Family Adventure in Ireland

Trinity College’s Old Library and the Book of Kells Exhibition is a must see for all visitors to Dublin. The Book of Kells is Ireland's national treasure, a 9th-century manuscript documenting the four Gospels of the life of Jesus Christ. The exhibition is on display inside the 18th-century Old Library building and includes access one of the world's most beautiful libraries, the Long Room, which displays 250,000 of Trinity College’s oldest and rarest books.

The museum's 10,000 exhibits provide a glimpse into the natural world and have been delighting generations of visitors since the doors opened in 1857. The building is a ‘cabinet-style’ museum designed to showcase a wide ranging and comprehensive zoological collection and has changed little in over a century. The Irish Room on the ground floor is dedicated to animals native to Ireland, featuring a variety of mammals, birds, fish and insects. The giant Irish deer skeletons found at the entrance of the museum are some of the most famous and distinctive animals on display. On the upper floor you will find an elephant, polar bear, lions, an array of monkeys, apes and lemurs which make up the mammals of the world collection. Other popular favourites include Spoticus the giraffe, and a 20-metre-long whale skeleton suspended from the roof.

What, when, why and how? Have you ever wondered about the story behind a painting? Enjoy a private tour of the National Gallery highlights or a themed tour to gain a deeper insight into your new favourite works of art. Since 1854, when it opened its doors for the first time, the National Gallery of Ireland has always believed that the National Collection is public property, and as such is available for your pleasure almost all year round. The drop-in creative space and free art packs support independent creative activity while their scheduled workshops and events are designed to appeal to all ages.

The Irish National Stud and Gardens symbolises all that is great about County Kildare, the beating heart of Ireland's thoroughbred horse industry. Enjoy a tour to marvel at the grace and splendour of these horses at close quarters. Within the grounds are the famous Japanese gardens, created between 1906 and 1910.

You'll also visit the Rock of Dunamase. Spectacular views of the surrounding countryside made this a strategic place to build a fortress. Nowadays, despite the castle's ruined state, you can get a sense of its former grandiosity and take in stunning views as you explore this historic site.

Enjoy a unique cultural sporting experience in Kilkenny, the home of the legendary Kilkenny Cats. Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years and is the world's fastest field team game in terms of game play. There is a similar game for women, called Camogie. Kilkenny is regarded as the home of hurling champions, having won 34 'All Ireland' senior titles and are known as the Kilkenny Cats.

Visit Legend's Hurling Bar Museum, Kilkenny's only bar dedicated to the Legends that have played the game of hurling - past and present. The walls are adorned with beautiful hand painted murals of Ireland's finest hurlers and some beautiful prints of historical hurling moments from across the decades. Then it's up to Nowlan Park home of the Kilkenny Cats where you will get one-to-one instructions on how to play the game on the pitch itself. You will feel the excitement of the fastest game in the world, experience the skills of the game from the hurling guides and hear about the craftsmanship of the hurley. The tour ends back in the bar where you'll watch a game of hurling on the big screen to see the skills you have learned on the pitch while enjoying a bowl of Lanigan's famous Irish lamb stew.

Enjoy an easy paced two-hour guided cycling tour visiting historical and cultural sites around Kilkenny including Kilkenny Castle, the Kilkenny Design Centre, Shee Alms House, The Tholsel, St. Mary’s Church, Rothe House and Gardens, St. Francis’ Abbey and St. Canice’s Cathedral, as well as some hidden gems along Irelands Medieval Mile. There are bikes suitable for all ages and the tour uses riverbank paths and backstreets to stay away from heavy traffic. Along the way you'll find out about Kilkenny’s most famous characters like the Witch Dame Alice Kyteler and William Earl Marshal, the greatest knight that ever lived.

Explore one of the most recognisable buildings in Ireland. Kilkenny Castle has been an important site since Richard de Clare, Earl of Pembroke, also known as Strongbow, constructed the first castle in the 12th century. The history is full of legends and stories involving earls, witches and visits from royalty. Marvel at the grand country house and wander among the beautifully manicured gardens and 50 acres of lush parklands. There's also a tearoom and even orienteering trails to discover.

Nestled in the centre of Ireland’s Medieval Mile, Rothe House and Garden is one of Kilkenny’s hidden gems. The building was the home of a 17th-century merchant and consists of three townhouses, courtyards and gardens. The home was built for John Rothe Fitzpiers, who lived here with his wife and 12 children. Rothe was a successful merchant who made his business trading cloths and silks from the UK to Europe. The house contains a full collection of unique artefacts and there is even a genealogical research service available for patrons to help them retrace their Kilkenny family roots.

Be the ruler of your very own castle, with a visit to a private island near Killaloe. On your visit to this private home, you'll gain a unique insight of this 'ruin to restoration' project, from husband and wife team, Pat and Mary, who camped on the island while dating. Now fully restored, they use it as their private summer home. Enjoy a tour of the rooftop terrace and savour food and drink tastings of traditional food of the 16th century, from Irish meade and poitin to honey roasted glazed ham.

With the scenic Killaloe as your backdrop, your charismatic host Lisa, welcomes you to a 'new Ireland' in her modern home, touching the water's edge, which is the perfect backdrop for her private collection of contemporary Irish art and sculpture. Enjoy a mini art and architecture tour of this home which was designed by a renowned Irish architect who worked with Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier. With just the right balance of antique and modern furniture this feels more like a home than a show house. Enjoy a delicious seafood platter lunch showcasing the very best of Irish fish, served with a wide range of organic salads.

There is also the option to paint the landscape onto a postcard using watercolour.

This is your chance to get a glimpse into Ireland’s past and explore the acclaimed 15th-century Bunratty Castle and the 19th-century Bunratty Folk Park. In the folk park enjoy the sights, sounds, tastes and scents of this enchanting place as you stroll from house to house or around the charming village street complete with school, post office, doctor's house, hardware shop, printers and of course, McNamara's pub. Rural farmhouses, village shops and streets are recreated and furnished as they would have been of old, from the poorest one-roomed dwelling to Bunratty House, a fine example of a Georgian residence for the gentry. Costumed characters recreate the traditions and lifestyle of a bygone age and animate the Folk Park.

The gardens at Bunratty Folk Park have been restored to their former glory and have been modelled on the original Regency period garden which supplied fruit, vegetables and flowers to Bunratty House.

Settle into a beautifully appointed carriage for a meandering 45-minute exploration of Adare Manor's enchanting 840-acre estate. There are many touches included to ensure a relaxed and comfortable journey, from toasty Irish lambswool blankets to an elegant table equipped with wine coolers and cup holders. You can pre-order drinks with the team before setting off on your tour - perhaps a bottle of champagne or a warming Irish coffee.

Historically archery has been used for hunting and combat. Nowadays, it's mainly a competitive sport and recreational activity. You will experience the exhilaration of shooting a modern style recurve bow with the option of testing your skills with a medieval-style longbow, exquisitely handmade to traditional standards. From introducing the core techniques to beginners, to honing the skills of even the most experienced archers, the session will be pitched to your ability. You'll start with static archery to give you the opportunity to get your eye in, then challenge will be introduced with a variety of targets.

The Cliffs of Moher are a dramatic 14km (9 mile) length of Atlantic coastline at the southwestern edge of the Burren region. They run from their southern end at Hag's Head up to a maximum height of of 214m (702 feet) close to O'Brien's Tower, built in 1835 by Sir Cornelius O'Brien as an observation tower for the Victorian tourists, and the site remains one of the most popular sites in Ireland. From the tower, you can see out to the Aran Islands in Galway Bay, the Maumturks and Twelve Pins mountain ranges to the north, and Loop Head lighthouse to the south.

The award-winning Doolin Cave and visitor centre is home to the Great Stalactite. At 7.3m (23ft) it is the longest free hanging stalactite in Europe. Extend the adventure from underground to overground following a charming farmland nature trail, home to indigenous species of flora along with rare and miniature breeds of animals.

Your walk takes place in the Burren National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty. You’ll learn lots about the geology, history, flora, wildlife and farming of the Burren region while enjoying the unique beauty of your surrounds.

Wild Kitchen is a unique food experience and involves guided walks on land and along the shore. You'll discover and identify delicious and edible wild plants such as seaweed, dilisk and sea spirulina. A wild food walk is such a great way to engage with nature and offers the opportunity to learn about the exceptional nutritional value and unique taste of wild plants. You'll learn how to identify them, what not to eat or touch, what’s in season, tasting as you go and all the while taking in the beautiful scenery of the Burren and the Wild Atlantic Way.

Arty, bohemian Galway is one of Ireland's most engaging cities. Brightly painted pubs heave with live music, while restaurants and cafes offer front-row seats for observing buskers and street theatre. Remnants of the medieval town walls lie between shops selling handcrafted Claddagh rings, books and musical instruments, bridges arch over the salmonstuffed River Corrib, and a long promenade leads to the seaside suburb of Salthill on Galway Bay, the source of the area's famous oysters. While it's steeped in history, the city buzzes with a contemporary vibe, thanks in part to students, who make up a quarter of the population. Its energy and creativity have seen it designated the European Capital of Culture in 2020. Explore Galways in all its glory on a city tour, which includes the famous Spanish Arch, located on the left bank of the Corrib, where Galway's river meets the sea. The Spanish Arch was originally a 16th-century bastion, which was added to Galway's town walls to protect merchant ships from looting.