When I was in college, I completed my study abroad in Galway, Ireland – immersing myself in Irish literature, culture and history –  and during that time, I had opportunities to travel all over the country where I fell head over heels for the magic and beauty of Ireland.

After I got married and had kids, my husband would often propose Ireland as a family vacation destination (we both have Irish ancestry and he had never been) and I always brushed him off. Perhaps because my love affair with Ireland took place when I was young, childless and single – or perhaps because some of my fondest memories included Irish bars, beer and Irish literature – not generally kid-friendly activities.

Last fall, I had the opportunity to return to the Emerald Isle for the first time since college with my husband – but without my three kids. I spent two weeks exploring and learning – yes, in bars, but also in national parks, on kayaks and bikes, around castles and through fairy trails – all places my kids would LOVE.

I learned on this incredible trip without my kids, how unbelievably kid-friendly Ireland actually is for an amazing family vacation. It’s an easy overseas flight (especially for east coasters), they speak English (but with the most charming Irish accent) and the country is full of different landscapes, adventures and Irish magic, of course!

Today I’m sharing five reasons I can’t wait to take my kids with me to Ireland the first chance we get…and why you should take your kids too:

1. The Animals

My girls are all animal lovers and they adored the pictures and stories I shared of the animals I encountered in Ireland. From sheep and cows peppered throughout the countryside, to dolphin sightings on the Dingle Peninsula to the jaunting horses in Killarney – the animals are treated well and certainly integral to the life and scenery of the country. You can even stay on or near a working Irish farm where kids can interact with the animals, you can take a boat tour along the Dingle Peninsula in search of their famous resident dolphin, Fungie or ride on a horse and carriage through the Killarney National Park where the drivers will let you pet and feed the horses.

2. The Fairies

Fairies feature heavily in Irish mythology and fairy forts and trails can be found hidden all over the country. The fairies of old Ireland were not always known as those sweet, helpful nymphs we come to know – many stories feature dark, supernatural and mischievous fairies which I love – but the sweet magical fairies are prominent on the trails. While in Killarney, I discovered one such fairy trail with a path of fairy houses where the magic was palpable. I believe…don’t you?

3. The Castles

Move over Cinderella because Ireland has over 300 castles all around the country! Many of the castles are now in ruins but some have been restored and are in excellent condition – perfect for exploring with your kids. Many castles have parks, play areas, lakes and farms on the properties. There are even castle hotels for the ultimate Irish castle experience.

4. The Food

I’ve written before about my love of Irish food and how the food scene has evolved – everything is fresh, comforting and symbolic of the county it is from – wonderful seafood on the coast, beef and lamb in the interior, lovely soups and breads; fresh salads and stews and potatoes galore! The menus have tons of kid-friendly options and my favorite kid-friendly observation was that all of the menus have a thorough and easy to understand chart of ingredients to accommodate ALL food allergies. Brilliant!

5. The People

The people of Ireland are amazing. They are hospitable and kind sprinkled with a little Irish magic, for sure. We encountered both third and fourth generation Irish residents and also Americans and Europeans who are Irish transplants claiming that they fell in love with the culture and the community! From our restaurant servers to the local artist to the jaunting horse driver to the AirBnB host, every single Irish person we encountered was generous and lovely; thoughtful and helpful. The children’s book store owner helped me find age-appropriate books for my girls, the local artist let me take pictures of him painting to share with my kids before giving a local restaurant recommendation, the airbnb host brought us warm tea and dried out our clothes after getting caught in a downpour. After every conversation, these strangers became friends – again, I felt a little of that Irish magic at work.

Have you been to Ireland with your kids? Did you find the magic?

While you’re planning your ultimate family vacation, check out these downloadable Irish Postcards for your kids at The Family Backpack!

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