Departure Lounge: Craic agus ceol in New York's Catskill Mountains

Plus: Discover the Canary Islands’ startling beauty at Corralejo Natural Park,

Kaaterskill High Peak from Inspiration Point on Escapement trail, North South Lake DEC Campground, Catskills, NY

New York arts fest full of craic

Ever heard of the Irish Alps? The Catskills, a bucolic upstate region of New York fabled for its scenery, has a special connection to Ireland.

At one stage this Hudson Valley hang-out had more than 40 Irish-run hotels and the diaspora’s legacy looms large. Catskill Irish Arts Week celebrates its 30th anniversary next week in East Durham, where hundreds of Irish emigrants settled in the 1900s.

Running from July 14 to 20, the festival celebrates Irish culture through music, workshops, dancing and performances. From fiddle, flute and Uilleann pipes to Irish language, concerts, ceilidh, and lectures, the 30th anniversary event promises serious craic. 

• Book in for next year in Gavin’s Irish Country Inn from $129, gavinsinn.com, or Shamrock House from $189.
• ciaw.mjqirishcentre.com

Three Arab women walk at sunset along the corniche in Doha, Qatar.

Cruise into Middle East magic

MSC Euribia’s Arabian Gulf itinerary offers a fresh way to explore the Middle East, taking in four countries in one fun week.

This seven-night cruise takes in the glitzy metropolises of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Manama alongside beach time on Sir Bani Yas Island. Enjoy shore adventures, good food, on-board entertainment and a spa offering.

• Eight-night fly/cruise for €1,359pp in an inside cabin including flights, checked bags, airport transfers and gratuities, departing December 13.
• sunway.ie/cruise-holidays/

Sand Dunes in National Park Corralejo, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain.

Deal of the Week

Discover the Canary Islands’ startling beauty at Corralejo Natural Park, where Secrets Bahia Real Resort & Spa sits between the ocean and vast sand dunes on the north coast of Fuerteventura.

The all-inclusive, all-suite hotel offers seven restaurants, six bars and a glossy spa with pool, hydro jets, whirlpools, plunge pool, sauna and steam bath.

• Book by July 15 to save €1,500. Seven nights’ all-inclusive in a pool view-Junior Suite view from €1,379 (was €2,129 pp) based on two sharing.Includes return flights from Dublin and transfers, arriving July 24.
• tropicalsky.ie

Gorilla trekking in the Republic of Congo

Wild time with glorious gorillas

Fewer than 3,000 tourists travel annually to go gorilla trekking in Odzala and the Republic of the Congo compared to 30,000 tourists in destinations such as Rwanda or Uganda.

In celebration of World Gorilla Day in September, Kamba Africa is covering the cost of gorilla permits for guests joining three of their gorilla-trekking experiences in the wilds of Odzala-Kokoua National Park. Kamba is home to three lodges and favours small groups of about four guests per guide and is committed to protecting the forests of the Congo Basin.

• Odzala Discovery seven nights from £11,610 (approx. €13,726) per person.
• kambaafrica.com

Junior Suite at the Imperial Hotel Cork.

An imperial escape

Cork’s Imperial Hotel invites guests to ‘UnCork’ the city with their mid-summer sale. Enjoy 20% off overnight stays with breakfast plus €20 worth of food credit to use in any of the hotel’s three dining options during your stay.

Enjoy coffee and cakes in Lafayette’s, wine and small plates in No.76 Bar or Sketch for dinner, afternoon tea or weekend brunch. (There’s a fab spa too!)

• imperialhotelcork.com