Five things to do in Meath this bank holiday weekend
Emerald Park in Ashbourne is always a perfect family destination, with over 45 rides and entertainment for all ages, however visitors might be more keen than ever to visit the park over the next few weeks to welcome a new addition to the diverse zoo.
Emerald Park recently welcomed the arrival of a 13-year-old male Amur leopard called Manchurian, who joins resident Amur leopard, Freya.
The park will also be holding it annual campaign on the bank holiday weekend, 'Love Your Zoo Week', with activities taking place both Saturday and Sunday.
Activities on across the weekend include 'Wildlife Ally Workshops', which teaches people how to make bird boxes, feeders, and wildlife-friendly garden spaces. There will also be interactive zoo tours, talks, and a chance to track local pollinator species.
Battle of the Boyne Living History
Step back in time at the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre on Sunday and Monday from 11am to 4pm as Laoch Living History presents a 17th century military camp complete with blacksmiths, gunners, sutlers, monks, and soldiers.
Costumed historian Tóla Collier will also hold a battlefield walk both days from 2pm to discuss tactics, strategy, geography, and personalities on the battlefield.
Moynalty country music festival
This one day festival offers performances from All Folked Up, The Highstool Prophets, The Whistlin' Donkeys, and Meadhbh Walsh and her band.
The entrance fee is €35 and campers are welcome for the festival in the field at €20 per night, starting Saturday.
There will be a full bar, food trucks, coffee dock and ice cream on site, for what promises to be a fantastic days entertainment in raising money for the local church.
Blue Jean country Queen Festival
Since 1987, the Blue Jean Country Queen Festival has been an annual staple organised by Macra. The event sees women from all around the country and abroad compete for a perpetual trophy and a golden sash.
This year's event in Athboy includes live music from Rhythm and Sticks and The Fógues. The opening ceremony on Friday will be at The Darnley Lodge Hotel followed by a pub crawl through Athboy's main streets.
EcoChic clothing swaps
The first of the EcoChic Meath clothing swaps will be held on Saturday, May, 31 at 11am at Swift Cultural Centre in Trim.
With clothing waste on the rise, this campaign aims to raise awareness on the impacts of clothing waste, and encourage sustainable alternatives.
Visitors are encouraged to bring any unwanted clothing and swap it for something else. A maximum of 15 items can be swapped per person and tokens will be given based on what you bring, which can be used for swapping.
All events are free to attend and aim to give participants awareness about the environmental impacts of their clothing choices and provide them with the tools and skills to be more sustainable.
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Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Irish Independent
August bank holiday in Donegal: Six fun-filled ways to spend the long weekend
Across Donegal, there are lots of events organised with something for everyone to enjoy. Here is a guide to some of the events happening over the weekend: The Mary From Dungloe International Arts Festival The Mary From Dungloe International Arts Festival is a community based festival which has been held annually since 1967 in Dungloe, County Donegal. This year's festival runs from July 26 to August 3 with some of the big names in country music taking to the stage including Daniel O'Donnell, John Mc Nicholl, Dominic Kirwan, Shawn Cuddy, Conor O' Donnell and Sinead Black. It is family friendly with a wide variety of musical, cultural, child, sporting, artistic and novelty events. Irish diaspora communities from around the world, as well as Irish counties and towns, participate by nominating a young woman to represent their area. The winner, crowned 'Mary From Dungloe' holds the title for a year and acts as an ambassador for the festival, Dungloe & Donegal. For the full line up, visit Get ready to tap your feet, clap your hands, and sing along as the 48th Ballyshannon Folk and Traditional Music Festival bursts onto the scene from Thursday, July 31 to Sunday, August 3, 2025. This year, the festival is truly 'On the Move,' bringing an electrifying lineup of traditional and folk music to every corner of Ballyshannon. Throughout the festival, there will be performances from The Highstool Prophets, Luka Bloom, Porter Bellies, Muddlers Club, Phoenix, Seamie O'Dowd, Leonard Barry, Andy Morrow and Suil. Add to the mix some great street entertainment all weekend with lively pub sessions with the Ballyshannon Folk Trail, fringe events and workshops - this leading festival still has something to cater for all tastes 48 years later! Resident artist, Barry Britton will launch his exhibition on Thursday, July 31 at 7pm in the Abbey Arts Centre and will be live in the centre until the end of August 2025. 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Situated down at The Ardmore Bar at The Treehouse Restaurant, Muff, there really is something for everyone. FRIELDAYS – A homecoming 2025-2029 An unprecedented five-year theatrical celebration building to the centenary of one of Ireland's great literary figures, Brian Friel (1929-2015). Beginning with a 35th anniversary production of his most celebrated play, Dancing at Lughnasa, staged just fifty metres from the house in which it is set, and close with a combined 50th anniversary celebration of the work of Ireland's greatest poet – and Friel's close friend - Seamus Heaney. Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel, 35th Anniversary Year, will be held from August 1 to 17, 2025 at The Canteen Hall, St. Columba's School, Glenties. Faith Healer by Brian Friel will be held on August 8 to 10 and 15 to 17. Bus Meeting Point – Market Hall. Glenties at 4.30pm. (Act 1 – Edeninfagh / Act 2 Portnoo / Act 3 Ardara / Act 4 Glenties). 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The Irish Sun
24-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
I quit my corporate job to go self-employed & live in an 8ft caravan – it feels huge & I'm saving to buy my own land
A WOMAN has revealed how she quit living in a house, swapping it for a caravan instead. Freya, from the UK, took to social media to share the new caravan she and her partner, Charlie, were living in as they saved up their cash to buy their own land. 2 Freya showed off her new caravan Credit: tiktok/@caravanlifewithfreya 2 There was a lot more space for her, her partner and the dog Credit: tiktok/@caravanlifewithfreya Recently, Freya showed off the new The caravan measures 8ft wide and is a four-berth, making it super roomy for Freya, her partner and their pet dog. But Freya hasn't always dreamt of following an off-grid lifestyle as she explained that she once had a corporate job while living with her mum to save for a housing deposit. Now, Freya runs her own business while living out of a caravan as she saves up to buy her own land. READ MORE ON HOMES Showing viewers around her new home she shared that it also comes with a relatively large kitchen and living room area which had lots of secret storage hidden away. Most importantly for Freya, she now had a full-sized fridge. She said: "I was so excited about this. Look at all that room and a huge freezer as well. "There's also a cupboard at the top and the bottom of the fridge. So plenty of space, don't have to have Charlie's beers on the floor anymore." Most read in Fabulous She also pointed out that the bed was a lot bigger than they expected as it was a queen-size and also had storage space underneath. Above the bed, the caravan has USB ports to plug your phone into as well as a little spotlight for reading. I bought a £26k caravan, trolls say it's a mistake but my bank account disagrees Most importantly, Freya said they went for this type of caravan as they are well insulated to stop it from getting damp in the winter. The clip of her new home soon went viral on her TikTok account @ Many were in awe of her lifestyle and loved the look of the caravan. One person wrote: "Living the dream, I'd swap my mortgage for this any day." Another commented: "That is amazing, I'm going to look for one of those for me and my family we currently have a compass rally." How much does it cost to live in a caravan? LIVING in a caravan can be an economical and flexible lifestyle choice in the UK. Here's a breakdown of potential costs: Initial Costs Caravan Purchase: £8,000 - £40,000 (depending on size, age, and condition) Caravan Insurance: £200 - £800 per year Ongoing Monthly Costs Pitch Fees: £150 - £600 (varies by location and facilities) Utilities (Electricity, Gas, Water): £40 - £120 Maintenance and Repairs: £20 - £80 Internet and TV: £20 - £50 Gas for Heating/Cooking: £15 - £40 Other Potential Costs Waste Disposal Fees: £8 - £25 Transport Costs (if moving locations): Variable, depending on distance Optional Add-ons (Awning, Solar Panels, etc.): £400 - £1,600 (one-time) Sample Monthly Budget Pitch Fees: £400 Utilities: £80 Maintenance and Repairs: £40 Internet and TV: £40 Gas for Heating/Cooking: £25 Total: £585 Annual Estimated Cost Total Monthly Costs: £585 x 12 = £7,020 Insurance: £500 Maintenance and Repairs: £480 Total Annual Cost: £8,000 Tips to Save Off-Peak Pitch Fees: Look for lower rates during off-peak seasons. DIY Maintenance: Handle minor repairs yourself. Energy Efficiency: Invest in solar panels to reduce utility costs. While initial setup costs can be significant, ongoing expenses for living in a caravan can be relatively low, making it a viable option for those seeking an affordable and mobile lifestyle in the UK. "Just wanted to say your caravan/home is beautiful," penned a third. Meanwhile a fourth said: "Looks amazing, I bet you can save so much money." "Love it, beautiful caravan,' claimed a fifth Someone else added: "Looks amazing. I'd love to live like that."
The Irish Sun
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‘A laugh that was contagious' – Heartbroken mum & best friend of girl, 12, who died in swim tragedy pay funeral tribute
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"She had a laugh that was so contagious and you couldn't help but laugh with her and this was shown through her love for all of the children in this village. Anyone would have been so lucky to have known Freya and I will be forever grateful to God for my best friend." Sean, Freya's best friend "Last Friday, our world came crashing down when our angel was taken from us so suddenly. Though we will never make sense of a tragedy like this, we can honour Freya by carrying her spirit with us through our memories and our love for one another." Shannen thanked the And she issued a special thanks to the community who have rallied around them in their grief. Her tribute read: "You all took the pressure off of us at this unfavourable time and we will be forever grateful. This gave us great comfort and it also reflected the love the community had for Freya. "Freya, your wings were ready. Now I need you to keep me strong as I have always done for you." 'I'M GOING TO MISS YOU SO MUCH' Freya's brave pal Sean also addressed the funeral congregation as he paid tribute to his best friend. The young man said: "I have no idea why she was taken from us, but God must have made a decision and he couldn't have chosen anyone. "Freya could make me laugh at any time, and I mean belly laugh at most random things because that's just the kind of person that she was. "Anyone would have been so lucky to have known Freya and I will be forever grateful to God for my best friend. "I have so many great memories with Freya, actually way too many to count. "We were both always told by everyone that she would never see one of us without the other, and they were not wrong. She was like my other half. "All of our hearts are broken." Sean added: "Nothing will ever replace that friendship. You don't know how much I miss you already, Freya. "I want to say thanks to Freya's mum Shannen, and Freya's nanny and grandad and her family for always welcoming me and being so kind. "I'm going to miss you so much, Freya. Goodbye, and I'll never forget you. From your dear friend, Sean." 'THIS IS NOBODY'S FAULT' Parish priest Fr Michael Toomey addressed the church congregation asking them not to blame themselves for the tragedy, telling how the "what if" question is just a natural part of the grieving process. Fr Toomey said: "It's natural to experience regret and feelings of what if after a friend's death, especially if you feel you could have done something differently. "These feelings often stem from guilt and a desire to change the past. "So it's important for you to acknowledge that you did the best you could with the really challenging circumstances that you had to deal with at the time." He added: "This is nobody's fault. It is just what it is, a tragic accident. "But there is a natural human desire to undo or change negative events, particularly when it involves the death of a loved one. "But lads, this is impossible And dwelling on it can be detrimental to your own healing." "It's okay to feel regret and guilt, but it's also important to recognise that you did the best you could at the time. "Try to balance those regrets with positive aspects of your friendship. at the time you had regret." 'BRIGHT LIGHT HAS GONE OUT' Freya was laid to rest in the new cemetery in Mollough following the 12pm mass. She had reposed at her home in Newcastle on Tuesday evening before a private house this morning and her family requested any donations, if desired to be made to River Rescue. Tributes have poured in from across the country from both friends, family, neighbours and even complete strangers. One Tipperary mother wrote: "Shannen I'm devastated for you and your family, I know the bond between mother and daughter especially your first born. "Freya was loved by you more than words can describe, god gave her the best mammy to take care of her and you gave her a life full of love. "She will be with you every step of the way, may she give you the strength to get through this, you'll always be in my thoughts." And a Waterford mum said: "A bright light has gone out in Tipperary and indeed the whole of Ireland with the loss of this beautiful young girl. "That light is now shining in heaven. The tragic passing of Freya is devastating for all who knew and loved her."
