A selection of things to do this weekend around Ireland.
It offers exactly that.
The last picnic of the year in Mountjoy Square Park, Dublin will be a fun, free, family event with lots of activities for the kids (and some vendors with hot food if required!)
2017 marks 60 years since the closure of the Great Northern Railway and the last train to leave Bundoran station. If you're a railway fan or travelled on the line before the closure, then a weekend of nostalgia lies ahead!
The southern capital will be alive with the sound of music as the 37th Cork Folk Festival runs from the 28th Sept to 1st October 2017. Headline acts include Donovan and Andy Irvine but there will be lots of sessions, workshops and family events including free storytelling and songs in the Cork City Children’s Library on Saturday afternoon.
The Family SportFest is a one-day event honouring all things sport as part of the celebrations for the European Week of Sport hosted by The Sport Ireland National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown.
Meet Irish sporting heroes, Lift famous trophies in the TrophyZone (Sam Maguire, Liam McCarthy, Pro14 League Trophy, EA Sports Cup), try out loads of new sports and challenge the whole family in the skill challenge zone, bounce around in the inflatable zone and much more.
Documentaries have never been more popular and this year’s IFI Documentary Festival brings the best in new Irish and international documentary filmmaking to Dublin.
Features include 'A Cambodian Spring', the story of three people caught up in the chaotic events shaping modern-day Cambodia and 'Rocky Ros Muc', a profile of Seán Mannion, a talented boxer from the quiet Gaeltacht village of Ros Muc, Co Galway, who left Ireland for Boston in the 1970s and made to New York’s Madison Square Garden.
The 42nd festival runs for five days up to the 1st October and features a range of performances that will suit all ages and interests across music, theatre, film, literate, art, exhibitions and fun family events.
The Festival starts on Friday and features 18 days of live performance featuring international productions, incredible Irish work like Playboyz and Ulysses, and theatre performances for children with the 23rd year of partnership between Dublin Theatre Festival and The Ark.
The festival gets bigger every year with over 50 stalls offering samples of the best local produce as well as demos, workshops, wine-tasting, discussion forums, craft beer and cider fest and the popular Taste Trail, a great way to experience all the flavours on offer in over seventy local venues.
The Fingal Festival of History will take place in Newbridge House this weekend. There will be talks focusing on historical Fingal figures such as the Kettle Family and Thomas Ashe as well as an introduction and tour of the house. Admission to all events is free.
The famous composer and harper Turlough O'Carolan was born in Nobber, Co. Meath 1670 and an annual festival is held in his honour. This year there will be lots of workshops from some of Ireland's top harpists and performances from Gabriella Dall'Olio, the Meath Harp Ensemble and many more.
Taste of Monaghan is a fantastic local event that highlights top quality local produce, with over 55 exhibitors in Monaghan town as well as cooking demonstrations, competitions, tastings, music, entertainment and fun for all the family.
Write By The Sea 2017 Saturday 30th September 2017 | Sunday 1st October 2017
The Irish Hot-Air Balloon Championships
Competitors from all over the world take to skies around Galway all week. The 'Irish Meet' continues with two flights per day totally dependent on the weather but creating a wonderful sight when they do take to the air.
Donegal Bay & Blue Stacks Festival
A great programme of events in South Donegal from 29th September to 8th October featuring theatre, live music, poetry, events for children and the popular street carnival next weekend.
