Spring shower-proofs

The Dingle Walking Festival next weekend provides a fine excuse, if one is needed, to get outta town and go looking for some vital signs of spring. Three great places to rest your head: Castlewood House (castlewooddingle.com), for bread and butter pudding at breakfast. Secondly, there’s cushy Emlagh House (emlaghhouse.com) run by the Kavanagh family, who also rent out snazzy, well-equipped apartments you can share with a group of four to six friends. They come stocked with homebaked bread and fresh flowers and are within walking distance to all restaurants of note.

Hi-vis vests a la Mondrian? Raincapes with space for backpacks? Three-quarter length raincoats that unzip to the hips to make a canopy to keep your legs dry in a sudden squall? As the weather improves and we stumble out into the light, we want to draw your attention again to the snazzy, inventive bike gear designed by Georgia Scott (above) for georgiaindublin.com. As for the fluorescent “leggits” that cover boots as well as shins, she has got them in stock in shocking pink, just in time for February 14th – it could be a more lasting, useful gift than a bunch of roses. Visit the website or retail outlets in Dublin, such as Great Outdoors on Chatham Street, 2 Wheels on Sandymount Green or Green, or Green Aer Mobility on Pearse Street for fun, smart gear to keep your pedal power dry. Patsey Murphy