Friday 11 August 2017

Family Travel - Irish Cultural Drives Ebook.

With demanding work commitments it can be really hard to find time for 'quality' family time, so since the kids came along we have ensured we have two weeks a year to get away as a family, escape work stress, family stress and just switch off. It never appealed to me to take young babies and toddlers on foreign holidays when there is so much to explore on our doorstep as such.

Having two seperate weeks off has meant we could explore many different places, and luckily we have good car travellers so we could really just get in the car and go, there are some really beautiful places in the UK, we love Devon and Cornwall and have made a couple of repeat trips there as there is so much to do for young families. Another favourite of ours is Tenby, again a lot of family orientated places to keep the kids busy and it is such a beautiful place with lots of hidden coves and towns to keep us oldies happy too!



One place we have yet to visit as a family is Ireland, but it is definitely on our wish list, I have visited briefly but that involved birthday celebrations and alcohol so I don't think I can count that!!
I recently had a look at an Irish Cultural drives Ebook from Chill Insurance and it really ignited my desire to visit Ireland, I knew there are some places of real beauty to visit and explore, but this was really useful in guiding me through what we could do and where we should visit, including family friendly places. Here is a bit of information taken from the book.

DUBLIN CASTLE

Built in the early 13th century, Dublin Castle served as a headquarters for the English, and later British, administration. Following Ireland’s independence in 1922, the castle was handed over to the new Irish government. Today, it is used as a government head office and conference venue. It’s also one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions



ROCK OF CASHEL

Located in Cashel, County Tipperary, the Rock of Cashel is one of Ireland’s most iconic sites. Before the Norman invasion, it was originally the seat of the High Kings of Munster during the 5th century, and the majority of the buildings currently on the site date back to the 12th and 13th centuries. With its unusual architecture and high plateau above the countryside, the Rock of Cashel offers an authentic slice of Irish history.






BLARNEY CASTLE

Blarney Castle dates back to the 10th century. The building you see today, which is the third castle to have been erected on the site, was built by Dermot McCarthy, King of Munster. The castle is home to the Blarney Stone, the stone of eloquence. Legend has it, if you kiss the stone while hanging upside down, you’ll never be lost for words, making it a must-do for the thousands of people who visit the castle every year.



NATIONAL GALLERY OF IRELAND
Founded in 1854, the National Gallery of Ireland is home to the national collection of Irish and European artwork. Entry to the gallery is free, and during your visit you will be able to learn more about each artist and the different art movements. You can also take in the peacefulness of the Fine Art Library and participate in workshops, lectures and tours.



DUBLIN ZOO

Since it first opened in 1831, Dublin Zoo has been one of Ireland’s most visited attractions. It welcomes around one million people through its gates each year and prides itself on its contribution to the safety and protection of over 400 animals, including endangered species.



ISLAND HOP AROUND THE ARAN ISLANDS
The Aran Islands are a group of three islands situated off the mainland near Galway Bay. The islands - Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer - are renowned for their natural beauty and charm and are home to sandy beaches, steep cliffs and unique flora and fauna. To make the most of your time on the coast, why not island hop between each one?



I am sure you will agree these are more than enough reason to visit Ireland, it has such amazing scenery and culture, plenty to see and learn for all the family. The Ebook is not just for information on places to visit, as well as places to visit the Ebook gives information on Irish music, musicians that came out of Ireland, the top three when asked were - U2, The Dubliners and Thin Lizzy, for the younger generation amongst us you may be more familiar with Ronan Keeting or Niall from One direction, whichever generation you are from Ireland has definitely given us some real musical talent.
And not forgetting food, what travel guide would be complete without a top list of eating places and there are plenty to choose from in Ireland, but the Ebook brings you the top three Michelin star restaurants that you should visit.



Lastly if we are going on such an epic road trip we need to be prepared so there are tips and advice on what we need to do to make sure our car is as ready as we are for the trip. A great read and useful guide for when we set off on our road trip to Ireland.
One thing we love is to just jump in the car and drive, pin point a place to head to but just detour into little towns and villages and places of interest along the way. It is so important if you are travelling   to ensure you have adequate insurance cover that will cover you in the unfortunate case of an accident, somewhere like Chill.ie, being able to get moving and back on the road asap makes the difference between an incident being a slight inconvenience and a holiday spoiler so getting the right cover is essential.