We love Ireland all year round! The sunrises and sunsets are magical and different in every season. Irish people are obsessed with the weather. It is all we talk about! The best time to visit Ireland depends on your own preferences and what you want from your Irish getaway. Irish people are in general good fun and you’ll have good craic with them all year round. In winter you are more likely to find the real locals in the pubs as they tend to shy away from tourists during the high season.

Here at Johnsfort, Ireland At Your Leisure we welcome guests all year round. Our stone cottage and loft with their thick walls, are so cosy and warm in the cold seasons. While the days are very short, the long evenings are something our guests look forward to especially with the log stove in Marianne Cottage. A perfect setting for a good book or some creative inspiration. Here are some considerations for different seasons when coming to Ireland:

1. Spring (March to May):
• Feed the baby lambs at Johnsfort. Watch them bound around in the fields – nothing like it! New highland calf due this spring...we can’t wait for the cuteness!
• Spring is a lovely time to visit as the landscapes come to life with blossoming daffodils and tulips and vibrant greenery.
• The temperatures are moderate, ranging from 7°C to 15°C (45°F to 59°F).
• It's a good time for outdoor activities and exploring without the peak tourist crowds.
2. Summer (June to August):
• Beautiful farm walks and forest trails at Johnsfort. All the animals are out and enjoying the summer sun. It is sheep shearing season – maybe you could give that a go here at Johnsfort??
• Summer is the peak tourist season, and it offers the warmest temperatures, ranging from 12°C to 20°C (54°F to 68°F).
• See with your own eyes, Ireland’s famous ‘40 shades of green’ as the countryside is lush and vibrant.
• Longer daylight hours provide more time for exploration.
• Festivals, events and sporting fixtures are abundant during this season such as: The All – Ireland Football and Hurling Championship, The Galway International Arts Festival, Forbidden Fruit, Sea Sessions, International Literature Festival Dublin, Kilkenny Arts Festival.
3. Autumn (September to November):
• From the comfort of your accommodation at Johnsfort or out and about on tour with Richard, watch the forty shades of green turn to stunning golds, oranges, yellows and reds as the countryside embraces itself for autumn. Our 200 year old beech tree is a sight to behold in autumn and all year round. We have a handmade oak bench under it for our guests to sit and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature all around.
• Autumn is a quieter time with still mild temperatures, ranging from 9°C to 15°C (48°F to 59°F).
• It is a good time for hiking and outdoor activities. These are some walks within an hour of Johnsfort House: Girley Bog, Hill of Tara, Trim Porchfield Walk, Mullaghmeen Forest Loof, The Cuilcagh Way, The Royal Canal Greenway, The Boyne Greenway. We have a list of walks for all abilities and Richard is a keen walker and can bring you to more challenging hikes if you wish.
4. Winter (December to February):
• All our rarebreed cattle including our Highland Cattle, Dexters and Shorthorns spend the winter outside in the fields so you can visit them all year round. Our four-horned Jacob Sheep have beautiful wool coats that help them survive any temperatures.
• Winter is the low season, and you'll find fewer tourists so definitely a quieter holiday and way more relaxing.
• The temperatures are cooler, ranging from 3°C to 8°C (37°F to 46°F). We rarely get snowfall here but we do get lots of frost and icy roads.
• Some attractions and accommodations may have reduced hours or be closed during this period. If a winter holiday in Ireland is what you are looking for talk to us and we can plan your days with lots of activities that are conducive to the winter months.

No matter what the weather or your preferences Johnsfort, Ireland At Your Leisure Tours can design a bespoke holiday to suit your group. Get in touch with us today at: richard@irelandatyourleisure.ie or WhatsApp call us on +353 86 3733644. We are looking forward to having you stay at Johnsfort whatever the season!

We are a family of 3 young children – 11, 8 and 6 (at time of writing!). We have made lots of mistakes choosing where to bring our three children on holidays. We don’t want you to make the same mistakes. That is why Richard and I sit down together and plan your family itinerary with Ireland – At Your Leisure, based on all your family’s individual needs. We keep in mind all the time what age group we are trying to please and how to get the balance right so that the adults get as much out of a tour, as the kids do!

Touring Ireland with Young Children

As we all know young kids will be happy once they are not hungry, not tired and have lots to entertain them and keep them focused. We always have a backup supply of snacks and drinks in the boot! We also have lots of cool books to look through. We carry an emergency supply of bubbles for when those legs need to be stretched but they don’t want to stretch them! And best of all we have designed our very own scavenger hunts, to keep them looking out the windows and make the journey go faster. We even have a lucky dip bag for the winners. We try to think of everything…and that’s just the journey!

All the destinations that Richard picks are well thought out and will work with all age groups. He knows all the good spots to stop for a picnic. He knows the gorgeous viewpoints. He knows all the playgrounds and safe areas to let kids out. He almost knows everyone!! So, trust him and let him guide you on your Irish adventure.

Touring Ireland with Teenagers

If your kids are teenagers that’s cool too! Richard has been known to make even the grumpiest of teenagers laugh out loud! He has seen the look of shock on parents faces when their ‘just leave me alone’ moody teen starts to suddenly come out of themselves and ask to sit up front where they have the prime view! The craic can be ninety! Richard has a super sense of humour and a great gift of making everyone feel comfortable and welcome.

Touring Ireland with a Small Baby

Have you a very small baby? Need to stop every half hour or ‘Richard, DON’T you dare stop driving, keep going!’ because ‘SHE’S FINALLY ASLEEP!!!’…we get it! And no, we haven’t forgotten what it was like (like most people do!). You guide Richard to you and your baby’s needs. He will do as he is told!!

Touring Ireland with Younger and Older Children

Have a mix of age groups?? Say a toddler and a young teenager? Toddler wants nothing but the playground or the beach. Teenager wants away from the toddler! No problem. Why don’t you divide and conquer? We can drop one pair at one destination and the other pair wherever they want to go. We’ll come back whenever you say! Again, Richard will do as he is told. However, do listen to his suggestions. He has experience of the different dynamics that different ages can bring. He will get it right. Let him be your guide.

Intergenerational groups

These are the best fun! For example, Nana and Grandad, mum and dad, son and daughter. Nana and Grandad are thrilled to be on holidays with their children and grandchildren. Mum and Dad are delighted to have the extra help. Son and daughter know they can get away with a bit more than usual as nana and grandad are there! All this means great fun! Don’t worry if nana or grandad have sore knees or hips. We can park up right when it is easy for them to get out. They don’t need to do the long walks you want to do. We can find an alternative for them. Dividing up can sometimes be the best option here too but don’t worry you will all be together for the fun of the journey and for all the important places that you want to be together. Those photos will be cherished by everyone forever!

Accommodation for All

We have TWO self-catering cottages, Marianne Cottage and Bartholomew’s Loft. So even if you are all driving each other mad (and probably poor Richard too!) you can come home to your own space in the evening and close the front door. Everyone needs a holiday to suit them so having your own living space can make it just that..a proper holiday! Or better still you’re not driving each other mad but you still have lots of space to chill out and get a great night’s sleep!

Family Holidays in Ireland. How to get it right?

Answer: Let Johnsfort, Ireland – At your Leisure be your guides. We will look after each and every one of you no matter what age you are and no matter how grumpy you are!

Gaeilge, Gaelic, Irish are all the same language. Its origins lie with the arrival of the Gael, a Celtic Tribe who originated in Central Europe and moved here from about 500 BC. It is a language that has brushed with extinction. However across Ireland, at least in the Irish Republic and increasingly in Northern Ireland you will see it written on signs and notices. If you have the misfortune of being arrested in the Republic you will be entitled to have your rights read in Irish.

Is Irish Widely Spoken?

However, don’t be fooled into thinking that it is widely spoken, or even understood in this country. About 1% of our population use it as their first language and many of the rest of us, in spite of it being compulsory at school, have little or no skills. The reasons for this are many and complicated. Although other languages had arrived in Ireland, Latin was the language of the church. English and French arrived with the Normans in the 12^th century. It was widely spoken, especially in the west, right up to the mid 1800s. Famine and migration had a huge impact on the Gaelic speaking community and many either died or left. The ones left behind often ensured that their children spoke English in order to prepare them for seemingly inevitable emigration. It was also the time that the National schools were established. Catholic children were now entitled to an education provided by the British state. Teachers were Irish but the curriculum was not.

Why The Irish Speak English

English was the language of government, of civil service and of business. If you were going to get work in any of these fields, English was essential. And so began the demise of a language spoken here for over 2000 years. In the late 19^th century, academics and poets, alarmed by the pace of its demise, established The Gaelic League in an effort to preserve the language and slow down its retreat. They were partially successful. When the Free Sate of Ireland became independent from the United Kingdom in 1922, Irish was chosen as its first language, yet most of the founders of this new state could not speak it, and nor can their grandchildren or great grandchildren.

Irish Pride

There is a saying in Irish, “tir gan teanga, tir gan chroí” meaning “land without language, land without heart” and collectively the Irish seem not to have forgotten this. Although many of us haven’t a clue what the words of our national anthem mean we will proudly bellow them out before our rugby and soccer games. We will vociferously defend words we do not understand, and now in a more confident 21^st century Ireland, the language once associated with poverty and backwardness, with famine and old Ireland is undergoing a true revival. Gaelscoileanna teaching everything through the Irish language have become common in every corner. More and more, people with very limited Irish will greet each other with a Dia Dhuit instead of Hello as the Irish language becomes more and more modern. A unique thing in an increasingly globalised and homogenised world.