Your Money

The empty wallet

SIMON TIERNEY finds ways to live well with less cash

Sat May 5 2012 - 01:00

SIMON TIERNEYfinds ways to live well with less cash

UNUSUAL OUTINGS

“Where are you off to?” says he. “I’m off on a day out,” says I. “Where to?” says he. “To court,” says I. “Powerscourt?” says he. “Not that court,” says I. “The Camden Court Hotel?” says he. “Not that court either,” says I. “I’m off to the Criminal Courts of Justice”.

In my pursuit of an unusual day out, I visited the CCJ (Parkgate Street, Dublin 8). Anyone can sit in on the hundreds of court proceedings happening around the country.

READ MORE

I entered this stunning new building, designed by Henry J Lyons Architects, and began the security procedure. Much like an airport, my bag was put through a scanner. Unlike an airport, there was no duty free on the other side. The hearings were fascinating. I got excited at one point and had to fight the urge to do an Al Pacino and yell “You’re out of order.” Not because it was, just because I would love to yell that sometime. If this sounds too intense, then we have offers on everything from kayaking to Tibetan Mandalas.

Sporty days out

Calvey's Equestrian and Pony Trekking Centre (Slievemore, Keel, Achill, Co Mayo, calveysofachill.com) specialise in pony trekking across Achill's beaches, mountains and old bog roads. It is giving away two pairs of tickets for its Keel Lake Sandybanks Trek (worth €80 per pair) to the first and 10th person to email ponytrek@calveysofachill.com and quote "free trek".

Mazes and farms

Greenan Farm Museum and Maze (Ballinanty, Greenan, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow, tel: 040-446000, greenanmaze.com), features a half-acre, 7ft tall maze, farm animals and three museums. It's offering five free family passes (worth €23 each) to the first people to email contact@greenanmaze.com.

Dunbrody Abbey Visitor Centre (Campile, Co Wexford, tel: 051-388603, dunbrodyabbey.com) is home to a full-scale maze, made of 1,500 yew hedges. There are 10 family tickets (worth €10 each) available for use between June 1st and August 31st. Email patrickbelfast@aol.com to avail, stating the date you wish to visit.

Museums and architecture

Fancy a tour of Croke Park? The GAA Museum (Cusack Stand, St Joseph’s Avenue, Croke Park, Dublin 3, tel: 01 819 2323) is giving away four family passes (worth €32 each) to the first people to email jmckeigue@crokepark.ie. It includes museum entry and a tour of the stadium.

Glasnevin Museum (Finglas Road, Glasnevin, Co Dublin, tel: 01-8826550, is offering five free pairs of tickets (worth €9.60 each, concessions available) to the first people to email dmckeon@glasnevintrust.ie. The museum includes a genealogy section.

How about a visit to the Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship and Famine Museum (Custom House Quay, IFSC, Dublin 1, tel: 01-4730111). There are four family tickets (worth €20 each) for the first people to email jeaniejohnstontallship@gmail.com.

Architecture Tours Ireland (8 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, tel: 01-6761703) run tours of Dublin's architecture. There are four free passes (worth €11 each) up for grabs. The first people to email contact@architecturetours.ie will get the tickets. See architecturetours.ie.

Last but not least

Só Sligo ( sosligo.com) is a food festival in Sligo town from May18th-20th. With a food market, live demonstrations and entertainment, this should be a great day out. There are 10 family tickets (worth €15 each) available for free (for either the Saturday or Sunday) to the first people to email info@sosligo.com. There are lots of free events too.