Looking for some activities to do this summer in Mayo? – why not check out this 18th century estate with free outdoor events
The National Museum at Turlough Park is located on a historic 18th century estate and features modern, award-winning galleries, a courtyard café, a woodland playground and 30 acres of biodiverse gardens and parkland.
Here are seven top activities and events for July and August. Find further details on all upcoming events and exhibitions at www.museum.ie.
Boules on the Lawn
Learn about the sport of pétanque – also known as outdoor boules - with the members of Castlebar Pétanque Club from 10am to 1pm on Saturday, 19 July. See a demonstration of this lively and strategic sport – which originated in the early 20th century in France. Then have a go yourself! Admission is free and no booking is required.
Traders on the Reek
Ahead of Reek Sunday at the end of the month, explore an interesting part of the history of this well-known annual pilgrimage date. Come along at 2.30pm on Saturday, 19 July for a special screening of 'Traders on the Reek'. This documentary tells the story of families who have fed and watered many thousands of pilgrims on Croagh Patrick down through the generations. There will also be talks and contributions on the day from some of the families featured in the film. Admission is free. Booking is required. Email BookingsCountryLife@museum.ie or telephone +353 94 90 31751.
Woodland Explorer
Young visitors are invited to explore biodiversity and engage in some mindful nature watching through the free Woodland Explorer activity booklet, available from Museum Reception. The grounds of Turlough Park are home to lots of different habitats with woodland, gardens, lake and river areas. Learn more and use your keen senses and skills to complete a series of fun nature challenges to finish this self-guided trail!
Orienteering
Did you know you can give orienteering a try in the grounds of Turlough Park? Go to Museum Reception to pick up a map of the newly developed orienteering routes. There are five maps to choose from. Then download the app to enjoy a fun, family friendly orienteering activity through 30-acres of gardens, woodland and parkland.
Free guided tours
Discover objects and stories that are both familiar and surprising from the National Folklife Collection at Turlough Park. Join a free guided tour to learn about life in the Irish countryside from the 1850s to 1950s, exploring fascinating traditions, customs and skills. Then hear more about the Fitzgerald family and the history and architectural style of Turlough Park House and Gardens. Free public tours take place at 2pm and 3.30pm each Saturday throughout the summer months. No booking required. Places allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Heritage Week
The Museum will once again be participating in National Heritage Week, with a programme of free events celebrating Ireland's cultural, built and natural heritage between 16 and 24 August. One of this year's highlight events is a traditional skills demonstration featuring the well-known woodworker and influencer Eoin Reardon and skilled basketmaker Tom Delaney of 'Ould Crafty'. This event takes place on Sunday, 24 August. Be sure to follow the National Museum on social media for further details as they are announced.
SWARM
Pencil in a stop at the Courtyard Gallery during your visit to see a vibrant children's art installation inspired by Ireland's bee species. Combining colour, movement and shadow, SWARM was created by school children across counties Mayo, Sligo and Galway, working with artist Cas McCarthy. The project took place in association with the popular exhibition The Murmur of Bees, which remains on display this summer in the exhibition galleries.
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The National Museum in Turlough Park, Co. Mayo is located within a historic 18th century estate and features Ireland's National Folklife Collection. Objects, archive film and photography present a tapestry of daily life from the 1850s to the 1950s.
From country and village to town and city, these stories of the everyday are both familiar and surprising. The visitor experience includes 30-acres of gardens and parkland, scenic walkways along the river and lake, a woodland playground, the Greenway cycling route, the courtyard café and a book and craft shop.
Everyone is welcome and admission is free
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The 42
2 hours ago
- The 42
'I was always telling Irish players they need to go play Super Rugby'
AS THEY STROLLED up towards Byron Bay's famous lighthouse during their honeymoon, Sam Carter and his wife, Maddie, were mulling over a big decision. Carter had already made the call to leave Australian rugby. He had achieved all he wanted with the Brumbies, playing for the Canberra side more than 100 times and captaining them. Carter had earned 16 caps in the second row for the Wallabies. He and Maddie were ready for an adventure. There were a few enticing options at the time in 2019. When Ulster first got in touch, it didn't seem like the most exciting one. Carter simply knew very little about them. 'I didn't know much about Belfast, I didn't know any of the players except that I'd heard of Jacob Stockdale,' says Carter. 'Everyone had heard of Jacob Stockdale at that stage.' Carter spoke with Ulster's then-head coach Dan McFarland while on honeymoon in the stunning beachside town of Byron Bay. So it was that the newly-wed Carters found themselves walking to the lighthouse, Australia's most easterly point, discussing their options. And with the sound of the South Pacific Ocean lapping gently along the coastline, they saw something unexpected. 'This guy walked down from the lighthouse in an Ulster shirt,' says Carter, still a little incredulous six years on. 'Like, we passed a guy in an Ulster shirt while we were discussing it and I was just thinking, 'This is ridiculous!' 'There's a lot of Irish in Australia, but like… Well, my wife thinks my manager planted it to get me across there.' Chatting over a coffee in Canberra earlier this week, Carter reflects that it proved to be the perfect sign. The first of their two daughters, four-year-old Goldie, was born in Belfast and they can't wait to bring her back one day. Any time Maddie hears Belfast mentioned in a song or on TV, she gets emotional. Although he couldn't help them win a trophy, Carter loved the rugby in his four years with Ulster. He played nearly 60 times, captained the province, and learned lots of new things despite joining at the age of 29. Carter loved his time in Ulster. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO He's now an ex-rugby player having retired from the pro game after playing for the Western Force in their recent game against the British and Irish Lions in Perth, where he brought his career almost full circle by finishing with two seasons in Aussie rugby. 'It was a special weekend for me,' says Carter, who played against lots of familiar Leinster faces and English international Ollie Chessum, who he played alongside in Leicester after moving on from Ulster in 2023. Carter is 35, was happy with how his career had unfolded, and was ready to move on. Having played against the Lions in his final game, Carter loved being in Canberra for the Legends Lunch and the Brumbies' game. Canberra is where it all kicked off for him. He and Maddie both hail from the town of Tamworth, 400km northwest of Sydney and best known for its huge annual country music festival. Carter grew up on a farm, getting stuck into work with the crops and cattle from an early age. His father, David, played five Tests in the back row for the Wallabies in the late 1980s. Sam jokes that he wasn't very good at rugby 'for a long time,' so he didn't feel any pressure. He didn't make any representative teams when he was growing up. He went off to boarding school at Sydney's Scots College, which has started to produce professional rugby players in recent times, and then started to make a name for himself with Sydney University. The Waratahs didn't want him, so Carter took a chance with the Brumbies. 'The Waratahs is like Leinster, they get all the talent straight out of school and then the blokes that don't stick in that environment get sent down to Canberra,' says Carter. 'The Brumbies don't get the best talent straight away, but you come down to Canberra and you become a player because of the quality of the programme, the culture. Advertisement 'You weren't first pick, but you come down here and you prove people wrong.' It's no wonder that many ex-Brumbies have made such a success of moves to Connacht. Carter joined in 2011, soon before Jake White arrived to lead a big rebuild. Stephen Larkham and Laurie Fisher were also part of the coaching team and they reached the Super Rugby final in 2013, coming up short against the Chiefs. Carter celebrates with Scott Fardy. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The Brumbies had beaten the Lions a couple of months before. Carter was in the second row of a team that rocked the 2013 tourists. 'We had a good team, a lot of guys that hadn't made the Wallabies yet. We had Henry Speight, Scott Fardy, Tevita Kuridrani, Scott Sio, Matt Toomua. 'Funnily enough, I underestimated how big a deal that was at the time. We were a little bit naive. I think it took going overseas and playing in Ireland and England to realise how big the Lions are. 'Looking back at the best matches in my life, that would be one of the best wins I've ever had.' Carter made his Wallabies debut the following year, starting in the second row and then keeping his place for the entire Rugby Championship. He played against Ireland that November in Dublin. Carter was part of the 2015 World Cup squad. His last cap came in 2017, although he was back in Wallabies camp briefly last year when Joe Schmidt asked him to come in and lend an experienced hand. Having bid farewell to Australia, he and Maddie pitched up in Belfast in 2019, not quite knowing what to expect. It started disastrously as Carter dislocated his shoulder only a few games into the season, ruling him out for nine months. When he got fit again, Covid had shut rugby down. It meant the initial two years were tough. Carter says Ulster were excellent, allowing him to return to Australia to train there when travel allowed it but rugby was still at a standstill. Maddie being pregnant gave them something positive to focus on. In 2021, Carter had offers to return to Australia but Ulster wanted him to stay for two more years. He had a sense of wanting to fully prove what he could offer. The Carters also loved Belfast and its people. And the feeling was reciprocated. Ulster players speak highly of Carter. 'It's hard moving your family from one side of the world to the other with the expectation of being a foreign player, where there is maybe a bit of resentment that you might be taking another bloke's spot,' says Carter. 'But I just really got along with most of the guys.' He bonded with the likes of Stuart McCloskey and Iain Henderson. 'When we were living in Leicester, we went back to Belfast for Christmas with the Hendersons. We had an absolute ball, a great time with his entire family.' Carter playing against Ireland in 2014. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO Carter enjoyed learning about Belfast's history, taking guided tours and reading books about the city. He liked how McFarland brought those stories into Ulster's 'themeing' of their seasons, connecting the squad to the 'incredibly unique' province around them. Carter has been following the Kneecap story recently and watched their movie, although he struggles to understand their accents even after his four years in Belfast. The Carters also did lots of travelling around Ireland when they could, with visits to Donegal, Portrush, Westport, the Ring of Kerry, Dingle, Waterford, and Youghal among the highlights. As well as engaging with Ireland off the pitch, Carter loved the fresh challenge of playing with Ulster. It was different to what he knew at the Brumbies. 'I didn't realise how much I didn't know about rugby until I went over,' says Carter. 'Ulster had a completely different way of doing things. They were very, very thorough and detailed on roles and that kind of stuff. 'Like, they would analyse your opposition player every Friday before the captain's run. It was very detailed, but for them that was just the way they did it, so I had to adapt. 'The Ulster players lived and breathed rugby. When I was in Canberra, if I wasn't in the training facility, I was just not thinking about rugby. But the Ulster guys loved it, they ate rugby for breakfast.' As he saw a different way of doing things, Carter wondered why more Irish players weren't doing something similar by having stints in Australian or Kiwi rugby. He still feels strongly about this. 'The whole time I was at Ulster, I was always telling the Irish guys, 'You need to get out and go play Super Rugby for a couple of years.' 'It'd be such an incredible experience because it's just same-same for them in Ireland. If you grow up in Ulster, you just want to play for Ulster your entire life, but going away for a year and coming back, you can still play for Ulster. 'I've been telling Nick Timoney to come out to Australia for ages now. I'm like, 'Mate, you'd love it out here' and he'd be really good here.' Carter has now hung up his boots. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Carter was sad to leave Ulster in 2023 but he says the province handled it well, telling him early in his final season that they wouldn't be able to re-contract him. He considered retirement but felt he still had 'a bit of juice to go' when Dan McKellar, his former Brumbies boss, called and asked Carter to come to Leicester. It was a tough season for all parties, though, and Carter got an early release in March to come back to Australia and join the Western Force. It was a joy for him to finish up on Aussie soil and particularly special to have his last game against the Lions. Carter always checks the Ulster score first thing on a Sunday morning and he's delighted to see some of their young guns getting ahead. 'You see James McNabney and Cormac Izuchukwu coming through, I've a good relationship with Cormac. He has all the tools and you knew that once it clicked, he was going to be a very good player.' The Carters will be back in Belfast for a visit before long.
Extra.ie
2 hours ago
- Extra.ie
The Weekend Run with Liam Gaskin — A unique Mayo ride and a legend among sports bikes
I started this weekend ride just outside Castlebar in a suburb called Snugborough. The only reason I tell you that is because Snugborough sounds like a great place to live. The road from there to Newport had everything—an almost perfect road surface with lovely twists and bends. Along the 12 kilometres to Newport, I passed rivers, lakes, forests and bogland. Only in Ireland could you enjoy such a variety of landscapes in such a short distance. Newport is set in a wonderful location on the shores of Clew Bay. It has a disused railway viaduct over the Black Oak River, which runs through the town. The Railway viaduct over Black Oak River, Newport. Pic: Supplied I took the road to Westport alongside the Great Western Greenway. Living in Dublin, I'm not a massive fan of cycle tracks, but this one is exceptional. It facilitates walkers, joggers, and cyclists running from Westport to Newport and on to Achill. The great Western Greenway with Croagh Patrick in the distance. Pic: Supplied As a biker, I have nothing but praise for the road from Castlebar through Newport and on to Westport. I don't know if it's because of the Wild Atlantic Way or just that Mayo County Council is great at its job, but as a biker, you couldn't ask for a better road surface or a more scenic biking route. Westport is a picturesque town filled with great bars, coffee shops, and restaurants. If you like a good traditional Irish music session, Westport is the place for you. All day and well into the night, you'll be at a bar with a bandy. The Octagon in Westport with the great man himself on top, St Patrick. Pic: Supplied The only drawback to this lovely town is that it's choc-a-block with traffic. Even on a motorbike, it'll take you 15 to 20 minutes to get through it. I suggest when you get to the centre of the town, stop for a coffee and a slice of cake and watch the world go by. Leaving Westport, take the road to the harbour. As harbours go, this is a good one, with a vast terrace of stone-faced, three-story buildings housing a small Hotel, bars, and restaurants. It is really well laid out and well worth stretching your legs here. I point my sturdy steed towards Croagh Patrick, which dominates the skyline along this stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way. All along this next stretch of the run, you have Clew Bay on your right side and the imposing presence of Croagh Patrick in front. A thought struck me that we don't stop enough to take in the majesty of the country we live in. Croagh Patrick, shrouded in a veil of cloud. Pic: Supplied Tourists from across the globe spend thousands of dollars or euros to come to our shores and experience the unique beauty of this Island we call home. Yet we shoot by rarely stopping to take it all in. Clew Bay is stunning at this time of year; take some time to take it all in! 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Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Could more Irish players still decamp for coveted Lions duty?
Lisbon marks the season's finishing line for the men in green. Or does it? The likelihood is that every man jack of Paul O'Connell's Ireland squad will be able to pack their sun cream and shorts and make for the beach safe in the knowledge that there will be no urgent phone calls from Australia. But the British and Irish Lions have already suffered some misfortune and sounded the SOS more times than they would have liked. It's not beyond the bounds of reason that someone involved here in Iberia could have their season's duties extended yet. Craig Casey brought some excellent form into the role as new Irish captain and has shown strong leadership in Georgia and Portugal. Ryan Baird's displays with Leinster at the season's end were epic and he impressed again in Tbilisi. Tommy O'Brien is on fire. There has already been one among their number diverted southwards. Ireland captain Casey was actually in a taxi in the Portuguese capital with Jamie Osborne when the Naas man got the call from Oz this week. It was, said the Munster scrum-half, a 'fairly class moment' for a player who has made a habit of climbing rungs on the ladder. Finlay Bealham (left) apparently cried after hearing news of his call up to the Lions squad. File picture: Robbie Stephenson/PA 'I don't think there's another player in the four isles (sic) who can play every position in the backline and do it as well as he does. I think it's absolutely savage and it's a credit to how well he's performed over the last year for Ireland. 'I think it's only a year since he got his [Ireland] debut and in the team room [on Thursday night] night we made a big deal out of it.' Lions tours have thrown up plenty of notable, belated call-ups. Think of the Geography Six in New Zealand in 2017. Or Ulster's Tom Court who was on holiday on Australia's north coast in 2013 when a carrier pigeon went looking for him to link up with Warren Gatland's crew before the final midweek game against the Queensland Reds. Think of Andy Nicol who, in 2001, was acting as a tour guide for a party of Lions fans in Sydney when a scrum-half emergency forced Ian McGeechan's hands and the Scottish nine ended up on the bench for the third and critical Test at Stadium Australia. Finlay Bealham is another current Irish squad member to have already answered the late call from Andy Farrell this time around. Farrell revealed later that the Connacht prop had blubbed his heart out at the news that he would be swapping green for red. And Osborne? 'Nah, he didn't cry,' Casey laughed. 'He just didn't talk for the rest of the journey so I'm not sure if that's normal or not! He was very quiet in himself.'
