SPEND a day at the National Ploughing Championships from Tuesday 18 to Thursday 20 September. Returning once again to Screggan, Co Offaly, the three-day event showcases Irish food, farming and culture at Europe’s largest outdoor event. As always, there is plenty in line for the tillage, machinery and livestock enthusiasts, but the modern event now features something for just about every member of the community. These include a tented trade village, a food fair, craft village, forestry, education, lifestyle, bio energy, agri services and much more. Join almost 300,000 expected visitors in Screggan for a taste of authentic rural Ireland.

GALLOP on down to The Longines Irish Champions Weekend this Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 September. Leopardstown Racecourse and The Curragh welcome all for a great weekend of food, beer, live music, children’s entertainment, fashion, and, of course, two exhilarating days of horse racing. Day one takes place at Leopardstown and features the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes, the highest-rated turf race in the world. Followed by a second day at The Curragh, with top thoroughbreds from around the world competing. For more see www.irishchampionsweekend.ie.

ENJOY a day at Clifden Arts Festival, running until Sunday 23 September. In its 41st year, the initiative celebrates being the longest-running community arts festival in Ireland. The theme of this year’s Clifden Arts Festival will explore the concept of “home” as well as showcasing Ireland’s diverse and artistic culture through enchanting and educating people of all ages. Audiences can expect a very high-quality artistic programme with a superb literary, musical and visual art content with the community arts of Clifden and hinterlands. So, whether you want to take a historical trip down memory lane, admire some of Ireland’s best visual arts, or to be entertained by comedy and music, Clifden Arts Fest 2018 is a must attend event. See this year’s line-up at www.clifdenartsfestival.ie.

UNWIND at Ireland’s first national yoga fest launching Monday 17 September. The week-long festival is dedicated solely to health, wellness and mindfulness and takes place across the country from 17 to 23 September. Yoga studios, workshops and retreats all over Ireland will be opening their doors to welcome locals of all ages and abilities. Cafés, restaurants, smoothie bars and health food shops will also get in on the action, offering special healthy deals, tastings and workshops. For more information check out www.fstvlr.ie.

DIVE into the Ocean Film Festival World Tour at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, this Thursday 13 September. Showcasing the best short films from around the globe, it’s a mesmerising celebration of the power and beauty of the marine world and its crucial place in the lives of every living thing on earth. Join the festival fun and experience what life is like both over and under waves as divers, paddlers, surfers and oceanographers invite you into their underwater worlds. Find more details at www.oceanfilmfestival.co.uk.