Ireland’s Ancient East with Kids: A 5-Day Historical Loop

Everyone goes West. The Wild Atlantic Way is famous, but it is also crowded, windy, and involves hours of driving.

If your family loves history—knights, Vikings, and castles—and hates long car rides, the Ancient East is the smarter choice.

This region (south of Dublin) is the cradle of Irish civilization. It is where the Vikings landed, where the Normans built their first castles, and where the High Kings ruled. For parents, the best part is the geography: the towns are closer together, the weather is sunnier (historically known as the "Sunny South East"), and the roads are less terrifying than the cliff-edge tracks of Kerry.

This 5-day loop takes you from the mountains of Wicklow to the medieval streets of Kilkenny.

(Planning the logistics? Before you book flights, make sure to read our Complete Family Guide to Traveling in Ireland with Kids. To see how this history loop fits into a longer trip, check out our master Ireland Family Travel Itinerary).

Day 1: The Garden of Ireland (Wicklow)

Drive Time: Dublin to Glendalough (1 hr).

Stop 1: Glendalough

Start your trip in the Wicklow Mountains at Glendalough, a monastic city founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century.

• The Kid Appeal: It’s an open-air ruin with a massive Round Tower (used to hide from Vikings). It feels like a fantasy movie set.
• The Walk: Skip the long hikes. Take the flat boardwalk to the Upper Lake. It’s stroller-friendly and offers epic mountain views without the whining.

Stop 2: Beyond the Trees Avondale

This is the newest and best family attraction in Ireland.

• The Attraction: A massive wooden walkway that spirals up above the forest canopy.
• The Payoff: To get down, you don't have to walk—you can take a massive spiral slide all the way to the forest floor. It is an adrenaline hit that kids (and brave parents) will talk about for the rest of the trip.

Stay: Wicklow or Gorey (Wexford).

Day 2: Ships & Lighthouses (Wexford)

Drive Time: Wicklow to New Ross (1 hr).

Stop 1: The Dunbrody Famine Ship

Located in New Ross, this is a full-scale replica of an 1840s coffin ship.

• Why it works: It’s not a dusty museum. You board the ship and meet costumed actors playing the role of starving passengers and strict captains. It brings history to life in a way that is impactful but appropriate for school-age kids.

Stop 2: Hook Head Lighthouse

Drive south to the tip of the Hook Peninsula.

• The Claim to Fame: This is the oldest intact operational lighthouse in the world (800 years old).
• The Activity: Take the guided tour. You can climb the 115 steps to the balcony. The guides are excellent at telling "horrible history" stories about the monks who used to light the beacon fires.
• The Bonus: In winter/spring, you can often spot whales from the cliffs.

Stay: Waterford City.

Day 3: The Viking Triangle (Waterford)

Waterford is Ireland’s oldest city, founded by Vikings in 914 AD.

Morning: King of the Vikings

Forget boring walking tours. Go to the Viking Triangle and book the King of the Vikings VR Experience.

• The Experience: You put on a Virtual Reality headset inside a replica Viking house. You "meet" the Viking warlords and see the city being built. It is immersive, slightly scary, and totally unforgettable for kids aged 8+.

Afternoon: The Waterford Greenway

Rent bikes (or electric bikes) and cycle a section of the Waterford Greenway.

• The Route: It’s a dedicated path built on an old railway line. No cars, no danger.
• Best Section: Cycle from Kilmacthomas to Durrow to go through the massive Ballyvoyle Tunnel (a dripping, dark brick tunnel that kids love screaming in) and cross the tropical-looking viaducts.

Stay: Waterford or Kilkenny.

Day 4: The Medieval Mile (Kilkenny)

Drive Time: Waterford to Kilkenny (40 mins).

Kilkenny is the coolest small city in Ireland. It looks like it was drawn by Disney.

Stop 1: Kilkenny Castle

You can’t miss it. It dominates the town.

• The Visit: The castle tour is grand, but if the kids get bored, head straight to the Castle Parklands. There is a massive playground and acres of grass for running.

Stop 2: The Medieval Mile Museum

Located in an old church, this museum uses Lego hunts and interactive screens to explain the city's history. It is specifically designed to keep children engaged while parents look at the ancient tombs.

Stop 3: Smithwick’s Experience (For Parents)

While it’s a brewery tour, it’s actually quite family-friendly (kids get soft drinks). It takes place in an old Franciscan abbey and features holograms of monks.

Stay: Kilkenny.

Day 5: Horses & Japanese Gardens (Kildare)

Drive Time: Kilkenny to Dublin (1.5 hrs).

Break the journey back to Dublin with a stop at the Irish National Stud in County Kildare.

• The Horses: See the foals (baby horses) that are worth millions of euros.
• The Gardens: The site is home to the Japanese Gardens, arguably the finest in Europe. It sounds boring for kids, but the "Life of Man" path involves caves, bridges, and stepping stones that are fun to navigate.
• The Playground: They have a great playground and a "Horse Museum" where you can "ride" a mechanical jockey simulator.

Why a Private Driver is Best for the Ancient East

While the drives are shorter here, the navigation is trickier.

1. Medieval Streets: Waterford and Kilkenny were built for horses, not SUVs. Parking is a nightmare of one-way systems and tight spaces. A driver drops you at the castle gate and picks you up when you are done.
2. The Hidden Gems: The Ancient East is full of "brown sign" attractions (ruined abbeys, high crosses) hidden down tiny lanes. A local driver knows which ones are worth the detour and which ones are just a pile of rocks.
3. Storytelling: This region is all about the stories—the Norman invasions, the witches of Kilkenny, the Viking battles. A driver-guide acts as a narrator, connecting the dots between the sites so your kids understand why the castle is there.

Book Your Historical Adventure

Give your kids a history lesson they will actually enjoy. Hire a driver to navigate the Viking cities and Norman castles of the Ancient East.

Find an Ancient East Private Driver →