Rain & Shine

You may view public transport as a commuting chore, but young children see it as the ultimate adventure.

Last Treats

If you don't already live on a DART or Luas line, bring younger children for a ride and a picnic (even if it does mean eating sandwiches in Sandyford industrial estate). Alternatively, board a double- decker bus and watch the children run for the front seat. If you want to venture outside Dublin, Irish Rail is offering a wide range of €10 day return trips by train, until this Friday. - Madeleine Lyons

Plan a break

Shopping nirvana: Paris (above) is a haven for shopaholics who want to revamp their wardrobe - or other parts of their life. Les Halles is the place for affordable fashion, while designer boutiques cluster around St Germain des Pres. Bargain hunters should make for the weekend flea-market at Cligancourt. Lets Go Travel has a three-night package from Dublin or Cork for €319 (travel between September 1st and October 31st). Tel: 1890-603040 or visit www.letsgotravel.ie.

Hot fashion: More than just cut-price Zara and Mango stores, Madrid's attraction lies in its quirky speciality shops which you can discover as you stroll around in the heat of the Puerto del Sol and Plaza Mayor. Most designer names are in the Salamanca district: go to Chueca for funky boutiques and C/Fuencarral for clubbers' fashion. Watch the world go by on Sunday mornings in the Rastro flea market, which sells everything from antiques to engines. A two-night package costs €296 from www.ebookers.ie. - Sarah Marriott

Watch out

Most people haven't seen a pine marten, but the island's most beautiful and versatile carnivore has been making a comeback after centuries of persecution. Spreading to most counties, it has been helped by forestry plantations and a greater rural tolerance now that so few farms keep ducks or hens. The "tree cat", cat crainn, certainly has a feline appearance, but with a longer, more pointed head and bigger ears than a cat. Watchful, but not all that shy of people, it sometimes makes a home in the attics of holiday houses. - Michael Viney

Stars and gripes

Ray D'Arcy - radio presenter

Best holiday: I've travelled quite a bit, but my favourite place is always west Cork. The pace of life is completely slower and out of seven days you can have five sunny ones. I go to Inchydoney because it's a relaxing place to stay.There is a real sense of holiday there without any of the tackiness.

Worst holiday: It was a holiday to Italy structured around a wedding cancelled just before we went, so the omens were bad. We landed in Rome and lost our baggage for the next three days. We then headed to Florence to see a few other guests that had travelled. If you read it in a novel you'd say it was too corny. It was raining and, just at the time the wedding was meant to take place, it started to thunder. - In conversation with Fiachra Ó Cionnaith

Where to go, what to see: For entertainment listings, see The Ticket, every Friday in The Irish Times, or go to www.ireland.com/ theticket