Trabolgan Holiday Centre in east Cork recently celebrated 15 years in existence. The centre has been entirely refurbished in the last year and new attractions have been added to the existing facilities. The season has been extended this year to November for weekends and there will be a great selection of entertainment available.
This year, Trabolgan is introducing a course for Transition Year students called Learn to Live. In October and November, schools can bring students to the centre to take part in a wide range of activities that combine practical studies with a personal development programme. The studies include public speaking, orienteering, archery, abseiling, drama, first aid and fire-fighting, plumbing and electrical studies, and practical cookery. Field trips include visits to Fota Wildlife Park and to Ballymaloe to see how organic food is produced. The cost for students will be £88 fully catered, Monday to Friday. Details from Trabolgan on (021) 4661551.
If your name is Ryan and you live near enough to Shannon Airport and you want to go to London Gatwick or Brussels, you can travel free on Virgin Express. From May 4th to May 14th, Virgin Express is offering free flights to Ryans. All you have to do is call 061 704470 to make a booking. You will have to pay the taxes of £12.90 to Gatwick and £10.80 to Brussels, seats are limited and can be booked up to May 3rd.
St Columban was one of the great Irish pilgrim monks who journeyed through Europe founding monastic communities. This year you can celebrate his journeys on the Columban Pilgrimage, travelling from Ireland to Luxeuil in France and on to Bobbio in Italy. Along the way you will have the opportunity to walk the pilgrim route and visit places of significant interest. The trip takes place from June 24th to July 7th and costs from £875. The trip is organised by MAP Travel, 36 Upper O'Connell Street, Dublin 1, (01) 878 3111.
Special offers from Budget Travel for May 6th include Ibiza, Menorca, Izmir from £189 for a week and Estartit from £179; and from £599 for two adults and two children for two weeks.
Cork city now has its own tourism website that will conjure up the sights and sounds of the city as well as up-to-the-minute information about travel, accommodation, entertainment and dining out. Surf the site at www.cometocork.com
Joan Scales can be contacted at jscales@irish-times.ie