It's Father's Day this weekend.
That used to just mean a card and a tie, but nowadays families are celebrating the increased contribution Dads now make to parenting. There are also plenty of ideas for things to do in Ireland this weekend and a lot of venues are letting the Dads & Grandads in for FREE! on Sunday.
Time to relive your youth and spend a day flying kites on a beach in Dublin this Sunday. This event was hugely popular last year, turning the skies of Dublin into a beautiful mixture of colour. This year's event promised to be even better with a whole range of fun family activities including music, games, workshops and spectacular exhibitions.
The annual celebration of the James Joyce novel Ulysses is now a week long festival of readings, workshops, tours and music all leading up to the day itself, June 16th. EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum has two special tours on at 11 and 3pm featuring a Bloomsday themed guided tour of the museum.
The perfect Fathers Day out.
Situated in the heart of Temple Bar the museum will give your Dad the opportunity to teach you about music. Not music that you like, or even ever heard of, but music that he says was the soundtrack to his youth. The museum traces the history of Irish Rock from the 70s through to today.
Attracting over 50,000 visitors last year, the show offers a varied programme of activities including food, garden, vintage machinery, farm machinery, music and entertainment. Running in one form or another since 1806, it's always guaranteed to be a great day out for all the family.
The annual fundraiser for the DSPCA is a great opportunity to help a wonderful cause while having a fun family day out. The event on Sunday will feature dog shows, grooming, face painting, bouncy castles, children's games and lots, lots more.
Bike Week continues through the weekend with different local authorities, bike clubs, community groups and charities organise cycling events. There are events for cyclists of all ages and ability (and none).
National Museum Country Life, Mayo
On Sunday there is free kids workshop 'From Clay And Wattles Made: Make a Mini-shelter!' Learn how natural materials can be used to build. With the help of artist Veronika Straberger, the kids will have a go at making their own miniature shelter using clay, willow and natural materials. The 'Shelter' project is part of On Sight 2017 a collaboration between the museum and Mayo Arts Squad. Booking required.
Billed as four days of eating, drink and entertainment, Taste returns to Dublin's Iveagh Gardens this week. Enjoy food from some of the city's top restaurants, take part in one of the many interactive attractions or just relax and enjoy the live entertainment.
A huge range of competitions including Crafts, Flowers, Junior Craft, Jams, Bread, Cakes, Photography and even a dog show in Athy this Sunday.
There will also be loads of entertainment for all the family too, including juggling, animals, hunt chase, Lego displays, treasure hunts, games, food and of course lots of shopping in our indoor and outdoor trade stands.
It's Father's Day this weekend and to help you celebrate Kia Ora Mini Farm is offering FREE admission to every Daddy & Grandad. There is no better way to spend time with your family than a fun day out that everyone can enjoy with fire engine rides, maze, go-karts, crazy football, diggers and lots of animals. Kids will happily spend a whole day here while parents relax in the restaurant or with a picnic.
An action packed weekend celebrating our waterfront heritage & seafaring traditions down at the Titanic Quarter in Belfast. From a Big Titanic Pop-up Picnic to a seafood street food market, from wooden boats to model boats, nautical walking tours to Port to Starboard talks.There are lots of fun family activities including music, games, interactive exhibits, roving performers and more.
Loads of fun activities for the kids in this local school fundraiser on Sunday. Live music and dance, Arts & Crafts, tasty home-made food and drinks, raffle, games and lots of fun. All welcome.
.Annual city-wide summer celebration of contemporary arts and culture, combining local, national and international events. On Father's Day, Sunday, June 18ththere is free arts entertainment and activities in Fitzgerald Park with high energy events, installations, dance and music with drop-in workshops including Ireland's largest ever Maypole Dance inspired by the sensational dance show ProdiJIG.
The fourth annual Bia Lover Festival will attract thousands to Athenry this weekend with the promise of food talks, demonstrations, exhibitions, tastings, music and dance baking competitions, busking and lots of children’s activities.
The festival celebrates the town's colourful past and the events surrounding the "Sack of Baltimore" by Algerian pirates. There are fun events for all for all ages including a dummy pirate competition, sand art for kids and welly-throwing.
The seventh International Sea Shanty Festival takes place in Rosses Point this weekend. It's usually a great occasion with beautiful music, poetry, song and performances. There are the usual fun family activities too, including a duck race in the harbour on Sunday and all proceeds from the weekend are donated to the local RNLI.
A fun and educational family day at the Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site in Meath presenting a variety of activities celebrating heritage, farming, food, health and the environment with stories, activities, artisan food and music.
A fun-filled day of family entertainment this Sunday, centred around bringing in of the first hay of the year, by hand or by vintage machinery. There are loads of fun family activities including a supervised play area, arts & crafts, pets corner and a dog show.
Fastnet Maritime and Folk Festival
The Fastnet Maritime and Folk Festival is an international festival based in the picturesque village of Ballydehob, West Cork, featuring maritime and other folk music.
Tom Crean Festival
A celebration of one of Ireland's greatest unsung heroes, Polar explorer Tom Crean. The festival in Annascaul includes a performance of the one-man play Tom Crean in his pub, The South Pole Inn.
Friday Fun Night
Twig Bog Car park in Cappoquin will be the finishing line in the Dromana 5 and there will be plenty to keep spectators entertained from 7pm including a DJ, face painting and balloon animals.
This Saturday the Irish Wildlife Trust has organised a free, fun children's event to explore the diversity of insects and minibeasts living in and around the pond at the National Botanic Gardens.
One Love Longford Parade
A parade to celebrate the diversity of the people in Longford with art stalls, craft stalls, culture exhibition, displays, music and dance from around the world.
Tour de Burren
Previously voted the best leisure cycling event in Ireland there are courses for all abilities. This Friday night is the popular Family Loop around beautiful Ballyvaughan. You return via the green road where there will be ice cream and face painting.
A two-day event this weekend in Bushmills showcasing music, food, the arts and delivering a unique experience for everyone
The festival has celebrates local salmon and whiskey, with tastings and cookery demonstrations as well as a market for other locally produced goods including chocolates, cheeses, ice cream, preserves, jams, crafts etc. There will be live music and dance as well as kids workshops and activities.
Please note that the Galway County Show has been scaled back to just include Showjumping at Duffy's Equestrian Centre, Claregalway and that all other events, including the Family Fun Day, have been cancelled.
