In praise of ... staycations
18 August 09

We experienced so much rain in Dingle on our annual holiday last year that I thought we'd need a boat to get off the peninsula.

We swore this year's break would definitely be spent somewhere much more exotic. Maybe by the sea in Portugal or in the rolling hills of the south of France. I was determined that there would be no more going to the beach with my coat on or digging sandcastles in the rain.

But as the summer holidays approached, the thought of the massive crowds in Dublin airport, and sizzling European temperatures made us change our minds. It was with a more than a little trepidation we decided to divide our holidays between Galway and Cork.

Thankfully, Ireland has recovered from the deluge of 2008 and I have changed my mind about staycations. Don't let anybody tell you that you can't have a good holiday in Ireland. Granted you need some weather and a little imagination, but there are plenty of cool things to do.

I spent my time walking in Portumna Forest Park, swimming on Blackrock beach in Salthill, cycling the Goat's Path near Bantry, eating fresh seafood on the pier in Schull, and watching sumo wrestling and sheep shearing at the Glengarriff family fun day. Every place we went had some sort of festival that would keep anybody entertained - everything from Durrus Garden Fete in West Cork to the Galway Film Fleadh, and lots in between. And that is not to forget the host of municipal entertainment provided by municipal parks, beaches and playgrounds like Mountbellew Forrest Park in Co Galway and Leisureland swimming pool in the city.

There were still a few too many SUVs and Helly Hansen jackets in West Cork, but we managed to avoid them as best we could. So at the risk of sounding like a paid-up member of Failte Ireland - we live in a great little country and even when the sun shines just a little, you can have a great time. Go on - take a staycation.

Please email info@mediacontact.ie if you did anything cool on your staycation that you'd like to share with our readers.

- Jack Murray