The forecast is looking pretty decent for the weekend ahead, according to Met Éireann.
It should be bright and dry Saturday with some good sunny spells and only a few passing showers. Sunday will be much the same, with temperatures reaching 20 degrees in some places.
With this in mind, we've put together some ideas to help you make the best of the good weather:
1. Get to Gorey for the Wells House & Gardens Summer Festival
Wells House in Gorey, Co Wexford are putting on a weekend of family fun this Saturday and Sunday.
Gates open at 10.00am and events run between midday and 6.00pm - with an entry fee of €8 per car.
The two-day schedule of events includes craft workshops, woodland walks, house tours, an animal farm, puppetry and archery.
Full details are available at wellshouse.ie or wexfordartscentre.ie
2. Listen to some music at the Carrickmacross Arts Festival
This four-day event is already underway and showcases the very best artistic talents from the Monaghan, Cavan, Louth and Meath areas.
It runs until Sunday in the grounds and gardens of Callan’s of the Bridge, in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.
The line-up for the weekend includes:
Friday events:
- Outdoor cinema screening of ‘The Goonies'
- Cultural and heritage exhibitions, drama, poetry events
Saturday events:
- Music from Kila, Wallis Bird, Declan O’Rourke, Jinx Lennon, Third Smoke, Gráinne Hunt and more
- Arts and crafts exhibitions, artisan food and trade stalls
- Children’s workshops and activities
Sunday events:
- Music from Delorentos, The Frank and Walters, Wyvern Lingo, Sanzkrit, Elephant, Barry Jay Hughes and more
- Arts and crafts exhibitions, artisan food and trade stalls
- Children’s workshops and activities
Day tickets, two-day tickets and four-day tickets can be purchased online at either carrickmacrossartsfestival.com or tickets.ie, and at the Callans of the Bridge venue.Children under 12 go free - and the vast majority of children’s activities take place between 12.00pm and 6.00pm this Saturday and Sunday.
Family Fun Day Tickets can also be bought on the days at the venue - but there is limited availability.
3. Sample some the best of local food at the Taste of Cavan
The two-day event is back today and tomorrow at the Cavan Equestrian Centre.The event showcases Cavan's top local food producers, chefs and restaurants - and will feature demonstrations from some of the best chefs in the country.
Neven Maguire | Image: Taste of Cavan on Facebook
For more information, check them out on Facebook.
4. Go hunting for treasure at the Belmullet Gala Festival
This week of events takes place in Belmullet, Co Mayo. Today sees the return of the very popular Heritage Day, but if you can't make it up this afternoon there is still lots on over the rest of the weekend.
- Town Treasure Hunt in Belmullet - Registration is at Áras Inis Gluaire at 2.00pm
- Fantasy Football - Town Playground 4.00pm
- Car Treasure Hunt - Registration is at Áras Inis Gluaire at 6.00pm
Sunday events:
- Open Shore Fishing Competition organised by Belmullet Sea Angling Club
- Family Sports Day at Áras Inis Gluaire from 12.00pm-2.00pm
- Mike Denver Dance at Broadhaven Bay Hotel at 9.30pm
5. Grab a burger at The Big Grill Festival
If you're a fan of BBQ food, get yourself to Herbert Park in Dublin's Ballsbridge this weekend.
The Big Grill Festival is back for its third year and brings another jam-packed programme of events.
This years festival will feature 'Pitmasters' from all over the world, who will be mastering flame and fire to create a multitude of dishes using different BBQ techniques and flavours.
Bodytonic DJ's will play soul, funk, hip hop and party music throughout the weekend - and other activities include eating competitions which feature raw chilies and dangerously hot chicken wings.
👊 BOOM👊 Saturday is now SOLD OUT 👊
Be quick for Thurs, Fri, Sun, they're going up in smoke 🔥 https://t.co/6pWVRqcqqC pic.twitter.com/ayT9clAxB0— The Big Grill Fest (@biggrillfest) August 10, 2016
Tickets and information can be found at biggrillfestival.com
6. Be one of the 60,000 people due to attend the Tullamore Show
Tullamore in Co Offaly is home to the annual Tullamore Show. This year's event takes place on Sunday August 14th.
Each year it attracts the best cattle, sheep, and equine breeders from all over the country. While it is mainly an agriculture show, there are lots of other events on for people of all ages: 700 trade stands, fashion shows, cookery demonstrations, cultural events, a pet corner, a food fair, and lots of competitions.
The showground is open to the public from 8.30am and in order to plan your visit, you can download the free Tullamore Show app from iTunes and the Google Play Store.
Other details can also be found on tullamoreshow.com, with regular updates from Twitter.
A marquee was in the wrong place. Our workers didn't want to take it down & put it back up again so... #obviously :D pic.twitter.com/BnW38pNXqs
— Tullamore Show (@tullamoreshow) August 9, 2016
7. Get out in Nature for a walk/cycle
Don't want to travel too far away from home, but still want to feel like you've done something with your weekend? Consider heading to the hills for a hike!
Irishtrails.ie is a great resource for anyone who wants to find a new walking or cycling trail in Ireland.
The website lists almost 1,000 different routes, and you can search in your local area based on the type of trail, how difficult you want it to be, and how long you want to be out for.
There are maps to show you the exact route, and some of the more popular trails even include reviews and helpful hints about what to expect on your adventure.
