It’s the season for Irish escapes with THE GLOSS.

There are perfect Irish summer days. Yours might be bagging a window seat in St Francis Provisions in Kinsale, with a plate of Cromane oysters in front of you, then wandering to Prim’s Bookshop. Or it could be driving the Beara peninsula and stopping at Helen’s Bar, on the road towards Kenmare, for a pot of mussels. For the more adventurous, it might be kayaking around Baginbun Head in Wexford, before heading to Grálinn in Fethard-on-Sea for lunch.

Whatever your perfect Irish day, Penny McCormick has the hidden place to stay, whether it’s a private rainforest estate in Cork or a floating house boat in Fermanagh.

Style Editor Aislinn Coffey has sought out the ideal holiday wardrobe for your trip too, with beautiful blues, practical separates and a menswear edit worthy of our five-star scenery.

Beauty Editor Sarah Halliwell writes in praise of pharmacy beauty and recommends Irish suncare saviours.

Kitty Coles perfects her hosting menu, Ciara McQuillan suggests making a booking at one of these recent openings before it’s impossible to get a table, and Julie Dupouy quizzes chefs on their favourite wines – and what they bring to dinner parties.

We also have the best new books for June, plus we celebrate two cultural icons in this issue. Say happy 100th birthday to Marilyn Monroe, while author Caroline Young takes us behind the scenes of her new book that examines the enduring style influence of Alfred Hitchcock.

Whatever your summer, may it be filled with good food, great company and lovely weather. There truly is nowhere better when the sun shines.