Country vibes... a few of our favourite things

There was a surprise visitor to The Barna Way farm in Co Kerry this week. Cynthia Nixon from Sex and the City swapped the surrounds of Manhattan and her stilettos for a pair of runners and a Ferguson tractor. Still looking as stylish as ever, Cynthia was shown around the farm and the different food, peace and nature projects happening there. Her visit happened just before the

Ballybunion Bean Festival on 15-16 August, which is a celebration of sustainable food production, focusing on the potential of beans as the food of the future.

Fancy a relaxing afternoon filled with luxury and treats? We’re giving one lucky reader the chance to win a sparkling afternoon tea for two at the beautiful Lawlor’s of Naas. Enjoy an indulgent spread of freshly baked scones, delicate finger sandwiches, tempting sweet treats, and a glass of bubbly prosecco. Whether it’s a girls day out or a couple’s get-away, the experience of afternoon tea in The Lobby at Lawlor’s of Naas is one for making memories. Sparkling afternoon tea, which includes a glass

of prosecco, is worth €42.50 per person.To enter, answer the question and scan the QR code.

In which town is Lawlor’s located? A) Naas B) Navan C) Nenagh. Closing date is 6 August 2025. T&Cs apply.

There’s no better reason to make your way up the country than to watch Brian Friel’s award-winning plays, Dancing at Lughnasa, Translatons and Faith Healer, which are being brought to life in the scenic spots that inspired them: Donegal, Derry and Tyrone.

Having spent his 86 years between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the playwright hardly left the border counties throughout his life. There will be 35 performances of five of Friel’s plays this month. See artsoverborders.com.

Greenhill Fruit Farm, Killiane Castle Honey, Wexbury Irish Spirits, Bosca Capaill Woodfired Pizza and Wexford Homes Preserves are just some of the many local producers supplying the goods at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, running until 10 August. The Wexford Fleadh Artisan Food Hall is one of the many highlights located at the Wexford Presbyterian Church, from 10am-5.30pm daily until Sunday. There will be a jam preserves tent, strawberry village and plenty of food and beverage trucks to choose from. See wexfordfoodfamily.com.

The Duggan family from Bekan Co Mayo is making an urgent public appeal for financial support for their daughter, Éabha (1). The family travelled to Utrecht, the Netherlands on Saturday for a life-saving bone marrow transplant for Éabha, who has been diagnosed with a rare and serious genetic condition. The treatment she needs is not available in Ireland. This heartbreaking situation comes just weeks after the family lost their three-year-old daughter, Saoirse, to the same genetic condition. The medical costs for Éabha’s transplant are covered by the HSE, but the financial burden of travel to the Netherlands and associated living expenses falls entirely on the family.

See gofundme.com/f/together-for-eabha-duggan-mayobonemarrowtransplant

Back in 2021, Joe’s Farm Crisps in Killeagh, east Cork got into sunflower growing and picking in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland. It’s a tradition that the family farm has maintained, with 100,000 sunflowers of ten varieties standing proud and tall across 5ac of land. They also have a café, farm shop and walking trails on site, making it a fun family day out over summer. Entrance is €30 per car, with half of this fee donated to the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland, and the farm is wheelchair and buggy accessible. There is no booking needed for the sunflower picking, simply check Joe’s Farm Crisps on Instagram @joes_farm_crisps.The farm is a cash only venue. See joesfarmcrisps.ie.