Finally, another bank holiday weekend is upon us and this time round, we're all about the staycation. If you're looking for a last minute escape without the hassle of flights or (worse) boats, here we round up a few local options to whet your holiday hungry apetite.

Adventure

  • Last week we penned a piece about the wealth of choice when it comes to cycling around this fair isle. The perfect way to add some exercise to your long weekend, here you can suss out three fantastic options for cycling in Ireland.
  • If cycling isn't your bag, and you're more of an adrenaline junkie, then you'll be wanting to get a load of this: 7 challenging activities for you and your mates. From hovercrafting in Cavan to Laser Clay Shooting in Cork, you really don't have to travel far for some adrenaline pumping action. Are you brave enough to get your pulse racing this weekend?

For the Family

Keeping the kids entertained while you're busy at work and they're off on their summer jolliers is never easy, but now that you've got a three day weekend coming up, here's a few options that won't cost you an arm and a leg.
 

  • Picnic in the Park at Killarney National Park. What better way to eat your hang sangwiches than at the foot of the McGillycuddy Reeks?
  • Feast in the forest at Clare Glens, Tipperary. There's a selection of fantastic trails to walk with the kids here, with waterfalls and all, sure to keep them quietly in awe (ahh, bliss).
  • Waterford Spraoi International Street Arts Festival. For three days each year, residents of this medieval city take to the streets and enjoy an international programme of street arts and spectacle. The majority of the events are free and suitable for all ages. Hurrah! 1st - 3rd August.
  • Also in Waterford this weekend, you can take the kids along to SprOg, the pre-Spraoi children's festival. On now til August 3rd! Jam-packed with shows, workshops, films and exhibitions this year's festival has a special science and space twist.

The gang

  • If there's one place and one place only for a gang to go this August Bank Holiday weekend, it's the Galway Races. An event that draws a crowd from every corner of the globe, there's just nothing quite like this sporting event. And don't worry, you don't even have to be mad into sports or an expert in horse racing to have an absolute whale of a time here; between the craic, Ladies Day and the opportunity to meet lots of new and like-minded people in one of the greatest Irish cities, there's enough to please the lot of us here. July 28th - August 3rd.

The couple

With an extra day for your weekend, and if the weather holds up, it's high time you got yourself to a food market. For an alternative to a super expensive spa weekend, book yourself into a nice B&B and check out any of Discover Ireland's A-Z of long running food markets.

  • Go on, you can hear your belly calling at you to fill it with a pulled pork roll.
  • For lovebirds that find themselves down South, the arts festival at Cahersiveen is well worth the look. Highlights of the festival are the performances by live bands each night on the main street with every genre from rock to country being represented. Children can enjoy street entertainment, fancy dress, a mini motor parade and loads more. This runs from 1st to 3rd August. Entry to this festival will only cost you 10 blips, bargain!

Lots more options and ideas over yonder on Discover Ireland.