June bank holiday in Wicklow: Seven super events to enjoy over the long weekend
The June bank holiday is only just around the corner and time is running out to make plans. With that in mind, here are our top seven things to do in Wicklow for you and your family to enjoy this June bank holiday weekend.
Live music in Wicklow town
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, May 30-June 2
All events free at various venues
Whether you're into dance beats or trad music, or anything in between, Wicklow town's bars have got you covered this June bank holiday weekend. At the centre of it all is the 'Here comes summer party' at the Bridge Tavern on Saturday night, with live music from Feilim, followed by an after-party at Phil Healy's until 2.30am. Entry is free and ice-cold drink specials are promised all night.
Live trad sessions are taking place at the Black Castle Bar in Wicklow town on Sunday, June 1 from 7pm to 9pm and on Monday evening from 7.30pn at Fitzpatrick's. There will also be live music at O'Shea's Corner on Friday, May 30 from 8pm until late.
Comedy in Greystones
Thursday, May 29 at Mrs Robinson's
Tickets €6.34 at eventbrite.ie
Tallaght's Joe Dowlin, with gigs at Vicar Street and Electric Picnic to follow, will headline at Mrs Robinsons Comedy Club on Thursday, May 29. Hosted by Keego, who just spent two weeks touring New York, the stage will also welcome newcomer Claire Roche, who used to be a Power FM DJ, Elizabeth Redmon from Houston, Texas and Dane Frisby, an award-winning local, who started his career in Estonia.
Ticket's cost €6.34 and there is a waiting list open for the event at Mrs Robinson's in Greystones. It starts at 8pm.
Leslie Dowdall and Revival Gospel Choir in Bray
Friday, May 31 at Cornerstone Church
Tickets €22 at evenbrite.ie
Renown Irish rock singer Leslie Dowdall returns to her home county for an emotive performance at the Cornerstone Church in Bray.
Kicking off the June bank holiday proper from 8pm on Friday, May 31, the lead singer of In Tua Nua will be accompanied by the Revival Gospel Choir from Arklow. The group started in 2005 and has become a passionate force within their local community, driving vocal music forwards and building a vibrant community of singers. They will be joined by international jazz guitarist, Hugh Buckley for this special night.
Tickets cost €22.50 and are available on eventbrite.ie
Ancient east walking tour in west Wicklow
Saturday, May 31 with Tir na Glass
Tickets €28 at eventbrite.ie
This full tour will walk you through the history and engaging legends associated with Kilranelagh, in west Wicklow, "the real ancient Ireland", where you'll escape the bank holiday crowds and find the Ireland you've always dreamed of.
The guide will start at Kilranelagh graveyard, which is the second oldest graveyard in Ireland. There we will visit the hero of the Irish rebels, Sam Mac Allister's grave; as well as the mysterious Gates of Heaven; and St Brigid's holy well where you can get to drink her healing waters. Other stops along the way will include the Boleycarrigeen stone circle, Crossoona Rath with its Ogham stone, the battle place of Michael Dwyer and the Irish rebels and St Brigid's chair and headstone (know to cure headaches and backpain!).
These sites are not easily accessed without guidance, and the walk is about 3.5 to 4 hours long and is a hill walk on uneven ground, so do wear appropriate footwear for hiking, warm waterproof clothing in case of bad weather, and a packed lunch.
Bluegrass BBQ in Donard
Saturday, May 31 at Donard Community Hall
Tickets €20 from eventbrite.ie, Toomey's Bar or O'Keeffe's shop
Americana is coming to west Wicklow this June bank holiday weekend as the village of Donard hosts a host of bluegrass, country and americana musicians, alongside a summer barbecue.
The line up featured the Dublin Bluegrass Collective, The Blueberry Pickers, Whistle and Redwood plus special guests, with the barbecue starting from 5pm and the music live from 6pm to 11.30pm. This is an adults-only event and tickets exclude food.
Gymkhana and field day in Coolgreany
Monday, June 2 in Coolgreany village
Free to attend
The 44th Johnstown/Coolgreany gymkhana and field day is taking place on June bank holiday Monday in Coolgreany village, with all proceds going to St David's Church, local schools and the local senior citizens group.
On the day there will be horse and pony jumping, a series of classes for the smalles of riders, a 14-class dog show, rode bull, tug of war and an assortment of food and drink offerings, including the tea tent, a barbecue and some home baking stalls.
To enter the tug of war competition or any of the numerous equine events head to .itsplainsailing.com/org/jca
Trio of south-west Wicklow markets
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 29-31
Free to attend in Aughrim, Knockananna and Tinahely
A series of craft, car boot and farmer's markets are taking place across the south west of County Wicklow over the June bank holiday weeked.
From 10am-4pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the Tinahely Craft Market will be open to all, with sellers offering a range of locally produced crafts that focus on sustainable and local materials. These include baby blankets made from wool produced down the road in Carnew, soya candles and soap and upcycled and recycled quilts, cushions and bags.
On Saturday the regular Knockananna car boot sale will be open in the hall from 8am to 1pm. Iti is €10 to pitch and table are provided to all sellers, with buyers attending for free. Up the road in Aughrim, the weekly Town and Country Market is open from 10am to 1.30pm at the Pavilion on Rednagh Road with a farmer's market vibe to the day and plenty of local produce.
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By Denise O'Donoghue 10 things to do with the kids Zoorassic Trail Takeover June 26-29 Treat the dino-obsessives in the family to a trip to Dublin Zoo. The Zoorassic Trail Takeover will feature talks from 'Dino Don' Lessem, the expert who advised Stephen Spielberg on Jurassic Park and has now created life-sized animatronic giants for the zoo's new dinosaur exhibition. Children will get to hear Don's stories at these talks and view some of his fossils before they explore the new exhibition. Kaleidoscope Festival July 4-6 Taking place in Wicklow's Russborough House, this family-friendly festival offers live music from bands like Ocean Colour Scene and Texas, entertainment from Mark The Science Guy, art classes with the National Gallery, baby sensory sessions, silent teen discos, and more. Cork on a Fork Fest August 13-17 Introduce children to the joy of good food. Ticketed events include pizza parties, sensory cooking classes, and a children's food trail as well as free events like farm tours, markets, and street entertainment. Ballycotton Sea Adventures Enjoy a day on the high seas. They will bring you from Ballycotton Pier in East Cork to Ballycotton Island, where you will disembark for an entertaining tour of a 170-year-old lighthouse. Castlecomer Discovery Park An ideal destination for thrill-seekers. Situated in 80 acres of forest in Kilkenny, it's free for families to visit and enjoy its woodland walks. However, you're unlikely to be able to resist its paid activities which include ziplines, climbing walls, axe throwing and archery. Boda Borg at Lough Key Put your family spirit to the ultimate test at the Adventure of Boda Borg in Roscommon's Lough Key forest park. This interactive experience involves families being set a series of quests that involve physical challenges and brain-boggling puzzles. There are no guides or instructions, which means you have no choice but to work together. Irish National Heritage Park Travel back in time in Wexford. Over 16 sites that include a megalithic tomb, ringfort and crannog, this open-air museum recreates life in Ireland from the Stone Age up to the time of the Normans. Emerald Park The Ques' rollercoaster at Emerald Park With 45 rides from adrenaline-inducing rollercoasters to flume rides and merry-go-rounds, there really is something for everyone. There is also a petting zoo, water play area and a bumper car race track. Teidí Tours These tours involve young GAA fans making their own GAA-themed teddy and then being shown around Croke Park and its adjoining museum before testing their football and hurling skills in the interactive games zone. Ballyhass Aquapark Imagine a giant inflatable obstacle course set on the water. That's what you will find at this aqua park in Mallow. It's perfect for families who enjoy outdoor fun, water sports and jumping, sliding and bouncing as they compete to be the first to the finish line. by Sharon Ní Chonchúir Free days out Libraries are a great free resource. Picture: iStock The first Wednesday of every month the OPW offers free admission to their properties on a first come/first served basis. Corkonians can visit Charles Fort and Garinish Island for free, for example, and the main list can be found on the Heritage Ireland website. Join the Irish Museum of Modern Art for a free workshop. IMMA has a wide range of workshops on offer, ranging from Botanical Printing to Exploring Queer Identity and Creativity. Check out the IMMA website for more booking information and remember the Museum is always free to enter, with beautiful grounds to explore, and only a short walk from Heuston Station. One of the country's biggest summer family fun events will take place on July 5 - 6 on the grounds of Newbridge House and Farm, in North County Dublin. Entry is free for those who walk, cycle, or travel by public transport. Visitors can expect oodles of entertainment, great food, and plenty for all ages to enjoy. Galway International Arts Festival takes place July 14 - 27 and while some events require a prebooked ticket, the Festival Garden in Eyre Square is free to visit, along with the Visual Art Installation 'Interface' within a short drive of the city centre. The free highlight will occur on the evenings of Friday 18 and Saturday 19, les Insectes Fantastiques parade from Eyre Square and encourage onlookers to step into the Microcosmos. Expect to be wowed by light, sound, and puppetry. Get closer to nature, take a hike and visit a Coillte forest trail. You can find a full list of walking/hiking trails on the Coillte website and don't forget your picnic! Ireland is home to some incredible food markets, and all are free to visit, although you may leave with your wallet a little lighter and your shopping bags fuller. Some of my favourites include the Milk Market in Limerick, George's Market in Belfast, and Midleton Farmers' Market. Did you know that the National Archives provides a free genealogy advisory service every weekday? Located on Bishop's Street in Dublin, this might be your prompt to investigate your family history with some professional help. The daily service operates on a first-come/first-served basis. Find out more on the National Archives website. Visit one of Ireland's official national parks. Learn about nature and conservation, experience the breathtaking power of nature and see the stunning scenery. Trek or hike during the day or stargaze at night. I recommend Glenveagh in Donegal and the Burren in Clare, but each park is unique, and all are free to visit. We all know that Irish weather is temperamental, and many free things to do tend to be outdoors. Which is why our network of National Libraries are a wonderful free resource to tap into this summer. From talks to workshops, podcasting and even learning new skills, your local library has it all. By Caitríona Redmond Read More 30 special spots across Munster and Ireland that are perfect for summer dining
