Some suggestions for your weekend on this great island of ours.
The weather
won't be as great this weekend as it was last weekend, but that doesn't mean the fun has to stop. You don't have to look too far to find something to do and here's just a small selection of what's on offer in the days ahead.
Kilfenora Traditional Music Festival
All roads lead to Clare and the 11th
Kilfenora Traditional Music Festival. Who doesn't love a good céilí? This year's festival will host céilís with the Star of Munster and Four Courts bands, while the famous Kilfenora Céilí Band and Kilfenora youth bands will be playing open-air gigs on the Sunday.
A Singers' Night on Friday brings together a wide range of singers and storytellers. And then, of course, there are the legendary pub sessions led by great musicians from Clare and further afield.
The Inishbofin Island Walking Festival
There is something therapeutic about walking; it always offers a chance to blow off the cobwebs and get some fresh air. Why not do it in stunning surroundings? The
Inishbofin Walking Festival, running from Friday to Sunday, offers surroundings as if not more stunning than you'll find anywhere in Ireland.
Enjoy a weekend of walking amid stunning Atlantic coast scenery, crystal clear waters, green coast award-winning beaches surrounded by rich natural and cultural heritage in the company of expert guides.
West Waterford Festival of Food
It's seldom we need an excuse to go to Dungarvan in Waterford, but the
festival of food taking place down there this weekend sounds like something special to behold. It's one of the biggest food festivals in the country.
Check out the weekly Country Market on Friday, the festival’s quayside market on Saturday with a seafood theme, all culminating in their famed Festival Market on Sunday, when over 100 stalls fill the town centre to bring you the best of local and Irish artisan food.
There are loads of events taking place over the weekend, which you can check out via their website right
here.
Introduction to Birdsong with Justin Ivory
When suggesting something for the weekend, it's not all about scenic walks, trad sessions and artisan food. This event definitely slots into the category of 'sure we'll give it a go'. How would you like to be able to identify a bird purely by the sound of its chirping?
Well now you can, thanks to the talents of Justin Ivory. Taking place this Sunday in the glorious surroundings of
Kilruddery House in Bray, you can learn all about birdsong.
The workshop will outline the who, what, why and when of birdsong, with special focus on the 10 most common calls in the local vicinity. A great session to attend in advance of the National and International Dawn Chorus.
Dublin Night Run
Always a hugely popular event in the city, the
Dublin Night Run takes place this Sunday evening, where runners of all abilities and ages will take part.
Every participant will receive a reflective premium technical race top to wear on the night, as well as a goodie bag and finisher's medal. You had us at goodie bag.
Not only that, but with every registration, €5 will be donated to the Support Sean Cox Rehabilitation Trust.
Sanctioned by Athletics Ireland, the race is chip-timed, allowing returning runners to benchmark their performance on previous years, and new participants to record their progress.
