Go last minute

From a high-flying week on Richard Branson's Majorcan estate to wine tasting in Co Mayo, JOAN SCALEShas the best of the week's offers

Deal of the week

Golden years in Westport: from €259

Sister hotels in Westport, the Castlecourt and Plaza, are hosting a Golden Years festival from February 28th to March 5th. Five days of activities include art classes, cookery demonstrations, walking tours, day trips, bridge classes, ballroom dancing, bowls, talks, bingo, aquarobics, quizzes and more. It all ends with a gala dinner. From €259pps, including four dinners. 098-55088, castlecourthotel.ie, 098-51166, westportplazahotel.ie.

OVERSEAS DEALS:

Zambian working holiday: €3,500

Travel4Change, a responsible- tourism company, is taking small groups to Zambia, to help build a school and spend 10 days seeing the country. Ten per cent of the price goes towards the project. The first 14-day trip departs in May and costs €3,500pps. 01-8530100, travel4change.ie.

Ski in Méribel: from €870

The Altitude Festival runs in the French ski resort of Méribel from March 20th to 26th. The line-up of comedians includes Ed Byrne, Marcus Brigstocke and Andrew Maxwell. Get the gang together for festival week, staying in a luxury chalet, with some great skiing, and it will cost from €870pps with Highlife, including food, bar, transfers and ski guiding. 01-6771100, highlife.ie.

Live like Branson: €11,693 for 10

You could blow the last of any SSIA money by taking a villa on Richard Branson’s former Majorcan estate. Sa Punta de S’Aguila, in Deià, sleeps 10 in five en-suite bedrooms. It also has a pool and tennis court. With 10 per cent off in July and August, the villa costs €11,693 a week. mallorca.co.uk, 00-44- 118-9473001.

Spanish paradors: from €45

Until the end of the month you can get 5 per cent off stays in Spain’s paradors, in addition to the chain’s promotions for the period from January to Easter. From €45 per night. 095-23511, lornarobertsholidays.com.

French mobile week: from €515

Kelair Campotel has added a site in the Vendée, Clarys Plage, at St Jean de Monts, to its line-up. A week in a three-bed mobile home in June costs from €515. 0909-648750, campotel.com.

HOME DEALS:

Night out in Clare: from €65

If you’d like to see the comedian Ardal O’Hanlon, next Friday, or the singer Jack L, next Saturday, at Glór, in Ennis, Co Clare, the four-star Old Ground Hotel nearby is offering tickets and a night’s accommodation for €65pps, or €130pps for two nights. 065-6828127, flynnhotels.ie.

Wine weekend in Mayo: from €179

Knockranny House Hotel, in Mayo, is hosting a wine weekend with tutored tastings by producers from Burgundy, New Zealand and Slovenia. They’ll be complemented by a tasting dinner by chef Seamus Commons. Prices from €179pps for two nights, including dinner. 098-28600, www.khh.ie.

Fermanagh break: €500 for 2

Lough Erne Golf Resort, in Co Fermanagh, has a three-night break next month from £434 (about €500) for two, with dinner one evening and champagne and chocolates in your room. 048-66323230, loughernegolfresort.com.

Trabolgan: 20% off holidays

Trabolgan Holiday Village, in Co Cork, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a 20 per cent discount. Book before March 19th to save up to €300. 021-4661551, trabolgan.com.

Irish Sopranos stay: €170 for 2

The Irish Sopranos appear in concert at Fota Island Resort, in Co Cork, next Saturday. Tickets cost €25, or €50 with a two-course pre-performance dinner. Or pay €170 for a room, including concert tickets and breakfast the following morning. 021-4883700, fotaisland.ie.

Wineport sale: from €159

The spring sale at Wineport Lodge, in Co Westmeath, has weekend stays for €229pps and midweek stays for €159pps, with two nights’ BB and dinner one evening. 090-6439010, wineport.ie.

Please bear in mind that deals are subject to availability