This year, Easter falls on the 5th of April. While your little ones might be looking forward to snacking on eggs and chocolate treats, Mam and Dad might be dreaming of an Easter get-away.
5 Gorgeous Irish Destinations for an Easter Get-Away
One of our offices is based in Ireland and our MD is Irish so we thought we’d cast our eye to the land of saints and scholars. Ireland is known for its gorgeous greenery and its stretches of beautiful coast. It’s the kind of place you go to to get in touch with nature. We’ve picked our five faves.
1. Boyne Valley, Meath.
The Boyne Valley or Brú na Bóinne, as Gaeilge, is home to history and heritage–so much so it’s a designated World Heritage Site. The reason for this is its ancient passage tombs: Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth. Chances are you’ve heard of Newgrange and its light trap, but Knowth and Dowth are just as interesting, especially if you’ve got little ones learning history in school.
The Hill of Tara is also in Meath, and is as beautifully complex as Newgrange. The stories of the Hill of Tara are properly old-school and full of fairies and magic in the Fort of the Kings and the Mound of the Hostages. Any budding historians or writers in the family will lose themselves in the magic. For something a little different, the Boyne Valley is an absolute must!
2. The Burren, Clare.
Another stunning historic/geographic landscape is the Burren. Renowned fro its flora–a watercolour of flowers!–and its landscape, the Burren is almost like something out of a sci-fi: its underground caverns with its stalactites, stalagmites, and limestone formations are almost lunar.
The underground caves and chambers are the ultimate adventure for any family. If you prefer hiking or outside activities to lazing on a beach, then you’ve got to visit the Burren with your family. County Clare itself is on the West coast and is a gorgeous seaside town that’s well-worth a visit in its own right!
3. Skibereen, Cork.
Kayaking in crystal-blue waters in Cork is a serious experience. If you’re leaving the kids at home with a minder for a weekend we recommend a moonlit kayak session late at night: it’s just you, your other half, and water that catches the reflection of the clear sky far above. Top notch!
4. Donegal’s coast, Donegal.
Donegal is one of Ireland’s most popular tourist areas and if you’ve ever been, you’ll understand why. Donegal is many things to many people: solitary relaxation, a geographic minefield with its sweeping landscape and highlands, or an adventure in climbing the Cnoc na Mara while surrounded by unimaginable beauty. There’s plenty of heritage too. Hotspots include the St. Patrick’s Cross, Glenveagh Castle Gardens, Culdaff Beach, and the Workhouse Famine and Heritage Centre.
5. Rosslare Strand, Wexford.
While Wexford’s weather in Easter probably won’t be hitting the peaks of its foreign equivalents, it’s still well worth a visit. Wexford is considered Ireland’s sunny south east and while we can’t promise you good weather, we can guarantee a coastline worth strolling along. You might need to bring an umbrella, mind!
If you want to avoid the beaches, there’s still plenty to see in Wexford. Courtown is known for its amusement centre with arcades and carnival rides to keep little kids and the ‘big’ kids in the family happy. Once you’ve checked out the arcades, we suggest taking a break at a local chippers. If you’re in Wexford town, the Premier on the Main Street needs a visit. Their tasty chips are about as good as Ireland has to offer.
If you are off somewhere sunny, be sure to check out our awesome kids’ UV swimwear range: the girls’ products are right here and our amazing boys’ are here.