A family vacation in Ireland provides an opportunity to introduce the children too more than shamrocks and leprechauns. It offers a chance to introduce the kids to Irish history, culture and heritage. Discover key events that have shaped Ireland's history and defined Northern Ireland. Read about the potato famine. Find out what role the unionists played in obtaining home rule for Northern Ireland and learn more about Easter Rising. Discover Ireland's cultural roots and learn where legend ends and truth begins. Learn more about the Irish language, literature, music and art. Find out what drives modern culture in Northern Ireland and why it is considered one of Europe's best-kept secrets, even for families traveling with kids. And if your interest in genealogy, trace your roots.

Online maps are a great travel planning resource and a great way to get the kids involved in a family vacation. Use online maps to pinpoint your family travel destination and get a lay of the land. Use interactive maps of Ireland to locate a city, street or attraction and create an itinerary.

Books are a great way to introduce young children to a new adventure and get teens and tweens ready for a family trip. We've compiled a list of books about Ireland and books by Irish authors for children of various ages and with varying interests. Find classics, adventure stories, historical novels and Irish myths. Discover books by Irish authors including Eoin Colfer, Roddy Doyle, James Joyce, Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker. What better why to begin a journey that a trip through literature?

Music is a great way to introduce children to Irish culture. Get the lyrics to traditional Irish songs and download or listen to Irish folk music online. Discover the author of your favorite Irish ballads and folk songs written throughout the centuries. Find Irish songs for kids and children's nursery rhymes.

Read Irish newspapers online and, in addition to brushing up on Irish current events, find out what's happening in Dublin and Cork and discover what the Irish are reading about. There's a wealth of insight in the newspaper as well as listings of local happenings.

Online resources make learning lots of fun. Did you know that the island of Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle? Do you have any idea why? Did you know that leprechauns are solitary creatures? Do you know the meaning of the Irish phrase Tá ocras orm? Or how in the world it is pronounced? Use online resources to learn words and phrases in Irish, find fun facts about Ireland and get Irish trivia. Test your knowledge before you depart and again when you return. Print the information you find fascinating and take it with you on your family trip. Explain your findings to your family members and use the things you learn to make your travel journal really cool.