1 Making hay in Trim
The ever-popular Trim Haymaking Festival in Co Meath is a great spot for some family fun on 21 June. Head for picturesque Porchfields for a day of traditional music, vintage displays and local food.
Here’s hoping attendees will get traditional hay weather to enjoy the community celebration boasting a fantastic music line-up, including The Brian Ború Céilí Band, Eddie Quinn and Ray Murtagh.
Admission is€15 per adult, €10 OAP/student and children under 16 are free.
See trimhaymakingfestival.com
2 Discover Star Wars in Donegal
As Ireland’s most northerly point, Malin Head is an iconic location worth visiting for its sheer beauty and sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean alone. But there is so much more besides; for example, there’s a chance to get out your lightsabre to reenact scenes shot here for the Millennium Falcon and the Planet Ahch-To elements of the Star Wars: The Last Jedi movie in 2017. Enjoy a Star Wars walking tour in the company of Dr Bren Whelan, who worked on the film, to discover some magic behind-the-scenes stories and learn about the rich heritage, history, flora and fauna of this beautiful edge-of-world-location.
The tour covers about 4km over three hours of easy/moderate walking and is suitable for 8 years+. Cost: starting at €60.
See donegalclimbing.ie
3 Enjoy hiss-terical encounter with reptiles
Meet some of the world’s rarest and most unusual reptiles in the heart of Kilkenny at Ireland’s only reptile zoo.
Come, look and learn about all kinds of snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodiles, alligators, scorpions, spiders, frogs, and even salamanders across 50 exhibits dedicated to the conservation of these magnificent creatures.
Open 10am to 6pm, seven days a week, all year round, the National Reptile Zoo is also a brilliant rainy-day activity for the whole family. Discover the animal encounter zone where you learn about and get to touch some amazing reptiles, explore the nocturnal realm or enjoy the media and education rooms and play area.
An adult ticket is €16, a child is €13.50, with family tickets ranging from €43 to €58. Admission, including a private encounter with some of the centre’s reptiles, starts from €65.
See nrz.ie
4 Greenway fun meets rural heritage
Having a memorable day out with your dad doesn’t always mean racking up a massive bill. Opt this year to get active and seek out the history and heritage of Ireland’s rural areas at the National Museum of Country Life, close to Castlebar in Mayo. And best of all, it’s absolutely free.
Travel to the museum’s home via the Castlebar to Turlough Greenway, cycling or walking from Lough Lannagh along a 10km, mainly off-road riverside route to the spectacular expansive grounds of Turlough Park. Classed as easy to moderate, the signposted route follows the course of the Castlebar river and passes through peaceful countryside and woodland sections, with lots of interesting sites along the way.
It finishes at the museum, which is home to Ireland’s National Folklife Collection. Here you can immerse yourself in objects, rare archive photography and films that explore Ireland’s rural past.
Allow one hour to cycle or two hours walking from Castlebar. Admission to the museum is free.
See museum.ie
5 Loopy about lighthouses in Co Clare
There’s something utterly fascinating about lighthouses. Perhaps it’s in part due to the rugged and wild locations where they are situated, but it may also be their beacon role in maritime history and lore.
An iconic Clare landmark since 1670, Loop Head Lighthouse, close to Kilbaha, is well worth a trip for the views and much more. Located on the northern shore of the Shannon river, on a good day it is possible to see vistas of the Blaskets in Kerry and north as far as the Twelve Pins in Connemara.
After enjoying a guided tour and climbing the tower to relive the past, you have the option of staying in the cosy, characterful lighthouse attendant’s cottage for a night away with a difference.
Tour admission for adults is from €8; admission for a child is from €5. Accommodation bookings are separate.
See loopheadlighthouse.ie
6 Make a collage at Muckross
Get creative in the heart of Killarney’s beautiful National Park, and maybe even come away with something nice for dad or grandad at children’s collage workshops to mark the special day.
Join Me and The Moon, who have been facilitating creative activities at national schools for over a decade, at Muckross Schoolhouse, which is on the Muckross Traditional Farms site, to explore the endless possibilities of collage at three workshops for children of primary school age. The workshops at 10am, 11.30am and 1pm are free, but pre-booking is required.
See eventbrite.ie
7 Camping time in scenic Tyrone
Camping is a brilliant budget getaway with dad or even the extended family this summer. One great option is to pitch your tent in The Meadows Camping Field, an idyllic sheltered hideaway on a family farm between Gortin and Newtownstewart in Co Tyrone.
Along with electrical hookups, toilets, showers, Wi-Fi, etc, there is a children’s play area, a lounging area and two great walks through the woodland and riverside for evening strolls. A glamping option and a shepherd’s hut is also available.
The added bonus is the delicious on-site ice cream from Oldtown Creameries, the family dairy farm. Tent prices start from €13.90 to €44.03.
See meadowscamping.co.uk
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