TASTE the finest cuisine that the west of Ireland has to offer at the Mayo Street Food Festival. Now in its third year, the festival takes place in Castlebar on the 8 September. The event will be showcasing fantastic artisan food produce from the county as well as the culinary expertise of local chefs. Bridge Lane – part of the Greenway route through Mayo’s county town – will play host to the festival. See Mayo Street Food Festival’s Facebook page for details. The event is part of the Fáilte Ireland Taste the Island initiative.

CELEBRATE the dedication of the national services staff and volunteers to State at the National Services Day on Friday 6 September, taking place in Dublin city. Watch the bands, personnel and vehicles of the nation’s emergency and security services parade from Parnell Square to Dublin Castle. The castle itself will host Dublin Fire Brigade, RNLI, Irish Coast Guard, Revenue and Customs, Airport Fire and Police, Civil Defence, Order of Malta, St John Ambulance, Irish Prison Service, ONE, Irish Water Safety, Community First Responders, Blood Bikes and An Garda Síochána. The event is free and family friendly. Visit www.fessef.ie for more information.

ATTEND a family day out at a farm bake sale and nature walk followed by tea and cake, all in aid of Pieta House and the Rape Crisis Centre Mid-West. The event is being held in Co Limerick and is sure to be both a social and informative day out. The bake sale and nature walk is being organised by Tory Hill Farm, which breeds pedigree Herefords. Organisers said the idea for the day came from the CSO statistic, that on average 26 farmers die by suicide every year. While farming can be the best job in the world when everything is going right, they said, we need to acknowledge it can also be lonely and challenging. The event is being held on Saturday 7 September from 12pm-3pm at Tory Hill House, Croom, Co Limerick, V35 WF43.

APPRECIATE one of the most historic hotels in Europe at Fernhill House’s History and garden walk with afternoon tea. Part of West Cork Garden Trail’s 25th anniversary celebrations, this event encompasses a walk through Fernhill’s breathtaking gardens by fourth-generation proprietor Michael O’Neill, who will also give a rundown on the house’s history. The gardens were designed by world-renowned Mary Reynolds. Afterwards, enjoy vintage local afternoon tea in Fernhill House, which was Clonakilty’s most expensive Georgian Mansion. The event runs from 1-3pm on Monday 9 September and costs €25. Anyone interested is asked to contact Fernhill House on 023-883 3258 or email michael@fernhillhousehotel.com.

ENJOY the music of country legend Declan Nerney at the annual Knockbridge Vintage Rally and Working Day in Co Louth on Sunday 8 September. Gates open to public at 1pm. There is a packed schedule of events during the day, from a jiving competition, cookery demonstration, talk forums, fun corner and animal farm for kids, sheep racing, vintage fashion show and an exhibition dedicated to Michael Collins to name but a few. For the vintage enthusiasts, there will be a large collection of vintage cars, tractors and bicycles as well as threshing and a working area which will include binders, reapers and vintage combines. Check out Knockbridge Vintage Club Facebook page for more details.

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