f course, ‘normal’ is as exotic a place to be as we could have hoped for just months ago. But finally, June is here, hotels are open and our summer of the outdoors is up and running.
It’s not exactly business-as-usual, of course. Indoor dining won’t be back until July, and events like the 50th Listowel Writers’ Week, which would have set the Kingdom abuzz this weekend, are largely taking place online. But let’s not quibble! Ireland is our oyster again, and here’s just a small selection of things you can do this bank holiday weekend.
1. A free day out
Let’s start with the best price of all: free. The OPW is this year waiving entry fees on all of its heritage sites, meaning you can save up to €20 on a family visit to the likes of Clonmacnoise, or €13 at Ross Castle in Killarney or Brú na Bóinne in Co Meath. Pick your castle, park, historic house or ancient fort to explore on heritageireland.ie, and off you go – just be sure to pre-book wherever possible.
2. Cork Harbour Festival
Festivals are slowly coming offline. Running to June 14, events at this one include family orienteering around Cork Harbour, a Sea Safari tour in search of seals and basking shark (€50-/€40), an urban kayaking trip under the city bridges (€54pp), ‘Try Dives’ at Myrtelville Beach (€70), art installations in Fitzgerald’s Park, and of course, lots of online exhibitions and happenings. corkharbourfestival.com
3. Giant steps in Monaghan
A Giant Sculpture Trail, with installations by Game of Thrones set designer Marc Kelly, is the highlight of a trip to Rossmore Forest Park. There’s also a nature trail, walks, lots of wildlife and a stonking new playground. Rossmore, 3.5km west of Monaghan on the R189, even has its own app, and Saturday visitors can catch the Blásta Street Kitchen food truck. monaghantourism.com
4. Tiny steps in Kildare
JuneFest is taking place throughout the month in Co Kildare – scaled down due to public health guidelines, of course. This weekend, catch ‘Small Steps’, an outdoor exhibition by the Kildare Art Collective in Newbridge, a series of miniature works in which artists consider what they’re most looking forward to in the days ahead (free; junefest.ie). This week, Kildare got another new addition with the new €3.2m Irish Racehorse Experience at the National Stud. €19/€13; irishnationalstud.ie
5. Book a night away!
Because you can. Finally. As of June 2, hotels, B&Bs and other holiday accommodation have been able to reopen for overnight guests. Not only that, but they can serve food and drink indoors, too. Treat yourself to a well-deserved night away, and a meal cooked by somebody else, with a last-minute booking on sites like originalirishotels.com or irelandhotels.com. Cities have particularly good availability.
6. A treasure hunt in Ballina
Rachel Nolan of Rachel’s Irish Adventures has set up a self-guided treasure hunt around Belleek Woods, one of the largest urban woodlands in Europe. €60 per group buys a ‘mystery pack’ outlining the 4km route and giving you everything you need to crack the clues, ending with coffee and a treat from Jack Fenn’s Café at Belleek Castle. The Great National Hotel Ballina is offering a package that includes the treasure hunt and a picnic for two adults and two children from €85 in total. info@rachelsirishadventures.com; hotelballina.ie
7. Access all areas on Lough Ree
There’s a new ‘Access For All’ boat on Lough Ree, providing water experiences for up to eight wheelchair users at a time. 90-minute trips for angling, sightseeing or other activities start from €15 for disabled persons, with carers going free. “There are 31,000 wheelchair users in Ireland,” says Alan Broderick, who runs it out of Lanesborough, Co Roscommon. “This was born out of wanting people with disabilities to feel included, equal and independent and to focus on their abilities and not their disabilities.” loughreeboattrips.com
8. A-maze-ing day out in Wicklow
Deep in the Wicklow hills near Rathdrum, you’ll find a family farm lovingly developed over a generation to include a seven-foot-tall hedge maze (my tip – get an overview from the viewing platform before charging in), a ‘dragonfly walk’, farm animals, and traditional farming museums crammed with memorabilia. €8pp; greenanmaze.com
9. Go forest bathing in Birr
“Birr Castle demesne is all about the outdoors this summer,” we’re told, with new additions including a 2km solar trail, a ‘quest’ trail for kids ranging from the Great Telescope to the Ice House, and the opportunity to try forest bathing – special areas of the estate have been given over for the Japanese spiritual practice. The Science Centre has reopened, as has the brilliant giant treehouse playground. €10/€5; birrcastle.com
10. On your bike
Finally, we can cycle beyond those infernal 5ks. The 144km Royal Canal Greenway officially launched as Ireland’s longest greenway during lockdown, so why not load up the bikes (or hire from a local provider like midlandscyclehub.ie) and take a spin across three counties? The spruced up 40km Limerick Greenway will get its official launch on July 1, and can also do an off-road cycling search on sportireland.ie, with bike and mountain bike options by county, grade or length.
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11. Huffin’ and puffins
Ireland’s prettiest little visitors are flying in from the Atlantic for staycations of their own. If you’ve built a birdwatching hobby in the pandemic, travelling to spot puffins in the wild is a spectacular day out – the birds can be seen at the Cliffs of Moher (cliffsofmoher.ie; from €7/free) on Wexford’s Saltee Islands (salteeferry.com; €30/€15), on Rathlin Island (rathlincommunity.org; £12/£6) and the Skelligs (reopening from June 21, heritageireland.ie) and Horn Head, Co Donegal. Remember to book ferry crossings well in advance. birdwatchireland.ie
12. The inside Tipp
Tipperary locals are sharing ‘Inside Tipps’ with visitors this summer. An example? This bank holiday Monday, more than €4,000 in cash prizes will be given out at drive-in bingo in Golden, Co Tipperary. “All you need is some car snacks and your competitive edge,” they say. Elsewhere, if you’re cycling the 21km Suir Blueway, stop off at the new Blueway Café on the riverbank in Carrick on Suir. A ‘Blueway Brownie’ awaits. tipperary.com
13. Shuck off to Connemara
Grab a taste of Connemara with a new farm tour and oyster picnic at DK Connemara Oysters in Letterfrack. Families and groups are catered for in separate pods, and 75-minute tours cover everything from the history of oyster cultivation to the art of shucking and plating the shellfish, as well as a delicious tasting, of course. €25/€15. dkconnemaraoysters.com
14. Kick back in Carlow
“It might not have a coastline but with endless hiking, kayaking, golfing and incredible gardens and castles to explore, there is literally a break to suit everyone,” says Kathryn Thomas, who is promoting the joys of her native Carlow in a ‘Wander off the Track’ campaign this summer. Try a half-day family canoe safari on the Barrow with Go with the Flow (gowiththeflow.ie; from €39/€29) – there are weirs and rapids “but nothing scary” – or flick through the Carlow Arts Festival programme. It runs to June 13. carlowtourism.com
15. Kings of Kilkenny
Kilkenny’s Butler Gallery has moved to the historic Evans’ Home in the city, with a new double-height exhibition space – known as ‘The O’Malley wing’ – to show off its treasures. Ongoing exhibitions include work from the likes of Evie Hone, Mainie Jellett, Paul Henry and Tony O’Malley, and you can nab takeaway from the Muse café to enjoy outside or in the gardens. Free; butlergallery.ie
16. Make a splash in Lough Derg
The water is warming up… well, kinda of. Aqua Splash waterpark reopens this weekend on Lough Derg at Dromineer. The floating playground is full of slides, trampolines and platforms to fling yourself off, and they have kayaks and SUP boards too. €20/€15; aquasplash.ie; discoverloughderg.ie
17. Seatrails in Sligo
Few people know Sligo like archaeologist and walking guide Auriel Robinson, and she’s got three guided hikes planned over the weekend - including Benbulben on Friday, Carrowkeel Tombs on Saturday at 11am and a new Moytura Mythology Trail on Sunday at 11am. €20-€35; seatrails.ie
18. Eats & Beats in Co Kerry
There’s pop-up food and fun to be had in Killarney this bank holiday weekend (Sat-Sun, 10am-7pm), with a music and food pairing including Chad Byrne’s Hungry Donkey food trailer, Muckross Creamery, Orla’s Food Factory and The Black Sheep. The exact location will be revealed soon – if you guess it (DM @ExperienceKerry on Twitter) you could win a free meal and coffee.
19. Do Dublin
How long has it been since you were at a great gallery or museum? They’re back open and running, and the capital city needs your footfall! The Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) in Kilmainham is just one example, with indoor exhibitions (advance booking essential) and an outdoor programme of exhibitions, workshops, pop-ups and more on the 48-acre grounds. Free; imma.ie; visitdublin.com
20. Boyne Valley
This summer “is all about rediscovering what’s closest, such as picnic packages to be enjoyed at ancient sites, ice cream adventures and a chance to reconnect over great food and creative drinks,” says Olivia Duff of the Headfort Arms Hotel in Kells, Co Meath. Amen to that! Ideas in the Boyne Valley range from the cool Bee Wise nature trail near Kilmessan to the new airstream food trailer at Slane Castle. discoverboynevalley.ie
