public transport friendly family day trips

Gatling

Excuse the long title were heading to Kilkenny from Dublin on Monday morning for 4 nights its our 2nd time down in 6 weeks ,
Now were bringing the 2 kids with us last time we did. The likes of the castle and castle tour ,and a few little bits .
Now we need something for the kids aged 1-4 to enjoy that's close to transport links or affordable taxi wise
We're booked into the spring hill court hotel ,

Any advice or recommdations would be much appreciated

linny

this great for kids, its in gowran about 15 mins from Kilkenny city
http://reptilevillage.net/web/ there is a bus that travels from Kilkenny to graiguenamanagh via gowran might be a possible way to get to there, if taxi cost to much, hotel reception will be able to help you where to get bus from

femur61

Its Arts week still so they may be a few shows/workshops for the kids to enjoy. The Castle park has a lovely playground and a duck pond which the kids will enjoy.

Castlecomer Discovery Park is brilliant for kids and a really enjoyable afternoon. I don't now is public transport goes Castlecomer.

Arawn

bus eireann, kavanaghs and buggy busses go to comer daily

Jellitots play centre for kids, http://www.jellietots.ie/ -it's near Woodies on the ring rd, - short taxi ( or even walk) from Springhill.
Get the Arts Week brochure in the hotel, there are usually lots of kids theatre, workshops etc around the city during the festival.
And Jenkinstown park - probably about 12 euros taxi - is nice buggy-friendly place for woodland walks and there are deers in an enclosure -and picnic tables.
Castlecomer Discovery Park - already mentioned -is on the Kilkenny Dublin bus route and is worth a visit.
There is a Bowling alley in McDonagh Shopping Centre (056 7788200)
The cinema is probably showing the current kids' films. http://www.omniplex.ie/cinema/cinema/kilkenny

Geog1234

Perhaps the Dunbrody replica famine ship in New Ross.

Kilbride Coaches operate a route from Kilkenny to there.
Timetable:
http://kilbridecoaches.com/index.php/routes/new-ross-kilkenny

The bus stops right on the quay just a minute or two of a walk from where the Dunbrody replica famine ship is berthed.

Have used the service and found the bus clean, driver friendly.

foxcoverteddy

What an interesting post, and some very good responses, however, there is always one of those, doesn't this reflect badly on the Irish Transport infrastructure.
We do not have the population to run frequent services, which is unfortunate, but even so there is such a dismal lack of amenities one can get too.
Yes the reptile village is an excellent venue, equally Castlecomer, both would suit even older children, but what else?
Yes there are places to go if you come by car, but how many tourists come by train or service bus? What is the percentage of coach travellers, I suspect guess work might come into play here.
The whole tourist problem is one that needs a lot more thought, how long do coach visitors stay on average? More to the point where do they visit?
I see Kildare village is to be extended to bring in more tourists from home and abroad, someone a while back poo pooed the suggestion tourists wanted shops, again unfortunate Kilkenny lacks a decent shopping environment.
The High Street is a hotch potch of stroes, Rose Inn street appears to have some very touristy gift shops, John Street, just ignore it.
Market Cross do we need a white elephant and McDonagh is far away for the day tripper.
Which all says we have some lousy planning for such a lovely city.
We need something for tourists, we need tourists.