Sweet times

HOLIDAYS AT HOME:There's plenty to do on family breaks this Easter – and chocolate to eat too, writes SANDRA O'CONNELL

EASTER IS ALL about renewal, a time when families that have spent the winter hibernating emerge, blinking, from the TV room to find a world of hotel family breaks has sprouted up around them.

There's no shortage of chocolate either. It's chocs away at Garryvoe Hotel( Garryvoehotel.com) in Cork with free Easter eggs for the kids who, in an even sweeter move, stay free for its Easter holiday offer. This includes a cinema night, kids' splash time in the pool and a special teen gym, as well as a learn to throw (as in make) pots session with Ron the Party Potter. The hotel, which is handy for days out to Leahy's Open Farm nearby, has a two-night deal costing €385 for two adults and two under 12s sharing.

The five-star Heritage Resortin Laois ( theheritage.com) is running a kids club with arts and crafts classes, basketball, table tennis, bouncy castle, unihoc and hip hop dance to name but a few, while on Easter Sunday there's an Easter egg hunt with egg and face painting. A three-night BB package here, with one family dinner, in interconnecting rooms starts at €599.

Over at the Newpark Hotelin Kilkenny ( flynnhotels.com) they're offering free child passes to the Reptile Zoo at Gowran with package prices starting at €139 per person sharing two nights BB and an evening meal. The hotel's new Mini Farm is opening this Easter, and there's a kids club, an egg hunt and bikes at reception.

Fitzgerald's Woodlands House Hotel( woodlands-hotel.ie) in Adare, Co Limerick, has "High Nelly" bikes on hand to get guests out and enjoying the scenery around the heritage town, as well as free entry to the local heritage centre, with two-night Easter BB stays starting at €158 per room.

If you head to Knockranny House Hotel( khh.ie) in Westport – perfect for the Greenway cycle trail – you get a two-day break including bicycle hire and a packed lunch from €165 per adult sharing, with kids (under 10) free.

In Wexford, Marlfield House( marlfieldhouse.com) near Courttown – in itself a mecca for kids – has a two-night B&B offer including two dinners over the Easter break, with two kids staying free, including breakfast and a kids' dinner menu both days.

After breakfast on Sunday there’s an Easter egg hunt around the gardens, with the total price starting at €291 per adult sharing. It’s also a handy five minutes’ drive from Gravity, a family-friendly outdoor adventure centre.

Alternatively, check out the Amber Springs Hotel( amberspringshotel.ie) nearby which has family rooms from €170 on selected dates in April. It has lots of kid-friendly activities including an onsite petting farm, giant outdoor chess set, indoor games room, playgrounds and a go-karting track.

A half hour's drive north is Druids Glen druidsglenresort.co, in Wicklow, which is promising not just an egg hunt but egg decoration and a visit from the Easter bunny. Kids under 12 go free, with family rooms starting at €200.

If it's full-on family activity you're after, Delphi Mountain Resort( delphimountainresort.com) is unbeatable, with a five-day package for a family of four priced at €999, including three adventure activity sessions and dinner on two evenings, leaving you plenty of time to explore the countryside surrounding Ireland's only fjord.

Alternatively, the Burren is at its most beautiful at this time of year, so get them all out enjoying it with a stay at Sheedys of Lisdoonvarna( sheedys.com), which is also throwing in entry tickets to the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre nearby.

Rooms cost €99 for doubles in April, including breakfast, and guests booking in April and May get a free hamper filled with goodies made by chef patron John Sheedy.

Finally, if you want your pack of wild animals to see some real ones check out the Easter offers at Fota Island Resort( fotaisland.ie) in Cork. The five-star hotel has two nights BB, with early bird dinner, in-room movie and tickets to Fota Wildlife Park, as well as its own Cheetah Club kids camp for four to 12-year-olds, plus hot chocolate and cookies in the bar, from €268 per night for interconnecting rooms.