Special offers are hard to find in Irish hotels this summer when you try to stay at home

DYOU can sense it in the air; the thrown off jumpers in the playground, the shorts as part of the uniform ( many of which used to be tracksuit bottoms), sending your child off to school lathered in sun cream while wearing a rain jacket, summer is on the way.

The pristine schoolbags of September are now in shreds barely held together by the slightest of pulled threads.

The matching lunchbox and lunch bag is survived only by the lunch bag, sure who needs a lunchbox anyway?

It’s much easier to fit stuff in the bag without it.

The uniform which looked crisp last summer is now fairly ragged and the high standards held before are replaced by the ‘ ah it’ll do’ attitude.

And talk at the school gate has turned to holidays. European camps are the chosen destination for many.

With entertainment for all ages ( and wine at € 2.50 a bottle) these camps are proving a hit with Irish families with many comparing notes on the value for money.

For myself, a short stay at the Costa del Castlebar beckons thanks to a good deal on booking. com.

But although I have been trying since last winter to secure a longer stay in an Irish hotel, try as I might I can never seem to find the ‘ special offers.’

Now I am all for promoting Irish and to be honest I am a bit of a home bird and am always happy to touch back down in Ireland.

But anything more than two nights for me personally at the rates I have found is out of the question.

I smile thinking back to what used to constitute a holiday.

Our old reliable caravan lived at the back of our house until that magical week in the summer when it was dusted down and gotten ready for Salthill.

We all wanted to travel in the caravan behind the car but Dad would only let us for a brief moment.

Instead it was safer for us to travel in the car with him smoking with the windows up.

Five of us fit in the caravan, but I must have mentally blocked out how.

The caravan was filled with every kind of St Bernard and Yellow Pack treat on offer and besides the occasional ( and I mean occasional) meal out we were self - sufficient in that sea side caravan park.

We were so modern we even had a black and white TV with us!

It was good honest fun and a memory I will always treasure.

So with the countdown on to my own summer holidays maybe it will be a case of filling the car with every kind of Lidl and Aldi treat for our trip out west.

Although I doubt there will be any Mayo vineyards selling € 2.50 wine. Unless there happens to be another miracle at Knock!