This is the first in my series exploring the best places to base yourself for day trips in Ireland.

Full article with video & links: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/central-base-ireland-day-trips/planning-your-irish-vacation/itineraries/

We’re starting in the center of the country to answer a question I hear all the time: can you stay in one central location and tour all of Ireland? I’ll show you why it can work for some trips... and why one central base may not be as convenient as it sounds.
Using Athlone as our base, I’ll take you into my Ireland Travel Compass to see what you can realistically reach on a day trip. Dublin and Galway look quite manageable. Westport, the Cliffs of Moher and Connemara make for much longer days. And once you start considering places like the Giant’s Causeway or Dingle, the reality of all that driving becomes very clear.
The goal isn’t simply to find a central place to stay. It’s to choose a base that works for what you actually want to see and how much time you’re comfortable spending in the car.
Throughout this series, I’ll use the Ireland Travel Compass to explore different bases around Ireland, what you can comfortably reach from each, what might be pushing it for a day trip, and experiences nearby that you may not have considered.
Learn more about the Ireland Travel Compass: IrelandFamilyVacations.com/compassyt

Ireland Travel Resources:
- Car Rental & Driving Guide: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/drive
- DIY Ireland Travel Planner: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/compass
- Expert Ireland travel advice by email: https://ifv.kit.com/51952569c5

Do you actually need a Leap Card when visiting Dublin or traveling around Ireland? Maybe, but the Leap Visitor Card isn't automatically the best choice just because you're a visitor.

Dublin city centre is compact and very walkable, and I rarely use public transportation when I'm exploring the city. Depending on your plans, individual fares or a Standard Leap Card may cost less than a Visitor Leap Card.

Full article for indepth info & links: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/leap-card-ireland/ireland-travel-tips/

In this episode I'll explain:
• The difference between a Standard Leap Card and Leap Visitor Card
• How much the Leap Visitor Card costs
• Whether a Leap Card can actually save you money
• Where you can use a Leap Card in Dublin and around Ireland
• Where Leap Cards aren't accepted
• Why you may not need a Leap Card at all
• How and where to purchase one

Planning to take the DART to Howth? I'll also show you a real-world fare comparison that may make you rethink the €8 one-day Visitor Card.

Additional information mentioned in the episode:
- How to get around Ireland: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/travel-ireland-bus-car-train/planning-your-irish-vacation/
- How to use your mobile phone in Ireland: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/tips-using-mobile-phone-ireland/ireland-travel-tips/
- WifiCandy: IrelandfamilyVacations.com/wifi (use code IFV10 for discount_
- Ireland Itinerary Review: irelandfamilyvacations.com/review

Ireland Travel Resources:
- Car Rental & Driving Guide: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/drive
- DIY Ireland Travel Planner: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/compass
- Expert Ireland travel advice by email: https://ifv.kit.com/51952569c5

What's the best way to get around Ireland? It depends on your itinerary, budget, travel style, and how much flexibility you want.

Fill article & links: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/travel-ireland-bus-car-train/planning-your-irish-vacation/

In this video, I break down the pros and cons of traveling around Ireland by train, bus, rental car, private driver guide, and even boat. We'll look at where each option works well, where it can make your trip more difficult, and why you don't have to choose just one.

Mixing and matching transportation can often make the most sense. You might explore Dublin without a car, take a train to another city, rent a car for the countryside, or hire a private driver guide for a day.

Before deciding how you'll travel around Ireland, figure out what you want your trip to look like... then choose the transportation that fits it.

Topics covered:
- Train travel in Ireland
- Bus travel in Ireland
- Renting a car in Ireland
- Private driver guides in Ireland
- Mixing transportation options in Ireland

Ireland Travel Resources:
- Car Rental & Driving Guide: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/drive
- DIY Ireland Travel Planner: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/compass
- Expert Ireland travel advice by email: https://ifv.kit.com/51952569c5

In this episode of the Traveling in Ireland podcast, Jody chats with Caroilín Callery, founder of the National Famine Way, and Edel McWeeney Moran, Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Manager, about the Global Irish Famine Way and the Bronze Shoes connecting Ireland's Famine emigration story with communities around the world.

Full article & links: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/global-irish-famine-way/attractions/

Episode highlights:
• How the National Famine Way grew from the story of 1,490 people who left Strokestown in 1847
• Why the Bronze Shoes have become such a powerful symbol for the Irish diaspora
• How the Global Irish Famine Way expanded into Canada and is now growing in the United States
• How local communities and historians are uncovering overlooked Famine stories
• How travelers can experience the National Famine Way and take part in the 180th anniversary events in May 2027

Ireland Travel Resources:
- Car Rental & Driving Guide: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/drive
- DIY Ireland Travel Planner: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/compass
- Expert Ireland travel advice by email: https://ifv.kit.com/51952569c5

Ireland's history isn't only castles and green landscapes. Famine, conflict, ancient beliefs, emigration, ghost stories, and traditions surrounding death are woven through the places travelers visit today.

Full article & links: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/dark-tourism-in-ireland/ireland-travel-tips/

Luisa Golz, Director of Sales at Desmond Tours, completed her PhD research on festivals with dark themes. She joins Jody to explain what dark tourism actually means, why travelers are drawn to these places, and how Ireland's darker history can add depth to a trip without turning the entire vacation into doom and gloom.
Highlights:
• What "dark tourism" actually means — and why you may already be doing it
• Why famine ships, workhouses, and memorials can create such powerful travel experiences
• How Samhain, Halloween, folklore, and "thin places" fit into Ireland's darker traditions
• How to visit places associated with tragedy respectfully

Ireland Travel Resources:
- Car Rental & Driving Guide: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/drive
- DIY Ireland Travel Planner: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/compass
- Expert Ireland travel advice by email: https://ifv.kit.com/51952569c5

Credit card rental car coverage can be a useful way to reduce the cost of renting a car in Ireland, but not every card covers Ireland—and even cards that do can have very different limits, exclusions, and requirements.

Full article & links: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/credit-card-car-rental-insurance-ireland/ireland-travel-tips/

I explain what you need to check before declining the rental company's CDW, including proof-of-coverage requirements, credit card holds, vehicle and rental-length restrictions, and what your coverage does—and doesn't—protect.

You'll also learn what can happen financially if the rental car is damaged, why it's worth reading the claims requirements before you leave home, and why detailed photos at pickup and return can be valuable when you're relying on credit card coverage.

Ireland Travel Resources:
- Car Rental & Driving Guide: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/drive
- DIY Ireland Travel Planner: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/compass
- Expert Ireland travel advice by email: https://ifv.kit.com/51952569c5

The Ring of Kerry gets most of the attention on Ireland's southwest coast. The Ring of Beara, right next to it, gets far less — despite having its own mountain pass, its own islands, and the only cable car in Ireland.

Show notes & links: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/beara-peninsula-cork-kerry-coastal-drive-guide/ireland-travel-tips/

Jody talks with Tessa Dennison, publisher of Best of Beara magazine and book, about what makes the Beara Peninsula worth the detour: where to base your trip, the drive over the Healy Pass, the ferry to Bere Island, and a handful of villages most visitors never see.

Highlights:
- Why the Beara Peninsula gets overlooked despite sitting next to two famous coastal drives
- Where to base your trip: Kenmare, Glengarriff, and Bantry
- Driving the Healy Pass and riding Ireland's only cable car to Dursey Island
- Eyeries, the Ballycrovane Ogham Stone, and the ferry to Bere Island
- Tessa's top tips: water-based activities, slowing down, and building in extra time

Ireland Travel Resources:
- Car Rental & Driving Guide: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/drive
- DIY Ireland Travel Planner: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/compass
- Expert Ireland travel advice by email: https://ifv.kit.com/51952569c5

Renting a car in Ireland after age 75 is absolutely possible, but not every rental company follows the same policies. Knowing what documentation you may need before you arrive can save time, stress, and unexpected surprises at the rental counter.

See the video episode & more information at IrelandFamilyVacations.com/drive75

In this episode, I explain where to find senior driver policies on rental company websites, compare companies with no additional requirements to those that ask for insurance or medical documentation, and share practical tips to help you choose the right rental company for your Ireland vacation.

Ireland Travel Resources:
- Car Rental & Driving Guide: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/drive
- DIY Ireland Travel Planner: https://irelandfamilyvacations.com/compass
- Expert Ireland travel advice by email: https://ifv.kit.com/51952569c5