WHAT’S ON AROUND COUNTY WICKLOW
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1
KIDS’ ICON WORKSHOP A Children’s Icon Workshop featuring art, games and prayer will takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Árus Lorcáin. Participants can register through the parish office before Friday, July 13. Entry costs €3 and places are limited. This is open to all primary school children who are welcome to attend with a parent or guardian. WALK AND TALK AT KILLRUDDERY Killruddery Head Gardener Daragh Farren will guide visitors through the gardens at midday. This walk will give a fascinating insight into the rewarding work that goes into maintaining the gardens and Killruddery’s planting history, rooted in the 17th century. It is also an opportunity to learn about Daragh’s favourite plants and his creative gardening hacks. Admission is €7.50 or free for members. ROUNDWOOD FESTIVAL There will be a guided tour of Altidore Castle at 6.30 p.m. It costs €10 and places must be booked in advance by calling Cleo at 087 9293737. A REQUIEM Musicians from Dublin, Maynooth, Galway and Carlow will perform ‘A Requiem’ in St Joseph’s Church, Baltinglass, at 8 p.m. in aid of Pieta House. Tickets cost €10 (€5 concession) and will be available on thd door. SINGING PUBS Ta Se’s, Wicklow town hosts the always popular Singing Pubs competition which is run as part of the Wicklow Regatta. Eight pubs are involved overall and the fun starts at 8.30 p.m.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 2
CHILDREN’S’ TREASURE HUNT The treasure hunt takes place as part of the Wicklow Regatta and starts at 11 a.m. at Wicklow Gaol, finishing at the Abbey Grounds. Everyone is welcome and there are prizes and goodies for all participants. FAMILY CHALLENGE Teams of four will go head-to-head in this fun, free challenge (featuring a daunting obstacle course) at An Tochar GAA Centre, as part of the Roundwood Festival. Teams can have a maximum of two adults (over 16) and up to three children (over eight). STROLLING THROUGH ULYSSES Strolling through Ulysses takes place in Wicklow Sailing Club as part of the Wicklow Regatta program. The Wicklow Regatta is mentioned in James Joyce’s Ulysses and Robert Grogans hosts a one man show bringing the humour of the book to life. The event starts at 8 p.m. and is sponsored by Bridge Street Books. SET DANCING Kavanagh’s Vartry House will host this night of set dancing for all as part of the Roundwood Festival. There will be lessons from 8.30 p.m. with the dancing starting at 9 p.m. so people with little or no experience are more than welcome to join in. SINGING PUBS Fitzpatrick’s hosts the always popular Singing Pubs competition which is run as part of the Wicklow Regatta. Eight pubs are involved overall and the fun starts at 8.30 p.m.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 3
UPPER VARTRY LOOP WALK ARKLOW MARITIME QUEEN SELECTION NIGHT. The Arklow Maritime Queen Selection night takes place as part of the annual Arklow Maritime Festival. The event commences at 8 p.m. at Arklow Sailing Club. FAMILY CÉILI A family céili and set dance commences at 7.30 p.m. in the Parish Hall as part of the Roundwood Festival. Join Sheila Kavanagh and McGrath Flood School to try out some waltzes, céili and set dancing. Suitable for all aged and abilities, admission is €5 for adults (kids go free).
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4
HILL WALK Come and enjoy a spectacular walk taking in Kanturk and Scarr, as part of the Roundwood Festival. Places must be booked in advance so that bus transfers can be arranged. The cost of taking part is €5 and email info@ roundwood.ie to secure a place. TEDDY BEAR’S PICNIC Cuddly bears and other stuffed toys can join in the fun of the Roundwood Festival thanks to a free teddy bears’ picnic at An Tochar GAA Club from 11 a.m. Guests can bring their own picnic and there will be games and entertainment to keep the little ones amused. FALCONRY Newgrange Falconry returns to Killruddery at 1.30 p.m. with 12 majestic birds of prey. Learn about nature’s top predators, including the Golden Eagle, owls, hawks and falcons, and participate in the entertaining static, handling and flying displays. Admission is €7.50 for adults, €2 for children under-12. Admission is free for members and children under four. FAMILY DAY AND DOG SHOW There will be an afternoon of free, family entertainment at the Abbey Grounds, Wicklow town, from 1.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. as part of the Wicklow Regatta Festival. There will be music from the Dublin Ukulele collective, games, fancy dress and a dog show, while the Pup-Up Booth will be on hand to capture much-loved pooches. AUCTION St Peter’s Parish, Kiltegan, will hold a farm and country produce auction at 2 p.m. in the parish centre. CANOE RACES A Roundwood Festival favourite, the canoe races will begin on the Upper Vartry Reservoir at 4.30 p.m. The entry fee is €5 and there will be veteran, adult and youth competitions. The races are open to all swimmers aged 13 and over. 5K FAMILY WALK AND RUN This fun family walk, jog or run will take place in Wicklow town at 7 p.m. in aid of Wicklow Cancer Support. Registration will take place from 5.30 p.m. at Leitrim Place, where the race will also start. There will be prizes for the first men and women across the finish line and the race will be timed for the more serious runners. Entry will be €10 for adults and €2 for children. VETERAN CHALLENGE MATCH Roundwood’s soccer stars of the past will be re-living their glory days as they take part in this festival challenge match at 7.30 p.m. at Roundwood AFC. BLIND DATE There’s bound to be a lorra-lorra laughs as Roundwood Festival hosts its special edition of Blind Date. Hosted by An Tochar GAA Club, love will be in the air from 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.) and the main event will be followed by a barbecue and DJ Tickets are on sale now for €10. MOVIES AT MERMAID Mermaid Arts Centre will screen the movie A Fistful of Dollars at 8 p.m. San Miguel is a one-horse town being pulled apart by two rival groups. John Baxter, the crooked town sheriff, seeks to establish his own version of law and order but the Rojo Cartel has its own ambitions for San Miguel. Enter the Man with No Name: a laconic gunslinger for hire who spots an opportunity. Tickets cost €8 and are available from the Mermaid. LIFEBOAT BINGO Lifeboat Bingo as part of the Arklow Maritime Festival takes place at Árus Lorcáin at 8.30 p.m.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 5
THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE This fundraiser for Donard NS will see participants embark on a walk through the beautiful Glen of Imaal to Glenmalure, enjoy dinner in the Glenmalure Lodge then get a return bus to Donard NS. It costs €85 to take part. To register, call Sophie at 083 8374437. RATHVILLY CEMETERY MASS Rathvilly cemetery Mass will take place at 11 a.m. ARKLOW MARITIME FESTIVAL FUN ON THE QUAY. Fun on the Quay takes place from midday with family fun, games and entertainment. The Arklow Pipe Band appears at midday followed by the blessing of the Fleet at 1.30 p.m., Viking Landing at 2 p.m. and the Lifeboat Dog Show at 3 p.m. CASTLETOWN FIELD DAY The field day takes place from 2 p.m. A day of family fun is promised, made possible by a great team of volunteers. PARADE AND FAMILY FUN DAY The final day of the Roundwood Festival will be jam-packed with family fun and kicks-off at 2 p.m. with a vintage vehicle parade featuring an IUNVA colour party and the 17th Wicklow Scout Group. The field day will include a range of attractions, including bungiee trampline, vintage display, dog show, scarecrow competition, bottle fishing, duck herding and much, much more. CRAFT SHOW Roundwood Parish Hall will be fun to the brim with excellent examples of pottery, wood-turning, quilting, lace, baskets and much more as the Roundwood Festival Traditional Craft Show takes place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Roundwood Home Produce Market WICKLOW REGATTA RAFT RACE All those who fancy themselves as raft builders will have their moment to shine as the Wicklow Regatta Festival raft race gets under way at 2.30 p.m. Ideas and notions are all well and good till those lovingly crafted vessels hit the water and then it’s a case of making a splash or sinking like a stone. The start and finish locations will be posted nearer the date as tidal conditions on the day will have to be assessed. CEMETERY MASS The cemetery Mass at Baltinglass will take place at 3 p.m. FUN RACES No Roundwood Festival would be complete without the annual fight to the finish that is the fun race series. The inter-club race will get under way at 3 p.m., while the barman’s race is at 4 p.m. A raffle and the Load of Balls Downhill Ball Race will take place at Vartry House from 6.30 p.m. SECRET GARDEN MUSIC FESTIVAL The Secret Garden Music Festival returns to the Abbey Grounds in Wicklow town with busy programme of music, art installations, creative workshops and delicious food. Among the acts playing will be Birds of Olympus, Mongrel State, Cat Dowling, Conor O’Donnell and Daniel John Paxton, with more to be announced. As it is a family friendly event, children under-12 go free. Gates open at 3 p.m. and tickets, costing €15, are available from secretgarden.ie. STREET PARTY The 2018 Roundwood Festival will draw to a close with the annual street party at Byrne and Woods/Vartry House, featuring Citizen J and special guests. REGATTA FIREWORKS The grand finale of the Wicklow Regatta takes place at the Black Castle at 11 p.m. and will be started by the program competition winner.
MONDAY, AUGUST 6
TINAHELY SHOW The annual Tinahely Show takes place at Fairwood Park, Tinahely. Gates open at 10 a.m. and there is plenty of free parking. Entry is free for under-12s and is €15 for adults and €10 for OAPs and students. A family ticket for two adults and three under-18 costs €40. For full information see tinahelyshow.ie. WICKLOW ROWING REGATTA This event will be hosted by Wicklow Rowing Club and is the highlight