I want to show Ireland to my teenagers in January...good or bad idea?

Are there any negatives to traveling in Western Ireland during January?  Will bed and breakfasts be open for business? Will attractions (like kissing the Blarney stone or Bunratty Castle) be open?  Is the weather usually bearable?  Thank you in advance for your comments.

Hi, Michelle

The west coast of Ireland is a stunning part of Ireland anytime of the year. January is a fine time to visit, crisp mornings and shorter days than the summer months, so make sure you have an early start if you need to see somewhere, probably best to be at your accommodation the night before the day visit to be sure of the maximum time at the venue. B&B's will be open and available, have a look through our accommodation search page for more details.

Bunratty Castle is open all year round as is Blarney Castle, so you will be ok to visit both places. Just be sure to bring suitable clothing such as waterproof jackets and layers are always recommended, it can be sunny as well!

Are your teenagers keen on any hobbies or activities such as sports?

Our fellow members and industry partners may have some suggestions too,

Martin

My daughters are actually champion Irish dancers!  I may be able to convince them to bring along a pair of shoes should the opportunity arise!

Hi, Michelle,

That's so amazing!  The Irish dancing tradition is alive and kicking here in Ireland.  Wouldn't it be great to bring along those shoes and share their talent with the locals?  

If you are interested in checking out Northern Ireland as part of your trip, there is an exhibition called A Step in Time: The Story of Irish Dance at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum which charts the history of Irish Dance to the present day, which may be quite interesting to check out.

How is your search coming along for accommodation?  

Also, I noticed that you mentioned wanting to check out Bunratty Castle - have you thought about trying out the Medieval Banquet?  It's quite popular amongst visitors to the island.

All the very best,

Colin

Hi Michelle,

My name is Courtney and I am part of the Travel Specialist team at Tenon Tours. January is a great time of year to travel to avoid the crowds! If you click HERE, you can read about the weather in the British Isles to see what you can expect during the month of January. Blarney Castle is open all year round, so need no to worry about missing your Ireland kiss! 

Feel free to check out the different tour options we have available that travel all throughout Ireland.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to email me directly at cmichel@tenontours.com and I would love to assist you with this family trip.

Best,
Courtney

Hi Michelle, 

Your teenagers will love Ireland, it is full of excitement, scenic countrysides and character.

A couple of exciting things to do with your teenagers are as follows:

Mountain-biking: Ballyhoura is mountain-biking heaven, with highly-rated international-standard competition facilities. The trails embrace the beautiful forest, making this route not only great fun but extremely scenic. On this cycling route, you will be greeted by the tall deciduous cover, red squirrels and deer, and nesting hen harriers. You might even meet a celebrity on your trip: Kim and Kanye even turned up recently, apparently. If you enjoy cycling trip and want to view Ireland up close, and are looking for more cycling routes, please click on the highlighted link to see all our suggested routes.

George Walking: With wetsuits, shoes, helmets and gloves on, you pick your way up a river canyon against the flow of the water. Swim in pools, haul yourself up slippery rocks, and swing from overhanging branches as you do so. One of numerous thrills available at Killary Adventure Centre in Connemara. This is a great activity for the whole family, Connemara is one of the most scenic places in Ireland. While in Connemara why not rent a car and view all the beautiful countryside Galway has to offer on our suggested driving route.

Visit the Wild Atlantic Way: 2500km of roads to explore West of Ireland, listed in Lonely Planet's book for the 50 best drives in the world. Visiting the wild Atlantic way is highly recommended, see the famous highlights; Cliffs of Moher, Skellig Michael, Ring of Kerry and more. 

The Burren Scenic Loop Route: The Burren National Park, located in between the North of County Clare and South of County Galway covering a landscape of over 160km. Impressive rocky Karst landscape, there is no other place like it in Ireland.

The Peninsula Driving Route: The 90km loop drive starting from Kilkee along the coastline to Loop Head with fantastic views along the way. Branching off the Wild Atlantic Way route, the Loop head Peninsula route is about 50 miles long, the drive brings you along the West coast in Co Clare, Ireland. Starting from Kilrush and loops back to Kilrush. 

Game of Thrones Location Route: Game of Thrones is one of the most watched tv programmes nowadays if your teenagers are fans of the show this trip is a must do trip. Although this route is not in the West of Ireland, I thought it might be an exciting trip for your teenage daughter, they can get some great pictures to show their friends back home. Set in Northern Ireland, the route brings you to the top locations where Game of Thrones was set and filmed. Northern Ireland is home to more seven kingdom locations than anywhere else in the world. This 3-day route boasts some of the most scenic views Ireland has to offer and will be a magical trip for any Games of Thrones fan. Suitable for all the family. Even if you aren't a fan of Game of Thrones you'll enjoy this trip because it brings you to some of the most beautiful places Northern Ireland has to offer. 

I am a representative from Car Rental Ireland, we have a lot of suggestions on our website for other trips worth taking while in Ireland on our website. 

We truly hope you and your family enjoy your trip to Ireland and that our suggestions help you make the most out of your visit.

Best Wishes, 

Car Rental Ireland.

Huge thanks to both Courtney and the Car Rental Ireland team - these are some really fantastic suggestions, ideas and information!

Michelle, how is the planning going?  Hopefully, some of the information above will prove useful during the planning phase.  Be sure to check back with us if there is anything more we can help with, and to keep us updated on your progress.  It's really exciting to see how others plans come together.

All the very best,

Colin

I am SOOO excited to go forward with our travel plans!  I love the idea that there will be less crowds (and maybe less cars to deal with as I learn to drive on the other side of the road).  I've already bought some lightweight clothes we can layer...the cold won't scare us off.  The only problem I have is narrowing down our options to six days worth, but I feel pretty good about the itinerary I've planned.  As I told my daughters, half of the memories they bring home will involve the places we visit, and the other half will involve the people they meet.  This will be their first visit, but I KNOW they will come back to this beautiful country in the future. I'm so thankful for all of your helpful comments!

Hi Michelle. 

We are very happy to help. We can't wait for you to experience our beautiful country with your daughters. We know you all are going to love it. We hope you come home with many precious memories!

Yes, the roads and tourist spots should be a little quieter this time of year, which should make it easier to drive on the other side of the road. Take your time when driving, and take in all the beautiful views on offer.

Great idea, Irish weather is all about layering. Don't forget a raincoat, just in case!

If you haven't already rented a car, Car Rental Ireland is currently offering a brilliant discount online at the moment. 

Safe Travels!

Regards, 

Car Rental Ireland

Hello, Michelle.

Great to hear more from you - It really does sound like you're all ready to dive into this trip and I am really excited for you.

It would be wonderful if you wanted to share your itinerary with us here on the Community - it's always very interesting to see how others have put together their plans and ideas and your itinerary could definitely prove useful to others also planning their very own trip.

Huge thanks again to the Car Rental Ireland team for sharing their expertise!

Very excited to hear more!

All the best,

Colin