The Great Irish Summer

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great irish summer

From walking and hiking, to day trips and camping, your guide to holidays at home in 2021

<p>Pilot Joe Daly enjoying the view from the basket of the Discover Waterford balloon during a sunrise flight. As an 18th birthday surprise, Joe transferred the registration of the balloon to his son Zack. Picture: Chani Anderson</p>

spotlight

Waterford father and son take hot air ballooning to new heights after 30 years in the skies

A Waterford father and son share decades of ballooning adventures, from childhood flights and dramatic rescues to international competition

<p>Fountainstown, Co Cork on June 25, one of the hottest days of the year so far. One complaint to Met Éireann said its website routinely showed temperatures of only 15C or 16C while other forecasts suggested highs of 25C-27C during the heatweaves. Picture: David Creedon</p>

munster

Weather forecaster Met Éireann errors included 10-degree difference in one town

<p>People are being warned not to look directly at Wednesday's partial solar eclipse. MTU Blackrock Castle Observatory has distributed 7,000 eclipse-viewing glasses, and will have a further 500 at its three public viewing locations in Cork City. Picture: Jordan Pettitt/PA</p>

munster

'You don't want to miss this': Cork and Kerry to get stunning view of partial solar eclipse

Moon Jellyfish stranded on a beach.

outdoors

These are the jellyfish to watch out for and the ones you don't need to be afraid of

Top 20 walks to explore this weekend in Ireland — where to stop, eat and stay

outdoors

Top 20 walks to explore this weekend in Ireland — where to stop, eat and stay

Kingfishr review: Gig of the summer at the Marquee as Cork fans raise the roof with 'Killeagh' singalong

S culture

Kingfishr review: Gig of the summer at the Marquee as Cork fans raise the roof with 'Killeagh' singalong

Roy Keane review: Chants of 'Keano' greet homecoming hero at the Marquee in Cork

S Roy Keane review: Chants of 'Keano' greet homecoming hero at the Marquee in Cork

Keano hit the back of the net at 'Roy Keane In Conversation with Roddy Doyle'. But sure as his fans might say, 'that's his job'

Mon, 07 Jul, 2025

Tommy Tiernan review: Wild yarns, philosophical detours, and brilliant pisstakes at the Marquee

S Tommy Tiernan review: Wild yarns, philosophical detours, and brilliant pisstakes at the Marquee

Tommy Tiernan brought his extraordinary range to a packed Marquee in Cork on Friday night

Sat, 05 Jul, 2025

Review: The Corrs bring 90s nostalgia to Cork on first night of Summer Sunshine tour

S Review: The Corrs bring 90s nostalgia to Cork on first night of Summer Sunshine tour

The Corrs, who have seven studio albums and two Grammy nominations, are not short of material to entertain and the crowd, filled with all generations from babies to grandparents, enjoyed every minute of their set

Sat, 07 Jun, 2025

All Together Now: Kabin Crew and Lisdoonvarna Crew send festival-goers home smiling

All Together Now: Kabin Crew and Lisdoonvarna Crew send festival-goers home smiling

Contemporary issues were mashed up with music and food in Waterford this weekend, and the hit of the festival proved to be the songs of self-belief and pride by Ireland's young rap stars

Sun, 04 Aug, 2024

All Together Now: Five talking points from Day 2

All Together Now: Five talking points from Day 2

The National and Cork's Cabin Crew were among those who impressed on the second day of All Together Now. Here's our review of some of the highlights

Sun, 04 Aug, 2024

All Together Now festival: 5 things we learned from day one

All Together Now festival: 5 things we learned from day one

Confidence Man provided one of the highlights of the first day of All Together Now, and there were plenty more treats on the first day of the Co Waterford festival

Sat, 03 Aug, 2024

All Together Now: All Together eclectic assembly of the arts

All Together Now: All Together eclectic assembly of the arts

More than 20,000 people descended on the grounds of Curraghmore Estate, Co Waterford, for the fifth edition of All Together Now

Fri, 02 Aug, 2024

Recipe: Paul Ainsworth's crab and summertime tomato

Recipe: Paul Ainsworth's crab and summertime tomato

Simple but perfect for a summer lunch

Fri, 26 Jul, 2024

Young elegant man walking with suitcase at seaside

Workplace Wellbeing: Why a two-week holiday isn't enough for your physical or mental health

Experts say longer holidays of around a month can be a real opportunity to step away from the stress of the workplace and switch off entirely

Fri, 26 Jul, 2024

Donal Hickey: Beach safety in peak holiday season... anyone can drown but no one should

Donal Hickey: Beach safety in peak holiday season... anyone can drown but no one should

Today is World Drowning Prevention Day. Water Safety Ireland's summer online class only lasts seven minutes but could save lives — link below

Thu, 25 Jul, 2024

They keep each other moving

Ten people drown in Ireland each month on average, with 70% of them males

Water Safety Ireland is releasing the data ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day on Thursday July 25

Wed, 24 Jul, 2024

Cute little boy sitting on the beach in sunset

Julie Jay: After dinner is the perfect time to enjoy an Irish beach with your kids

... convincing the kids it’s time to go home is also never a problem, because the sun going down signals the jig is up and that tomorrow is another day

Tue, 23 Jul, 2024

North Dublin fire

Irish Examiner view: Coolock unrest highlights the urgent need to combat mob rule

Political leaders and gardaí are trying to deal with the fallout from violent disturbances that were uncomfortably reminiscent of the Dublin riots last November

Wed, 17 Jul, 2024

Visit a colourful, vibrant and beautiful world by snorkelling this summer

Visit a colourful, vibrant and beautiful world by snorkelling this summer

Popping on a snorkel mask is a great way to experience and appreciate our diverse water world says ecologist Pádraic Fogarty who has some handy tips for getting the most out of your next snorkelling trip

Sun, 30 Jun, 2024

Plane Stock - Heathrow Airport

Irish Examiner view: Aer Lingus pilots have a right to take industrial action

Ialpa pilots are perfectly entitled to take industrial action to seek better terms and conditions, and it makes sense to do so at a time when it is most likely to help their cause

Thu, 20 Jun, 2024

Major tailbacks for people attending Cork Summer Show

Major tailbacks for people attending Cork Summer Show

Organisers have urged visitors to use the park-and-ride facilities at Ballincollig, the Carrigrohane Rd, or Curraheen Rd, or public transport such as the 208 bus

Sun, 16 Jun, 2024

Catherine Conlon: Add the measles vaccine to your summer holiday checklist

Catherine Conlon: Add the measles vaccine to your summer holiday checklist

Passport, tickets, MMR vaccine... Amid a global upsurge of measles, families are advised to avoid the miserable and possibly life-changing illness by ensuring they've all had the vaccine

Sun, 09 Jun, 2024

Beautiful teens at summer festival

Should you let your teen go to a festival with their friends?

Planning will help your teen feel more confident — and hopefully help parents feel more secure too

Fri, 31 May, 2024

Growing cannabis or hemp plants for alternative medicine. Close up view of agronomist's hands checking plant quality.

Irish Examiner view: It's time to stop thinking of cannabis as a 'soft' drug

The HSE's Safer Nightlife initiative is certainly welcome — but we need to reject the fantasy that cannabis is harmless

Thu, 30 May, 2024

Joe McNamee: Sunshine adds the perfect touch to Waterford Festival of Food

Joe McNamee: Sunshine adds the perfect touch to Waterford Festival of Food

The soupçon of sunny weather helped the 15th edition of Waterford Festival of Food bounce back to the energy levels and excitement of its pre-pandemic heyday

Sun, 21 Apr, 2024

Ironman is set to get the blood pumping in East Cork after a becalmed summer

Ironman is set to get the blood pumping in East Cork after a becalmed summer

Amid a washout of a tourism season, Youghal in Co Cork is looking forward to welcoming Ironman back next weekend

Mon, 14 Aug, 2023

Youghal Beach a sunset

20 Munster beaches to get to during the sunny spell — and where to eat and drink

We trawl the coast for the region's top strands, from the Blaskets to Silver Strand - and their nearby food and drink options

Tue, 08 Aug, 2023

Water quality warnings issued for nine Munster beaches

Water quality warnings issued for nine Munster beaches

Ballybunion and Fenit in Kerry — as well as Lahinch, Miltown, Kilkee, Doonbeg, Spanish Point, and Cappagh Pier in Clare — are all subject to the warnings after heavy rainfall

Mon, 07 Aug, 2023

Lights, camera, industrial action: Hollywood's on strike but the blockbusters are back

Lights, camera, industrial action: Hollywood's on strike but the blockbusters are back

In turbulent times for the industry, this summer's slew of blockbusters will make waves that could benefit smaller films including Irish-made movies, writes Esther McCarthy

Sun, 16 Jul, 2023

10 rainy day art and science activities for kids to try

10 rainy day art and science activities for kids to try

Go back to your childhood with art from Mary’s Make & Do. Plus Mark The Science Guy shares his top experiments to try at home.

Fri, 14 Jul, 2023