrong side of the road but it worked out just fine. There are not many highways in Ireland so you are mostly on back roads. It was part of the adventure for sure!

I think 2 weeks is plenty to see a lot. We took our 3 and 5 year olds to Ireland in May a few years ago and did a week and we got to see plenty. We Flew into Cork (didn't sightsee there, just started our trip there) and arrived late at night. Stayed in an airport hotel. Then headed to Dingle and made stops along the way (Kinsale/Charles Fort and Muckross House. Stayed 2 nights in Dingle (Pax House B&B-family suite, loved this place!). Then on to Doolin (stopped at Bunratty Castle along the way). Stayed in Doolin 2 nights, did Cliffs of Moher and ferry to Inisheer, live music. Then headed to Dublin for the last 2 nights. Did Rock of Cashel along the way. Then in Dublin (stayed at Best Western Academy Plaza in an executive suite with a separate room for the kids, so nice!). Did all the main Dublin sights. Then we flew home from Dublin.

It was one of our favorite trips. I highly recommend Rick Steve's Ireland guidebook for a suggested itinerary, as well as the tripadvisor Ireland forums for help with your planning. They were invaluable to me when we were planning our trip.

Might be if you rent a house and focus on one area. Could check out some farms, castles, go horse riding and to the beach if you get lucky with the weather. Some sights might be fun for kids, but mine aren't thrilled with pretty scenery. Kerry/Cork or Clare/Galway would be good locations to base yourselves. Dublin would be entertaining for a few days, Giants Causeway and Titanic museum in N. Ireland.

Thinking about a family summer trip to Ireland - two adults and two daughters (rising 1st and rising 2nd grades). We have up to two weeks. Would this be fun? Please send itinerary suggestions!