ZORBING, SANDCASTLES AND POWERBOATS… FAMILY FESTIVAL WITH AN E
YOU’VE long since accepted that the weather will not be playing ball this summer, and no doubt you’ve adapted by doggedly pursuing your warm-weather activities in a bid to build up those summer memories. You can still go to festivals across the country, camp by the beach, wear shorts — even eat ice-cream in the rain — because once you have an umbrella and raincoat, you’re fearless. So make sure you don’t miss out on fantastic community events this summer such as the Ardmore Pattern Festival, which is now in its sixth year. A pattern festival celebrates the richness of Irish culture, and Ardmore, in Co. Waterford, has a packed programme — all for free. Catered towards families and the young at heart, the festivities take place around the seafront. Children will love building sandcastles, doing one of the many art workshops, watching aerobatic displays and marvelling at the exotic animal show, while the more adventurous might want to try ‘zorbing’ (rolling down a hillside in an orb — don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!), raft-racing or the Thundercat inflatable powerboat racing. With music from Aslan, De Dannan and the Kilfenora Céilí Band, as well as the obligatory farmers’ markets and an American classic cars display, you will be having so much fun that you won’t even notice if it rains. Which I assure you, it won’t — though bring that umbrella just in case .
