Off to see the Isle, the wonderful Isle of Green

I know, lame title, I was seriously lacking in inspiration. We're vacationing in Ireland for 10 days. We're leaving 04 April and returning 14 April. I vacillate between beyond excited to what the hell was I thinking, Joe will only be just over a year.

This is a huge family trip. My maternal Gramma, my Mom (plus her 3 kids [my half siblings] aged 14, 10, and 6), my Aunt and Uncle (plus their 3 kids aged 13, 10, and 8), and myself, the Husband, and Joe. It's quite the brood we're traveling with. So, if you're a math wizard, that makes 13 total with more than half being children. So the reason we're going is that my great-Gramma is from Ireland (county Cork) and my Gramma has been in contact with some relatives over there. From what I understand, my great-Gramma's house is still in their possession. How freaking cool is that. My great-Gramma was born in 1907 and her house is still standing. My Gramma has wanted to go to Ireland for as long as I can remember and she is the other reason I agreed to go.

Now for the particulars, we're flying into Dublin and staying there for a couple days. We're staying at the Jury's D0yle Ballsbr1dge Hotel (I know, the Husband and I had a good chuckle over the name of it too) in Dublin. Then we're driving to Killarney and staying at the Randle's C0urt H0tel. Finally, we're going to Galway and staying at Ard1laun H0use H0tel. If anyone has any past experience, good or bad, with these places, let me know. We are then flying out of Shannon to go home.

Aside from the family visits, we'll be doing touristy stuff while we're there, Waterf0rd Crystal, Gu1nness tour, etc. Since I've never been to Ireland before (I've barely been out of the US), what else is there to do? Are there any must sees/dos/etc?

Also, for all you jetsetters with babies out there, are there any tips you can give me for an 8-hour flight with a just over one year old?