Rent a car at Dublin airport. You get everywhere and you're not dependent on the mostly poor schedules of public transport. You don't need a car, if you plan to stay in Dublin for a few days. Return it before your stay or rent it afterwards.
AccommodationEvery major town has a tourist office where you get information. Even though it's all fully booked according to the agent, you might still find a place to stay over night. Not all B&B's pay a fee to be listed on the booking sites. If you book in advance you usually pay higher rates and do not know how the place is like.
PubsPub food is tasty and good value for money. You are served until 9 p.m. Kids easily get into pubs for dinner. If they stay after 9, nobody cares. Many pubs engage live bands. Most of them start playing after dinner time. In Galway or at Temple Bar (Dublin) there are even sessions in the afternoon.
Tourist trapsKylemore abbey: You pay 12 EUR entrance fee for the presentation of a few rooms in the abbey and a mediocre garden.
Carrick-a-rede rope bridge: You pay 6 GBP just to queue up twice for half an hour or so.
Dingle Peninsula: Ancient sites, beaches, viewpoints.
Clonmacnoise: my favourite abbey. Good documentary, perfect setting at the banks of river Shannon
Giants Causeway: You just can't believe it's made by nature.
Newgrange: Take half a day to visit the exposition and the mounds.