Sundays in Dun Laoghaire and other Bank Holiday plans

Yay! Here comes the Bank Holiday weekend. The weather’s looking good for Saturday and Sunday before taking a turn for the worse on Monday. I’m off to the the always enjoyable Bloom in the Park on Saturday and going straight down for some much-deserved giggles at the Kilkenny Cat Laughs Festival.

For those of you sticking around the capital or without a concrete plan, I highly recommend a day out in Dun Laoghaire. This seaside town has been completely transformed in the past decade, with a great selection of places to eat. If you head down on Sunday, you can browse around the People’s Park farmers market and choose from one of the many food stalls.

My personal favourite is Suha’s falafel. I first met Suha back when she was running a small stall in the Leopardstown market, but she’s now turned it into a mini-empire: I’ve spotted her falafel at many festivals and markets around the country. A glass of her ice cool lemonade is fantastically refreshing on a hot day, with the fresh lemon perfectly balanced by cool mint and just the right amount of sugar. Enjoy a cheap picnic in the park and soak up the precious sun.

Down in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, the Americana and Roots Weekend looks set to be a hugely enjoyable affair. If you’ve any interest in this music, the phenomenal I Draw Slow will blow you away: they’re playing in The Beach House on Saturday from 10pm. For cheap eats down that direction, check out the very popular Hungry Monk restaurant.

How are you spending the Bank Holiday weekend?