Kevin, it's me again, following your posts. Michele will have great advice for you. I'm just an obsessed fellow traveller who's been planning our Ireland trip for a year. We'll be visiting Ireland next summer with hubby and 2 young adult daughters.

I agree with your approach, you want to see some of the "REAL" Ireland and don't want to look around you and see only tourists. You want to chat with some real Irish folks. You also want your daughter to hear some trad Irish music.

I can give you some ideas. If you choose a B&B in an interesting city or village to use as a base for 3 nights, you will have time for some day-trips to nearby areas, you can find a tiny village or a road off the "beaten track" in your day-trips to experience the "Real" Ireland.

Also I have noticed that the bigger towns, like Galway City, offer trad music every night, and even have some afternoon sessions in the summer. As far as I understand (don't trust me ask someone like Michele though), minors are permitted in pubs up until a certain time, beyond that time they have to leave.

Also there are some places to see Irish music and dance shows without going to a pub, such as the Bru Boru show at Cashel, Tipperary (Rock of Cashel). Just to confuse you, there are 2 Cashels in Ireland, I noticed another one on the map north of Galway! Also there's another trad Irish music and dance show near Dun Laoghaire (just south of dublin) that you could attend with your daughter.

Have fun planning your trip!

Kevin,

I'm glad to hear that my book is helping with your trip and that now you are on the forum to fill in the blanks of your trip. Melissa (who has been planning extensively for next year) has given you some good tips that she has learned during the planning process.

During Easter there will not be a load of tourists like there are in July and August so you will be meeting more locals out and about. It can be a popular time for the Irish to travel around Ireland so do think of firming up reservations for some of the time, especially in popular areas or on weekends or holidays. Staying put for 2-3 days interspersed with a few one-nighters will give you a more relaxed trip. You might also want to organize your sightseeing in order of importance. That way if you don't get to it all you won't feel disappointed because you will have seen the best.

In the Dungarvan area I would recommend Powersfield House: http://www.powersfield.com/

You will be on the beaten tourist path with what you have outlined but there is a good reason the tourists go to those places. They are most scenic, have good accommodations, lots of restaurants, pubs and sightseeing. You can, of course, go way off the beaten path and get an entirely different experience. However places like that will be very quiet during Easter season. It really depends on what you want to experience. As far as you insights into Irish life, I think that really depends on your own perceptions and interactions with the Irish. How deep you can delve into the Irish psyche in 12 days is probably minimal. But it can be done in any town or city in Ireland.

Generally, pubs want those under 18 to be out of the pubs by 9 pm. But that is a rule that is gently bent. In more rural areas you will have a better chance of listening to music with your daughter. If you are low key, eating a meal and keep a low profile you may get by with it for a while. As Melissa has advised you can also catch music in various other places like castle banquets, Bunratty Irish Night Ceili, and various shows around Dublin.

Michele