Dear Maurenn,

My experience in Ireland was wonderful and didn't cost very much.  The most expensive item was the rental car and gasoline.

What I found that may be helpful to you:

I cancelled my B&B at Glasha and drove into Clonmel in the rain without accommodations set.

I was wary of the suggestions given me by the hostess of the B&B I was leaving because I wasn't happy with her taste or philosophy.

So I drove in the rain on the left into the congested town full of one way streets and was relieved and grateful to find a sign directing me to a parking lot. I could stop driving.

My plan was to find a tourist information center.  But I saw, walking through the lot that a church adjoined the property.  And I saw a tiny open door next to a sign that said "church shop."

I went in to the tiny and cozy place planning to ask for information regarding the tourist information place, but, being in Ireland, the two women working there and I got to talking.  One recommended the place my hostess recommended - a room over a pub - which I rejected.  The second choice was a little hotel in town.

Probably looking a little dismayed I told them I had had a negative experience at the last B&B because it was cold.  I wanted something warm and homey.

One woman, Margaret, brightened up immediately when said that.  "Pauline can fix you up," she said.  Her plan was that I would drive her and myself to the Riverside B&B with her directing because the one way streets made travel complicated.  What would be a 10 minute drive would also be a two minute walk back.  She took me to the B&B run by Pauline O'Gorman, in the keys, overlooking the river.  Pauline took me in, and I stayed so very happily for four or five nights.

I paid 30 euros a night. Pauline paid for my parking, gave me breakfast,  had soup for me when I came in at night, gave me a meal when she thought I needed more, shared tea cupcakes she and her granddaughter made and in general took care of me in the warmest way.

In retrospect I think breakfast helped set a tone for me and my relationships with my hostesses.

Guests are offered huge and lavish breakfasts.  I don't eat like that and asked for porridge, fruit and eggs. My hostesses were surprised that I didn't go for the whole presentation available, and, as days passed, grew more friendly and personal with me.  And, of course, the fact that her friend Margaret actually led me to Pauline and made a personal introduction probably influenced the relationship too.

Another food and cost aspect of my trip was lunch. The weather was often wet and on the cold side - which I didn't mind at all.  It made the sunshine more glorious and the appearance of rainbows a forever possibility. The weather helped make soup - the plain Irish vegetable soup - a gourmet experience.  So lunch for me almost every day was that soup with bread in a pub.  I was amazed at how cheap that satisfying and delicious meal was.

Now that we are having cold weather in Los Angeles, I am making pots of that vegetable soup. My friends and family love it and are starting to make it too.

My intention was not to be on a tight budget for this trip.  As it turned out, what I wanted and appreciated the most didn't cost much.  Sometimes it didn't cost anything.

Free (except for getting to Ireland and the car and gas):

Rainbows, the fabulous sights and energy of the Knokmealdown Forest, conversations with great people, singing to cows, walks in the countryside, walks and still time by leaping streams and rivers with wild swans cruising by, a magnificent stag sedately walking across the road in the drizzling rain under the moonlight - he stopped for a moment and turned his head to look at me - his flanks glowed with wet and light and the drops on his antlers sparkled like tiny Christmas light. Then he walked into the dense hedgerow on the other side of the road and was gone - but will linger with me forever. (no charge for this).

I didn't want to go to Waterford but headed down to Dungarven, a small coastal town west of Waterford.  There I followed music to a crystal shop where an elderly man and his son made and sold crystal.  The father was trained and worked in Waterford many years and now was semi-retired.  He showed me his work, the process, told me stories - no cost.

Also a tip: Two teen age boys in my family live in t-shirts.  But not just any t-shirts.  The shirts have to be vintage, quirky and "hot" or "cool" or "rad" or dinstinctive in a particular teen rock fashionable way.  They shop for these shirts in thrift shops.

So I went to thrift shops in Ireland.  And yes, I found great t-shirts and other things as well that made wonderful presents. The cost was extremely low, and I met more people and learned more about what was going on in the towns. 

Farmers Markets are good also. Not only did I buy fruit snacks for the car but also found some delightful used children's books to bring home. Again, very inexpensive.

Hope this helps. Travelling with your family in Ireland sounds grand. I suggest you leave a lot of time for walking and exploring wherever you are.  It's possible to discover much wonder and joy in Ireland just by walking, following paths, asking for directions and sharing yourself with the people.  They give back so much.   

warm regards,

Diana