Whatever the news, this is the season to be grateful for being able to get out and about again. So welcome the spring this weekend by making the most of the riches on your doorstep, writes MICHAEL PARSONS.
AFTER THE LONG, cold winter and the painful Budget, it’s time to resurrect our collective spirits and celebrate that most joyful of holidays, Easter. A long weekend beckons with no Morning Ireland gloom, no George Lee to frighten the children and no postman bringing bills from “service providers”. You could, of course, stay at home and be a DIY Declan or buy some packs of seeds and emulate Michelle Obama by turning your back garden into a vegetable patch.
But instead, put on the Easter bonnet and go forth to rediscover Ireland after months of hibernation.
1 BACK TO BASICS
Wake up and smell the slurry. Despite what Birkenstock-sandal-wearing, latte-lapping, Guardian-reading, Dublin 6 types might think, the Irish countryside is a working environment. Before lamb can be served up pink with a mint jus in the Shelbourne Hotel’s Saddle Room, there’s a lot of muck to be spread, furrows to be ploughed and spring lambs to be sprung.
If you think it’s time that your spoiled children were introduced to the realities of rural Irish life, then a gentle way to start is to visit a traditional working farm. At Fairy Fort Farm, the star attractions include a donkey called Neidín, a goat called Báinín and a sow called, er, Britney, Is nothing sacred?
Fairy Fort Farm, near Borrisoleigh, north Co Tipperary; www.traditionalfarm.com
2 THE SEA, THE SEA
If, like poet John Masefield you “must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky”, then be careful. Only a fool, or a surfer, would venture into the waters off the Irish coast at this time of year but nothing could be more refreshing, and guaranteed to banish the cobwebs of despair, than a walk by the ocean. Ireland has some of the world’s best beaches and, while everyone has a favourite, there’s none more magical than Inchydoney in west Cork. It has acres of blue-flagged golden sand, rock-pools and dunes with enough space comfortably to absorb walkers, horse-riders, dogs, kite-flyers and surfers. Work up an appetite to visit nearby Clonakilty, which has good pubs, cafes and restaurants.
Details and other recommended beaches at www.goireland.com/ireland/ beaches-in-ireland-page1.htm
3 CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN
Ah yes. The hills will be alive with the sound of “Daddy, is it much farther to the top?” or “Chardonnay, I told you to not to wear those shoes”. No doubt mountain-rescue teams will be busy searching for people who decide to “go for a stroll” up Carrauntoohil or Mt Leinster in attire more appropriate for a tennis party.
Among dozens of organised walks taking place this weekend is an outing by Walk Killarney on Easter Sunday to those splendidly named twin peaks, the Paps of Danu, described as “one of Ireland’s most revered and ancient mythological sites”.
Details at www.killarney.ie/walkkillarney.php. For other walking ideas, see www.mountaineering.ieor www.discoverireland and read the Go travel supplement in tomorrow’s Irish Times which features a walk every week.
4 STATELY HOME
Nothing appeals more to the Irish psyche than having a good gawk around other people’s homes. And if the house happens to be a toff’s, all the better. They don’t come much statelier or grander than Co Mayo’s Westport House, owned and operated by the Browne family, who are “direct descendants of the legendary 16th-century pirate queen of Connacht, Granuaile”.
While the children are enjoying the themed Pirate Adventure Park (featuring Grace’s Bouncy Castle, white-swan pedalos, dungeons and the Cannon Ball Run) you can mooch enviously about the house, which has views over Clew Bay, doors made from mahogany “brought back from the family estates in Jamaica”, portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds and a gleaming collection of silver. www.westporthouse.ie
5 SEAN-NÓS ROCKS
The triumphant victory of the Mulkerrin Brothers in RTE's All-Ireland Talent Showwas a reminder of the enduring public affection for traditional Irish music and dance. If they got your feet tapping then you'll certainly enjoy the annual Roscommon County Fleadh Cheoil, which begins tomorrow (until Monday) in Athleague, a picturesque village with four pubs on the banks of the River Suck. Events include open-air entertainment, an Easter parade, céilis and street dancing. www.comhaltasroscomain.com
6 THE FOURTH GREEN FIELD
There’s more to life up North than cheap booze in Newry supermarkets. Remember the song, “Didn’t we have a lovely time,/ The day we went to Bangor?” The Co Down resort town is holding a family day out on Easter Monday. The Novice Ireland’s Strongest Man contest for the prestigious Finn McCool Trophy should be a crowd-puller.
Children too young to appreciate Ulster’s incredible hulks can enjoy the gentler attractions of animals from Ark Farm or take a free trip along the promenade on Lennie the Land Train.
An All Things Bright and Beautiful parade, featuring themed floats, music and dancing, should be achingly nostalgic and have you singing on the trip home: “Elsie and me, we finished our tea and said goodbye to the seaside/ Got on the bus, Flo said to us, oh isn’t it a shame to go.” www.northdowntourism.com
7 EGGS, INEVITABLY
While eggs have long been associated with Easter in many cultures, chocolate eggs are a relatively recent phenomenon. The first Cadbury egg only appeared in 1875. A traditional Easter Egg Hunt will take place on Sunday in the gardens of Belvedere House, five kilometres outside Mullingar. Booking is not necessary but large crowds are expected and you are requested to turn up by noon sharp when the “Easter Bunny” will launch proceedings.
On Monday, in conjunction with the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, an Easter Eggspress steam train will operate from Dublin Connolly to Mullingar, with a bus transfer from the station to Belvedere House for a second day’s egg-hunting. www.belvedere-house.ie, www.rpsi-online.org
8 FREEDOM OF THE CITY
It’s too late now to book a European weekend citybreak so how about a home-grown version? Tomorrow marks the 400th anniversary of Kilkenny being granted city status. James I issued the royal charter on April 11th, 1609 and the Marble City is hosting celebrations throughout the weekend. During each of the three days, there will be free access to heritage sites, including Kilkenny Castle, country markets, horse and carriage rides, pipe bands, an exhibition of reptiles at the Parade Tower, and face-painting and balloon-making for children.
On Sunday, there’s a family treasure hunt at the Castle Park and a display of classic cars. Events begin tomorrow at 11am, with an open-air performance by the Kilkenny Gospel Choir launching a day-long series of street theatre and music.
www.kilkenny400.ie
9 A TALE IN THREAD
No, it’s not a stitch-up. If you think needlework belongs in the pages of Jane Austen or that embroidery went out of fashion with moustache wax in the late Victorian era, then prepare to have your prejudices shattered.
Ireland’s newest visitor attraction is a series of gorgeous hand-woven tapestries, painstakingly created by some 100 volunteers over the past decade, which has just gone on permanent public display in New Ross, Co Wexford.
These exquisite examples of “people’s art” depict key moments in our national history by weaving the story of the Anglo-Norman invasion and its aftermath as “a tale in thread”.
www.rosexpo.ie
10 GIVE UP YER AUL’ SINS
Easter is the most important Christian festival of the year and many people will attend church, starting with the Good Friday Passion ceremonies this afternoon and culminating in joyful services on Sunday morning.
Churches are expected to be busier than usual and you might be trampled underfoot by the massed ranks of penitent builders, developers, bank directors, financial regulators and other blackguards wearing sackcloth and ashes.
A highlight is 11am Mass on Easter Sunday at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral on Dublin’s Marlborough Street, featuring the Palestrina Choir. Traditionalists, or the nostalgic, might prefer the sung Latin High Mass at 10.30am, with music by the Lassus Scholars and Our Lady’s Guild of Choristers, in St Kevin’s Church on Harrington Street. www.procathedral.ie, www.latinmass.dublindiocese.ie
