A selection of things to do in Ireland over the 2018 June Bank Holiday weekend.
Balbriggan Summerfest is back again, with a week of activities leading up to a fun-packed June Bank Holiday Weekend. Events include during the week include sports, music, art, table quiz and scavenger hunt.
Hosted by Bord Bia, Bloom will run from Thursday 31st May to Monday 4th June 2018 in the Phoenix Park celebrating garden life at Ireland’s largest and most spectacular gardening event.
Each year around 35,000 women participate the 10km fundraiser and this year's event on Sunday 3rd June is set to be the biggest to date. Whether you walk or run the route, or decide to show your support from the sidelines, the atmosphere in Dublin on the day of the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon is guaranteed to be electric.
Tattersalls International Horse Trials and Country Fair
A fun day for the whole family (u12 go free) with over eighty shops and an artisan market spread out over 2.5 acres, featuring locally produced food, picnic areas, old-fashioned carnival stands, a novelty dog show and a real live farm.
Watch world class equestrian competition and see some of the world's most fearsome Olympians up close and personal, all while enjoying the fun of the fair.
Cork Harbour Festival is a week-long celebration of Ireland's unique maritime heritage with events including Cork Harbour Seafood Trail, Kids’ Model Boat Exhibition, Spike Island Cork Harbour Boat Tours, Family Orienteering, Urban Kayaking under the Bridges, Crab Fishing in Cobh, Seaweed Talk, Tasting and Cooking Demonstration and lots more.
Rathlin Sound Martime Festival
A multi-site festival highlighting the stunningly beautiful surroundings of Ballycastle town, Rathlin Island and the waters in between.
K-FEST is a dynamic arts festival with an emphasis on emerging artists, uses unoccupied spaces in Killorglin, Co. Kerry, transforming vacant retail outlets, deserted buildings, and even domestic homes into curated bespoke pop-up galleries and venues over the weekend.
K-FEST hosts more than 60 events in addition to a gallery trail, including live music performances by dozens of up-and-coming bands and musicians, as well as spoken word, drama, comedy, short films, street entertainment, and activities for kids and families.
One of Ireland’s best music festivals, Vantastival, is back after a break last year. The festival is a family-friendly celebration of music and campervans, and features a diverse line-up of homegrown acts in the spectacular setting of Beaulieu House, Co. Louth.
Keepy Uppy | Belltable Theatre
A play for the 2018 World Cup year, for football fans, non-football fans, children and families on Saturday, 2nd June at 2.30pm
The annual Spring Fair on Saturday is heavily influenced by New Zealand with gumboot-throwing competition, Kiwi Sausage Sizzle, and a display from local speed stackers. There will also be a selection of local crafts and plants will be for sale, outdoor games, face-painting and free take-home craft activities for the children.
Discover the creatures that live in the ponds at Castle Espie on Saturday & Sunday afternoon. Their new and improved pond zone now contains a state of the art aqua tank and underwater camera, so you can see exactly what lies beneath.
Suitable for children of all ages (and big kids too), you'll uncover creatures like diving beetles and their larvae, water boatmen and many others!
Ireland’s only free open biker festival takes place in Killarney this weekend. This theee day motorcycle and free music extravaganza helps raise money for charity while having the opportunity to ride on spectacular routes such as the Ring of Kerry and the Wild Atlantic Way.
Hooked on the Sea runs across the Peninsula all weekend with a host of marine themed events for all ages including lawn games, free family entertainment from the wobbly circus and Pirate Hook and Pirate Pat are looking for recruits. Arrive dressed as a pirate for a treat!
Seafood and Shanty Ballycotton Family Fun Day
On Sunday, Ballycotton pier will be the centre of family entertainment in east Cork with arts and crafts stalls, shanty buskers and local musicians, cookery demonstrations, food stalls and the Crab Derby - an annual spectacle not to be missed!
Ballyroan Country Music Festival
A fun, country music festival held in the picturesque County Laois village of Ballyroan. The festival returns this weekend for two nights of the best country music featuring Derek Ryan, Kelly McGrath, Johnny Brady and Mr "Hit the Diff" Marty Mone.
The annual Connemara Bog Week Festival in Letterfrack, North Connemara continues all weekend. The multi-disciplinary, family-friendly festival allows visitors to appreciate the breathtaking landscape, archaeological and historical heritage of the area while enjoying live music, guided walks and exhibitions.
Funderland returns to Limerick until June 10th. Based on the Groody Road, Castletroy, they will have another exciting line-up of attractions to entertain the whole family.
Bundoran Lifeboat Soapbox Race
The flagship fundraising event for the volunteer crew of Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat – the 7th annual soapbox race takes place on Sunday from 1pm at Astoria Road in Bundoran. The event had to be cancelled last year due to the weather but the outlook for this weekend is for lots of sun and fun.
The first Benbulben Carnival takes place this weekend in Sligo Town in support of four local charities. The weekend is filled with great concerts including The Hothouse Flowers, music, dance, parades, and lots more for the whole family.
Originating in 1902, Ballymoney Show, organised by the North Antrim Agricultural Association Ltd, is one of the oldest agricultural shows in Northern Ireland.
Ballymoney Show offers something for everyone; from livestock judging including cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, horse and pony judging to food tents with cookery demonstrations and celebrity chefs; from agricultural products, artisan foods to local crafts as well as entertainment in the form of music, football competitions and tug of war. Not to forget the bonny baby competition, children’s fancy dress competition and dog show, home industries and schools exhibits.
Innishannon Steam and Vintage Rally
The 21st Innishannon Steam & Vintage Rally is again held in a 38-acre venue one mile from Innishannon Village on Saturday and Sunday.
The rally is a unique experience where visitors get to see machinery, traditions, demonstrations and items from the past with something of interest for everyone from steam engines, tractors, military vehicles, oil engines, fire engines, motorcycles, lorries, vintage farm machinery, fairground organs, trade stands, amusements, pets corner, flower arranging, demonstrations, live music and more.
Cowboys and Heroes Country Music Americana Festival
Cowboys and Heroes Country Music and Americana Festival is returning for its 5th year this weekend in the western themed venue of Drumcoura City. Located just 2 hours from Dublin, Cowboys and Heroes has something for everyone with American and Irish Country Music, a Western Horse Show, American Car Show, Kids area, 4 bars, restaurants and lots lots more.
This year, they also have "Make a Wish Monday” when people can pay what they like on admission and all proceeds from the gate will go to the charity.
The Carrick Carnival is an action-packed ten-day festival with an eclectic mix of amazing street entertainment, ridiculous races (barmen racing with pints, balls racing down the street, homemade rafts racing across the Shannon, pigs racing with teddies as jockeys), live music, kids fun days, traditional amusements, street parades, fireworks, dance shows water jet display and much more.
Fun family weekend with events including live music, Food Stalls, Children Shows, Water Sports, Ireland's Glam Grannies Competition, Teddy Bears' Picnic, Moby Dick cruises, the RNLI balls race and much more.
The Ark | The Paper Playground
A Seedlings Early Years Workshop with artist Lucy Hill, where young childern (2-4) can explore materials in playful and engaging activities, ideal for getting little ones (and their grown-ups!) imagining and creating together.
Put the toys away and play with the packaging!
Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival
Born at the Rock Hospital in Ballyshannon in 1948, since 2002 the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival has celebrated the music and life of Ireland's greatest guitarist. Over 10,000 fans now attend the Festival annually in Ballyshannon from all over the world with performances from Wilko Johnson,
Walter Trout, Wishbone Ash, Eric Steckel and more.
Ireland's first comedy festival returns with the best Irish, British and international stand-up comedians, set against the backdrop of Ireland's medieval capital.
Established in 1995, the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival, referred to in the international comedy world simply and affectionately as Kilkenny, has lined up another brilliant list of acts to keep you entertained over the weekend including Jason Manford, Aisling Bea, Reginald D Hunter, Des Bishop, Deirdre O'Kane and more.
In Glasnevin, there is Sunday Kids Drop by Activities where you can sow seeds, make seed bombs, design bug hotels and re-use everyday items to create your own piece of eco-art. Available slots at 11.00am, 11.30am, 3.00pm and 3.30pm.
The annual North West Clare agricultural show takes place on Sunday in the newly developed grounds of the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon. The show is packed full of classes for cattle, sheep, horses, ponies, donkeys, fowl, arts and crafts, home produce, amusements, dog show, schools tug 'o war, kids water Zorbing and attractions to interest all the family!
Home to Ireland's longest zipline, the Discovery Park is perfect for a fun, family day out this weekend. You can also save 20% on tickets for the Zipline & Octagon every Saturday & Sunday in June exclusively available on YourDaysOut.
Fota Wildlife Park is set on 100 acres on the scenic Fota Island in the heart of Cork Harbour and there is no better place to be on a sunny long weekend.
The park is not like an ordinary zoo; here you can come face to face with free roaming animals & birds from all parts of the world. So whether it's a kangaroo that hops in front of you or a ring tailed lemur which jumps down from a tree, each visit is sure to bring its own fantastic memories.
Customer appreciation event to thank the loyal town centre customers who supported local businesses throughout the year. There will be lots of fun activities, events and stalls including a Family Treasure Hunt and the winner of the Primary School Art Competition will be announced where one popular student will win an all-expenses trip to the Carlingford Adventure Centre for their entire class!
