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31st May 2018

13 things to do in Ireland over the June Bank holiday weekend

JOE

Drinkaware

Brought to you by Carry Out Off Licence.

Get outside and make the most of it!

Bank holiday weekends are great. A bank holiday in the middle of summer is even better. Having an extra day to make use of the good weather is a godsend.

Now that you have that extra time to play with, what are you gonna do with it?

To help you make the most of the June bank holiday, we’ve put together a list of events are taking place around the country. Start planning now. You don’t want to be sitting at home on Monday evening wondering why you didn’t do more.

1. Forbidden Fruit, Dublin

Justice, War on Drugs, Grizzly Bear – one of the best festival lineups in recent memory will be setting up shop in the grounds of the Museum of Modern Art in Kilmainham.

There are still tickets going for this and we can’t think of a much better use of your time.

2. Ireland v USA, Dublin

Martin O’Neill’s side takes on the Yanks this Saturday.

Now, we can’t promise a high stakes thriller with this one, seeing as it’s between two teams that failed to qualify for the World Cup. That being said, a trip to the Aviva on a summer day offers its own pleasures.

Get a chipper as you make your way to the stadium from town and enjoy post-game pints in the sun to make the very most of the day.

3. Go to the beach, anywhere

The weather is meant to be cracking this weekend. Get yourself down to a beach, any beach. For the people who aren’t bothered engaging in culture over the long weekend and would rather soak up some rays. Nothing wrong with that.

4. Kilkenny Cat Laughs, Kilkenny

If you’re a comedy fan, there really isn’t a better way to spend your long weekend. This year’s iteration of the comedy festival is bursting at the seams with talent from home and abroad. David O’Doherty, Blindboy and Meave Higgins are just some of the names that will be setting up shop in the city.

5. Vantastival, Louth

If you’re like music, camper vans or both, this independent festival will be right up your street.

Located on the banks of the river Boyne in Louth, campers will get to take in music from Le Galaxie, The Stunning and The Hot Sprockets among many more.

Apart from the great line up and scenic location, Vantastival’s bring your own booze policy makes it one of the most affordable festivals you can go to. Throw in some arts and crafts and the odd gourmet food stall and you got yourself a stew going.

6. Play on your street, anywhere

Heads and volleys, kick the can, a game of football tennis – if the weather is good, the street is your playground. You’re never too old to enjoy the simple pleasure of having a kick around on your street.

Add a speaker, a BBQ and some friendly neighbours to the mix and you got yourself a mini street festival.

7. Bloom in the park, Dublin

If you’re near the Phoenix Park, this one is really worth a visit. The five-day bloom festival features show gardens created by Ireland’s top garden designers.

It doesn’t stop at gardening. There’ll be a series of food markets showcasing organic produce.

There’ll also be plenty of entertainment with RTE covering the entire weekend, with live TV and radio broadcasts.

8. Howth Trad Fest, Howth

There’s a mixture of free and ticketed gigs going all weekend in Howth with acts like Kila and Declan O’Rourke set to perform.

The Smithwicks Trad Trail will also be hosting open sessions all over the seaside town.

9. Connemara Bog Week, Galway

A more scenic way to spend your long weekend you won’t find. The Connemara National Park offers up music and poetry in Kylemore Abbey and local pubs.

You can also go on free guided walking tours of the bog.

10. Tall ships, Dublin

As part of the Tall Ships Regatta, the ships will stop over in Dublin Port from Friday to Monday. If you’re a maritime enthusiast, it’s a chance to see these magnificent vessels up close.

You can get a look at the smaller ships in Grand Canal Dock while the bigger ones will be docked in Sir John Rogerson’s Quay.

11. K-Fest, Killorglin

Taking place in abandoned spaces all over Killorglin, this festival will fill the town with pop-up galleries over the weekend. With live music from Le Boom and Fangclub, along with a live Q and A with director Jim Sheridan. Throw in some performance art, DJ and busking competitions and much more and you have one of the most eclectic line-ups you’re likely to encounter this weekend.

12. Ireland BikeFest, Killarney

This family event will give you the chance to see real-life bikers up close. They’ll also bring their bikes along, so you can see those too.

The event includes outdoor music, food stalls and motorbike rides in the mountains around Killarney.

13. Cowboys and Heroes festival, Leitrim

Located in Drumcoura City, a 50-acre ranch, you might find yourself thinking you’re in a Western movie while you’re at this festival.

With live music from country music stars Robert Mizzell, Patrick Feeney and The Ward Sisters, along with other events like horse shows, car shows and line dancing, this is a proper western experience.

Carry Out Off Licence has everything you need for this bank holiday weekend – find them on Facebook to see our fantastic offers and great competitions

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