The Most Family-Friendly Hotels to Book in Ireland

Castleknock Hotel in County Dublin is just one of the most family-friendly hotels in Ireland
Castleknock Hotel in County Dublin is just one of the most family-friendly hotels in Ireland | Courtesy of Castleknock Hotel / Expedia
David Gordon

Celebrate St Patrick’s Day a little differently this year and bring the kids along on your next trip to Ireland. “Family-friendly” means much more than a set of swings and a seesaw beside the car park, so we’ve curated a list of places across the country where children are treated as paying customers in their own right, with every measure taken to keep holiday boredom at bay. Here’s our pick of the best hotels for families in Ireland – bookable on Culture Trip.

1. Amber Springs Hotel and Health Spa, County Wexford

Spa Hotel

A person beside a water feature in an indoor pool at Amber Springs Hotel and Health Spa
Courtesy of Amber Springs Hotel and Health Spa / Expedia

In sunny southeast Ireland, the family suites at the Amber Hotel are in an exclusive wing of the property. There are “dens” with bunk beds and lounge areas, allowing families to spread themselves out and really enjoy the space. The Amber Hotel even goes the extra mile with a Kids’s Club, a Tween Chill Out Zone and Amber Park, which includes minigolf and go-karts. This family-friendly hotel in Ireland also offers reptile shows and birds-of-prey events during the year.

2. Fota Island Hotel and Spa, County Cork

Spa Hotel

People dining outside at the stone-clad Fota Island Hotel and Spa, with lush grounds, flower beds and water views
Courtesy of Fota Island Hotel and Spa / Expedia

One of the premier resorts in Cork, Fota Island is a luxurious retreat where children are regarded as VIPs. The on-site Adventure Centre offers forest activities, bushcraft and obstacle courses, while the famous Fota Wildlife Park is home to 90 animal species from more than five continents. Best of all, the resort offers self-catering lodges in addition to family rooms.

3. Castleknock Hotel, County Dublin

Spa Hotel, Golf Hotel, Hotel

A sleek, blue-tiled pool and spa inside Castleknock Hotel, with garden views
Courtesy of Castleknock Hotel / Expedia

At Castleknock Hotel, just 11km (7km) west of the Dublin city centre, family bedrooms have two double beds and mini-fridges. The Leisure Club also caters to children and has a baby and toddler pool alongside its 18m main pool. The hotel is well-positioned for transport routes to Dublin Zoo, one of the oldest zoological gardens in the world, and Tayto Park in Meath, the top amusement park in Ireland, based on the beloved Irish potato crisp brand Tayto.

5. Clayton Hotel and Leisure Club, Sligo

Hotel

A sprawling lawn in front of the majestic, multistorey Clayton Hotel and Leisure Club property
Courtesy of Clayton Hotel and Leisure Club / Expedia

The spacious family-friendly rooms at the Clayton Hotel Sligo are a home from home for kids. More specifically, the family suites are open and have kitchenette facilities. Families love the 20m swimming pool and on a good day, make the most of the on-site 18-hole crazy golf course. Children with additional needs will enjoy the new sensory room, which is a calm and relaxing space.

6. Mount Juliet Estate Manor House, County Kilkenny

Boutique Hotel, Resort

The ivy-covered Mount Juliet Estate Manor House, with tables and chairs on the lawn in front
Courtesy of Mount Juliet Estate Manor House / Expedia

With 202ha (500 acres) of grounds to explore and more than 250 years of history, Mount Juliet is a magnet for families with children. The on-site Kids Club offers baking, wildlife experiences, sports and movies among other activities. Families are well catered for in Hunters Yard, and rooms have modern amenities that offer a haven-like retreat.

7. Dingle Skellig Hotel and Peninsula Spa, County Kerry

Spa Hotel

The colourful kids club at Dingle Skellig Hotel and Peninsula Spa, with toys, soft furnishings and a small slide
Courtesy of Dingle Skellig Hotel and Peninsula Spa / Expedia

With a leisure club and a special Junior Evening Meal, this family hotel in Ireland is loved by parents and children alike. The Kids Club offers arts and crafts activities, and children can also use the swimming pool, which is perfect for inclement days. Nearby, in Dingle village, there are surf schools and horse-riding lessons available. Family rooms are classical and chic, and a number of interconnecting rooms are also available for larger families.

8. Druids Glen Hotel and Golf Resort, County Wicklow

Resort

A mum, dad and two kids having a picnic on the lawn next to a pond at the Druids Glen Hotel and Golf Resort
Courtesy of Druids Glen Hotel and Golf Resort / Expedia

Druids Glen is a haven for families, with walking trails, playgrounds, mini soccer pitches, a driving range and a swimming pool. The pool has family-friendly swim times, and lessons are also available. Family rooms sleep two adults and two children and are spacious, too. This family-friendly hotel in Ireland understands that children don’t travel light.

9. Ferrycarrig Hotel, County Wexford

Hotel

Tables, chairs and potted plants on an outdoor patio with water views at Ferrycarrig Hotel
Courtesy of Ferrycarrig Hotel / Expedia

There’s no other way to put it – children love the Kids Club at Ferrycarrig. It offers so many activities, and Giggles the Clown provides many laughs. The outdoor play area and the family swim times in the 20m swimming pool are also popular. Even better, the hotel is close to beaches and the Irish National Heritage Park. Families can stay in interconnecting rooms and junior suites.

10. Hodson Bay Hotel, County Westmeath

Hotel

The large indoor pool and spa area at Hodson Bay Hotel with floor-to-ceiling windows and garden and water views
Courtesy of Hodson Bay Hotel / Expedia

Without a doubt, families have a great deal of choice at this family hotel in Ireland – lake-view rooms, two-bedroom family suites and even interconnecting rooms to allow for larger groups. Families are welcome to use the leisure facilities, and children will especially love the family dinner menu. The Kids Adventure Club is also popular and includes cookery, music and dance, arts and crafts, and treasure-hunt activities. Nearby, Baysports has the tallest, floating inflatable waterslide in the world, and there are walking and cycling trails along the Old Rail Trail greenway.

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