Free Activities

Joyce’s Dublin recalled in Bloomsday Festival   Ireland’s annual celebration of James Joyce’s seminal work, Ulysses, returns to Dublin in June with the five-day Bloomsday festival. Art, music, theatre, lectures, readings, walking tours and food events make up the packed programme that invites Joyce fans to see his famous novel Ulysses through a multitude of lenses. Bloomsday (11–16 June) recalls 16 June 1904,...

  10 Great Beaches on the Wild Atlantic Way   Take a break on one of the Wild Atlantic Way’s majestic beaches. Here are 10 to try...     Scalloped-shaped beaches lapped by crystal clear waters, endless strands pounded by the crash of frothy Atlantic waves, pebbly shorelines with majestic views – beaches along the Wild Atlantic Way are as varied as they are beautiful....

First Female Admiral of Royal Cork Yacht Club, former Minister Simon Coveney, and key partners launch an action-packed programme for Volvo Cork Week 2024, which will welcome 10,000 sailors and attendees to Crosshaven and beyond. Volvo Cork Week, one of the most anticipated events on the global sailing calendar, is gearing up for a thrilling spectacle on Cork Harbour once...

Dramatic diving on display on Northern Ireland’s stunning Causeway Coast In July, Northern Ireland’s spectacular Causeway Coast will be the backdrop to the fourth stop on the adrenaline-charged Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. The famous Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series has chosen picturesque Ballycastle, County Antrim, as the location for a mid-season stop (19–20 July) that is expected to...

Take your pick from great St Patrick’s Day celebrations around Ireland   On St Patrick’s Day all the major cities on the island of Ireland stage fantastic festivals. So why not avoid the Dublin crowds and seek one out this 17 March.   This year St Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday, so Monday 18 March 2024 will be a public holiday. Lucky...

  Save the date for the 15th Annual Waterford Festival of Food 19-21 April 2024 Waterford Festival of Food (formerly called West Waterford Festival of Food) will take place this year from Friday 19th April to Sunday 21st April 2024. So save the date as food lovers from across Ireland descend upon the scenic seaside town of Dungarvan and beyond. The 2024 Festival...

Belfast 2024 celebrates the city’s creative culture Belfast is embarking on an ambitious cultural celebration in 2024 which will see the city come to life with creative projects, events and civic initiatives. Under the themes of Our People, Our Place and Our Planet, Belfast 2024 will present a year-long programme of exciting projects and events that will celebrate the city’s people,...

  Catch a wave at the island of Ireland’s top surf spots Winter is big wave time in Ireland so grab your board and head for the Atlantic swells that will give you an adrenaline high. Serious surfers love Ireland in winter. It may be cold, often wet and frequently windy but that all combines to produce some of the most...

Unique trail of five sculptures launched in Cork City  Island City -Cork’s Urban Sculpture Trail  A new contemporary sculpture trail throughout Cork City - Island City, Cork’s Urban Sculpture Trail - was officially launched yesterday (12/12/'23) evening by the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Kieran McCarthy. This unique cultural trail of five public artworks was installed throughout the city centre island over...

Great spots for wild swimming on the island of Ireland Take a deep breath and dive into a wild swimming adventure on the island of Ireland, where ocean waves and lapping loughs offer the most scenic of plunge pools.   What can beat an invigorating swim in open waters, other than one surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. Here are nine to tempt...