10+ Glossy Things To Do This Weekend

For bookworms: This weekend, the first Great MoLI Book Swap takes place on August 19-20. It’s a chance to re-home well-loved books, and pick up some new reads in the process. Entry is included with general admission (half price/€6.50 with code ‘bookworm’). Spend a day exploring the exhibitions and enjoying The Commons Café, which will be hosting a barbecue, alongside its regular (delicious) menu;  www.moli.ie. 

For escapism: The Restival Festival at Mount Congreve Gardens, Kilmeaden, Co Waterford is an interesting two-day health and wellbeing event on August 19-20, taking place from 7am to 3pm daily. On the agenda: guided yoga, Qi Gong, pilates classes plus guided Shinrin-yoku forest bathing walks in tandem with health and wellness talks. Tickets cost €39 per day, or €59 for a weekend ticket and include access to the gardens and woodland walks. Don’t leave without sampling Stables Café. In addition, some local food producers will be on-site and the tranquil lawns are perfect for picnics; www.mountcongreve.com.

For barbecue fans: The Big Grill 2023 takes place in Dublin’s Herbert Park for four days of fire, food and fun from August 17-20. Almost 25,000 people are expected to attend and there’s an impressive line-up of Irish and international chefs, restaurants, pitmasters and barbecue experts from around the world. Alongside the live demos and masterclasses at Bastecamp, and the drinks-related tastings and programme on the Brewcamp stage, Big Grill will also host to a number of guest restaurants. Tickets cost from €24; www.biggrillfestival.com.

For sculpture lovers: Art and Soul, curated by Gormleys, is Ireland’s largest sculpture exhibition and runs from August 19 to September 10 at Culloden Estate and Spa, Co Antrim. The free event will feature 80 large sculptures and installations set throughout the twelve acres of landscaped grounds. If you’re in Belfast, do pop along for a special afternoon tea “Fancies and Fine Art”. Visitors can see over 280 works by international artists alongside leading Irish sculptors Patrick O’Reilly, Ian Pollock, Bob Quinn, Sandra Bell, Eamonn Ceannt, John Fitzgerald, Anthony Scott and Orla De Brí. It will also include exhibitions by renowned Irish artists Martin Mooney, Maser, Peter Monaghan, Gordon Harris and Stephen Forbes. To celebrate, there is a special Sip and See package costing from €421 for two including accommodation, breakfast, champagne and canapés in the Bollinger champagne garden; www.cullodenestateandspa.ie.

For film lovers: The IFI Family Festival takes place from August 18-20, when audiences can enjoy the Irish premieres of The Inventor, a film about Leonardo da Vinci’s brilliant inventions, Puffin Rock & The New Friends as Gaeilge, and other great films from around the world in this special programme for all the family; www.ifi.ie.

For family fun: “Last of the Summer Fling” takes place on Sunday, August 20 at Killruddery, Co Wicklow. This event will feature traditional garden games, archery, arts and crafts. In addition, The Orangery of Killruddery House will be home to Lady Meath’s annual Teddy Bear’s Hospital in aid of Barretstown, where children can drop off their poorly dolls and teddy bears to be mended and brought back to good health. Families are invited to bring a picnic while enjoying a day out; www.killruddery.com.

For browsing: If shopping in Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin and you’ll find an interesting pop-up of twelve designers and artists from Louth Craftmark Designers Network. They will be showcasing and selling a range of their artworks until August 30. My tip: check out the pretty table linen from textile designer Jennie Ritchie @jennieritchie.ie.

For foodies: Cork on a Fork Festival takes place across the city this weekend. One of the main venues is a cooking demo marquee which will pop up on Emmet Place (outside Crawford Art Gallery) all day on Saturday August 19 featuring a host of talks, demos and tastings. And the best part… all the events are free! www.corkcity.ie

For culture vultures: National Heritage Week is currently underway and the theme this year is “Living Heritage” focusing on traditional practices, knowledge, arts and skills that have been passed down from generation to generation, and continue to thrive today. For example, The National Print Museum is hosting a journey into typography and design at the Strange Type & Odd Sorts event. There’s an exploration of the delicate artistry of Limerick Lace at the “Bring out your Lace” event, while the craftsmanship of dry stone walling takes place at Kilskyre, Kells, Co Meath, where a Dry Stone Retaining Wall Project is reaching its completion. To explore the full programme of and activities, visit www.heritageweek.ie.

For ginthusiasts and solo diners: Book the (second) Supper Club at The Coburg restaurant in Conrad Dublin on August 31. Diners can expect a three-course dinner menu designed by head chef Marek Sulg to complement gin pairings from a selection of Drumshanbo gins. The evening will feature Classic Gunpowder Gin, a zesty Sardinian Citrus Gin, and a bright California Orange Gin.Tickets are priced at €79 per person and can be purchased via OpenTable; conraddublinrestaurants.com.

For car enthusiasts: The Super Car Weekend at Dundrum Town Centre takes place on August 26-27 from 10am – 5pm at the “Paddocks” in the red car park on level one. Taking inspiration from Goodwood Festival of Speed and Revival visitors can expect to see over 80 high-end prestigious vehicles such a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL “Gullwing”, a 2023 Porsche 911 GT3RS, a Lamborghini Diablo and a Corvette Stingray; www.dundrum.ie.

For those who like walking and supporting a worthy cause: Boots Ireland is calling upon the public to sign up and walk 5km together this autumn in support of the Irish Cancer Society Night Nurses. The walk will take place on Friday, September 8 at Dublin’s Phoenix Park, or a location of your choice. The sign up fee is €15 with participants receiving a T-shirt. Honour Tags are also on sale in Boots stores for €2 in honour of someone who has survived or passed away from cancer. To sign up or make a donation, visit www.bootsnightwalk.com.