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Irish Independent
23-05-2025
- Irish Independent
June bank holiday in Carlow: Five perfect ways to spend your long weekend
With that in mind, here are some of our top picks for what to do over the June bank holiday weekend in Co Carlow. Raheendaw Horse & Pony Show When: Sunday June 1 If you want to spend your bank holiday weekend outdoors and marvel at some beautiful horses and ponies, the Raheendaw Horse and Pony Show in Raheendaw, Co Carlow is the perfect day out for all the family. The event is being held on Sunday June 1 and boasts a variety of events to watch from working hunter classes to a dog show. For a full list of events, you can visit the Raheendaw Horse & Pony Show Facebook page. Gordon Bennett Irish Classic Run 2025 When: Friday May 30 – Monday June 2 The Gordon Bennett classic car run takes place over the June Bank Holiday weekend and travels through the counties of Laois, Carlow and Kildare, all three of which were chosen for the original 1903 race called the Gordon Bennett Cup which was the first international motor race to be held in Ireland. This historic route runs through many interesting and scenic locations including in Carlow. On Saturday May 31, after departing from Treacys the Heath in Co Laois at 11am, the drivers will make their way through Laois before stopping at Huntington Castle and Gardens in Co Carlow. Here they will enjoy an open air hog roast picnic lunch and take some time to explore the gardens and castle, before heading back to Co Laois. For the full itinerary and a map of the full Gordon Bennett route showing what locations the vintage cars will be travelling through in the three counties, you can visit the Gordon Bennett Classic website. Ducketts Grove The supposedly haunted Ducketts Grove has been a part of the Carlow landscape for over 300 years. Ducketts Grove is a nineteenth century house and estate formerly owned by the Duckett Family. It has since been abandoned and now lies in ruins. The ruins and walled gardens are open to visitors. With its surviving towers and turrets, Ducketts Grove is one of the most photogenic historic buildings in Ireland. There is also a café onsite if you get hungry during your visit. Altamont Garden With summer finally on its way and the sun making an appearance or two, Altamont Gardens is the perfect place for you and your family to get outdoors this June Bank Holiday weekend. Located near Tullow in Co Carlow, Altamont is known as one of the most beautiful gardens in Ireland. Take your family on a riverside walk or visit the walled garden or an old arboretum. There is also a café onsite in the form of quaint tea garden. Weekend Train Package at Rathwood The Rathwood Express Train is the perfect activity for all ages both young and old. Take a ride through the woodlands on Rathwood's very own Woodlands Train where you might spot some deer. There will also be the chance to feed the ducks and geese at Goose Island. Tickets start at €3.50 for the train and you can choose to add on extra activities at an extra cost such as the Maze of Ireland, the funfair and the Ark Playcentre. For more information or to book tickets, you can visit the Rathwood website.
Irish Independent
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
June bank holiday in Kildare: Five must-do activities for the long weekend
In Co Kildare, there are an abundance of events and activities, perfect to keep the family occupied. To help make your June bank holiday planning a little easier, here are our five top picks for what to do over the bank holiday weekend in Kildare. What's De Craic? Irish music festival When: Saturday May 31 – Sunday June 1 Kildare's Irish music festival, What's De Craic, is returning to the county for another year. On Saturday May 31, The Whistlin' Donkeys will headline, with The Dublin City Ramblers, Róisín Dubh, Zak Moran (Acoustrix) and Danny Carthy also set to perform. On Sunday June 1, The Tumbling Paddies are the headliners with performances from George Murphy & The Rising Sons, The Finns, Seán Magee and Katelin Tierney also performing throughout the day. The festival is being held at the North Kildare Sports Club in Kilcock, Co Kildare. Tickets are available on the What's De Craic music festival website. Gordon Bennett Irish Classic Run 2025 When: Friday May 30 – Monday June 2 The Gordon Bennett classic car run takes place over the June Bank Holiday weekend and travels through the counties of Laois, Carlow and Kildare, all three of which were chosen for the original 1903 race called the Gordon Bennett Cup which was the first international motor race to be held in Ireland. This historic route now runs through many interesting and scenic locations including in Kildare. On day three of the car run, Sunday June 1, the drivers will arrive in Co Kildare. Departing from Treacys the Heath in Co Laois at 11am, the cars will retrace the steps of the 1903 Gordon Bennett Race with stops in Athy. From Athy, the car run will travel to Kildare Town for a street party hosted by the Cill Dar Car Club. On day four of the event, Monday June 2, the cars will return to the Kildare countryside after driving through Co Laois. Once the car run arrives in Kildare, they will head to Monasterevin where there will be a street festival and a tea party held in the town. For the full itinerary and a map of the full Gordon Bennett route showing what locations the vintage cars will be travelling through in the three counties, you can visit the Gordon Bennett Classic website. Lovestock When: Saturday May 31 – Monday June 2 Lovestock, a mental health and wellness festival, is coming to Booleigh in Co Kildare this June bank holiday weekend. This unusual festival combines Irish culture, music and heritage, with mental health and wellness. Some of the musical acts set to take the stage over the weekend include Paddy Casey, Ciara Lawless and Jack Keeshan, among much, much more. There will also be a Therapy Tent hosting a variety of events such as fire walking, mindfulness and yoga/mantra and singing. Meanwhile, in the Thoughts & Talks Hut, there will be intro to herbalism, intro to beehives and intro to trauma, along with many other talks. For the full line-up of events for 2025, you can visit the Lovestock website. The Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens The Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens is the perfect way to get out and about this June Bank Holiday weekend. It is the only stud farm in Ireland open to the public and offers visitors a chance to get up close to the stallions in the paddock or even spot a foal with its mother. Aside from the horses, the tranquil oasis that is the Japanese Garden is also an amazing place to visit with its colourful flowers and plants and babbling streams with plenty of picture opportunities. Kildare Farm Foods, Open Farm and Shop Kildare Farm Foods, Open Farm and Shop is located just a short drive away from Kildare Town and makes the perfect day out for the whole family. The Open Farm is free of charge to visit and is home to a wide variety of animals including camels, an ostrich, Emu, goats, pigs and much more. You can also pay to take part in other activities such as playing a round of mini golf or visiting the Teddy Bear Factory. Make sure to book online in advance if you want to take part in these activities. There is also a café onsite offering breakfast, lunch and tasty snacks.
