The June Bank Holiday is here, and there is plenty happening across the country to make the most out of the weekend
As we welcome the June Bank Holiday with open arms, here’s a guide to what’s on and what you won’t want to miss, from ice cream treats to feel-good festivals.
Festival fun
Sligo’s popular Wild Roots Festival returns this bank holiday weekend after a two-year hiatus. The family-friendly festival will be a fusion of music, performing arts, and outdoor adventures, with activities such as live music, circus performances, boat parties, rock climbing, aerial yoga, and comedy acts on show.
This year’s music line-up includes names like James Bay, Hermitage Green, James Morrison, Jenny Greene, Róisín O, and Damian Dempsey. As for the comedy tent, names like Owen Colgan, Sinead Quinlan, Colum McDonnell, and Emma Doran will take to the stage and guarantee the belly laughs we all love.
Located on the shores of Lough Gill, the Sligo festival runs until Sunday the 5th, and tickets can be purchased at the box office on the main entrance. Tickets prices range from €85 for a full-day ticket, €180 for a weekend day pass, to €210 for a weekend camping ticket, while children under 12 go free. You can find the full price list here and the full line-up here.
Gino’s Gelato hits Wexford
If you like the sound of free ice cream, you might want to head to County Wexford this bank holiday weekend, as Irish company Gino’s Gelato opens the doors of its 30th store in Gorey. To celebrate, there will be 30 minutes of free gelato (one scoop per person) in the store from 12pm Saturday the 4th to Monday the 6th.
Gino’s staple ice cream selection – made from organic Irish milk – will be available in the Gorey store, with popular flavours like pistachio gelato, mango sorbet, Kinder Bueno, and bubblegum. Or, you can opt for their range of crêpes, milkshakes, waffles; either way, you’re guaranteed something that will satisfy your sweet tooth.
As well as free gelato in the new Gorey store, Gino’s will also have an in-store competition happening across the country for the month of June. Customers will be asked to tag @ginos_gelato on Instagram when they pick up a gelato, in order to be in with the chance of winning a €20 voucher each day. You can never have enough free ice cream, right?
Sculpture at Ballymaloe House
Consider heading to the home of beloved Irish food brand Ballymaloe in County Cork this weekend, as it launches its open air sculpture exhibition in conjunction with the Richard Scott Gallery.
The exhibition, which is free to attend, will be hosted on the grounds of the beautiful Ballymaloe House Hotel, and will open daily from 9am to 9pm until August 31st.There will be 40 Irish works of art on display at the exhibition from 28 talented Irish artists, and guided tours will be available throughout the summer to explore the works in detail.
For the full artistic experience, drop by the Grainstore on the grounds of Ballymaloe House, where artist Tobias Hodson will present his collection of watercolour and oil paintings and prints depicting lush landscapes, detailed botanicals, and exotic birds. The exhibition, which is also free, will be open from 10.00am to 5.00pm for the month of June.
While you’re there, why not treat yourself to a light lunch served in Ballymaloe House from 1.00pm to 2.30pm Monday to Saturday, where you can indulge in some of Ballymaloe’s finest foods.
Beach clean-up
If you’re looking for a way to give back to the planet, L’Occitane has the perfect initiative. Its beach clean-up returns to Galway this Saturday the 4th at Salthill Beach and the Promenade from 11.00am to 1.00pm. All volunteers can expect a thank you gift after the clean-up, and if you can’t make it this weekend, L’Occitane will be hosting its next beach clean-up in Bull Island and Dollymount Beach in Dublin on June 11th.
Main image by Gino’s Gelato
