Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The Clare Byrne Show on Newstalk. With Aviva Insurance. It is the bank holiday weekend. Of course, it is time to get into the mood that follows the June bank holiday weekend. So what is there to do with the holiday season fast approaching? What options do you have to holiday at home this summer? We'll speak in a moment to Adana Flynn, who's a regional digital journalist with the Indo.
But first, Sarah Slattery, owner of The Travel Expert.
Chapter 2: What activities can you plan for the bank holiday weekend?
How are you? How are you, Jonathan? Great. I'm great. I'm good. I'm looking forward to what should be a nice day today. And we're not talking about the weekend because the weather forecast is brutal altogether. But lots of people are thinking still about holidaying at home this year.
And it's a lot of it is due to that fuel uncertainty as to whether or not your holly bobs might be impacted by not having aviation fuel. Even after we've been told there's loads, people didn't want to risk it, did they?
You know, it's one of those things, it's uncertainty, isn't it? Even though we're sure there's going to be no issues at all.
Chapter 3: What are the best options for holidaying at home this summer?
I think between that and the war and, you know, some people's holiday plans have actually changed that were due to travel via the UAE and things like that. So there is a little bit of hesitancy. People are kind of wondering what to do. There's definitely a lot of last minute bookings happening to Europe today. People are definitely booking last minute, but they're sort of not booking too far out.
And there's still a lot of interest in Irish holidays as well. I put out a couple of posts on social media for Irish hotel deals and I've never seen a reaction like it. Like it was unbelievable, actually. So, yeah, definitely lots of interest in Irish holidays, too.
What would you recommend if somebody is to go online today? First of all, where should they go and where should they start looking?
Well, I mean, I always kind of say, I mean, people generally tend to just gravitate towards the Wild Atlantic Way. You know, we all like the beaches, you know, Galway, Clare, Mayo, all these West Ports and all these popular spots and the Cliffs of Moher, you know.
But that's where all the tourists are going to go as well, that they're going to have the most expensive accommodation and it's going to have the limited availability. So I would usually say try and opt for the kind of places a little bit maybe more off the beaten track.
One of my favourites is, it's still on the Wild Atlantic Way, but it's Inishowen and Donegal, the locals sometimes call it the Forgotten 33rd County. I just think it's absolutely stunning.
There's a little isolationist of them there. We're on our own out here. Independent Republic of Inishowen.
Yeah, that's what they told me when I was there anyway. And I just think it's fabulous. I think the beaches are stunning. There's loads to see and do. The value is incredible in the hotels. So definitely, I would say, if you're looking for a good value break and to get availability, I would suggest... going up there or Ireland's hidden heartlands as well.
You know, we tend to forget about our lakes and rivers and, you know, particularly if you're travelling with family, sometimes, you know, you want to get out and you want to do surfing or kayaking and all these kind of things. But actually, like kayaking along the river is so much handier for if you have young kids to trying something new, it's much safer.
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Chapter 4: How can last-minute holiday bookings be beneficial?
Edana, you have been looking at some of the festivals that are on. There's an awful lot of things happening.
Good morning. Yes, there's an awful lot happening, especially in Meath and Tipperary. I think music lovers and festival goers alike would be delighted to know that in Meath there's a Rockathon, so Rockathon 2026. It's meant to be a really good camping experience with live music at the Fairy House Racecourse. And then
Tipperary have When Next We Meet, which is an alternative boutique music festival taking place from May 29th to May 31st in Raheen House in Clanmel. So there's an awful lot happening. And then Westmead is also offering something special. There's the Moat Vintage Fun Fair. It's Ireland's only vintage fun fair and it's kicking off over the weekend as well.
So there's a huge buzz county to county around the country.
If there are not rocking boats in that festival, I would be disappointed. You know the ones where you have to sit? You're probably too young to remember. You have to sit on these things and you'd both have a rope and you'd pull on it and you'd go backwards and forwards. We were very easily entertained in the time before roller coasters, I can tell you.
There are so many things that families can do as well, Adan. It's not necessarily all about the festivals and the camping and going away for the full weekend.
No, not at all. I mean, there's an awful lot happening, especially in terms of outdoor pursuits on the gentler side. There's Japanese gardens in Waterford. There's the Lafcadal O'Hearn Japanese gardens and they do tours. And there's a really interesting history of those gardens that can be explored here.
You've also got the Brian Baru Festival in Longford, which would definitely be family friendly. And there's obviously a little bit of heritage kind of mixed into that as well. And it's really immersive and enjoyable. There's also Bloom Festival, I think I would argue is a really good family event.
I suppose maybe if you've older children, there's a lot to see there in terms of the display gardens and the food trucks. It's just incredible. And Bloomin' itself really encompasses the talent and the craftsmanship And the culinary skills that we have in this country, there's people from all over the country going up to Bloom to display and sell their ware. But yeah, it's all go.
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Chapter 5: What hidden gems in Ireland should you consider for a getaway?
you know, for two people. So 75 per person. Even this weekend, you know, you could get Sunday night stays over the bank holiday for that kind of price. There's great deals in Wexford as well. In Cork, your own Cork, 109 euro bed and breakfast for a hotel room. Like, it's like really, really good.
That's really good value.
Yeah, like there really are a lot of deals out there. And I think sometimes people just have this, you know, idea that Ireland is expensive. And yes, if you want to go for, you know, if you want to kind of try and compare a two bedroom, a beachfront apartment in Spain with a two bedroom, you know, beachfront lodge that you get in a hotel in Ireland.
Yes, of course, it's going to be much more expensive.
You have to fly to Spain. You have to give Michael O'Leary God knows how much to get you there at the height of the season.
Yeah, like I think it's important to kind of not to compare like with like, but certainly to get those kind of one or two night great value breaks, you can get them if you look, I've loads on the website, good shameless plug there. But no, you really can. you know, you really can't find them. But it's just important not to kind of think that you're going to get the same type of holiday.
And obviously the value in the restaurants and drinking and, you know, shopping and all that sort of thing that you get abroad, obviously it's not going to be the same here. But certainly I think, you know, a one or two night escape should be, hopefully be possible for a lot of people if they haven't booked anything yet.
John in Limerick says, Jonathan, holidays in Southern Europe during summer months are a lottery. Pick the wrong two weeks and you'll spend daylight hours indoor with wet towels on your heads, 40 degrees plus, temperatures occurring more and more, which they are. And, you know, I've been that soldier, I've been in Southern Spain when the temperature was in the late 30s.
It ain't pleasant and I would prefer to be getting slightly damp on a bank holiday Monday in Ireland than getting scalded, John, as you're talking about there. Northmeath Not a place I would have considered for tourism. But Northmead is worth a visit, according to a listener. Old Castle has the Loch Crewe megalithic tombs, Loch Crewe gardens, Mullamine Forest, lakes and gardens.
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