Last treats: The National Aquatic Centre Waterworld in Abbotstown, west Dublin offers a day of activity for the entire family. Make a splash in the cool blue waves, take a ride down the many water slides, float around the lazy river or relax in the bubble bay. It's advisable to phone ahead as the Waterworld is usually busy. Birthday party packages are also available. Tel: 01-6464364
Plan a break
Temple Spa, near Moate, Co Westmeath combines modern spa therapies with comfort, style and gracious living in the 250 year-old Temple country house. Specialities include natural moor, a treatment with heated peat used to relax muscles before a deep massage, and the anti-cellulite treatment, endermologie. A pampering weekend of three therapies plus yoga and relaxation classes, with guided walks and use of the sauna and steamroom, costs €525, while a 24-hour escape costs €215. Tel: 0506-35118. www.templespa.ie
Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa (see photograph above), near Clonakilty, Co Cork is one for salt-water lovers. Fresh seawater from the Atlantic is pumped into the thalassotherapy pool every day, while every hotel room overlooks the sea. Treatments include a jet shower, seaweed wraps and brumisation, the inhalation of seawater mist. Afterwards, you can swim in the seawater pool with a waterfall and underwater massage seats or use the sauna or gym. An indulging weekend break includes six thalasso treatments and costs €525. Tel: 023-33143. www.inchydoneyisland.com
Sarah Marriott
Watch out
The National Aquatic Centre Waterworld in Abbotstown, west Dublin offers a day of activity for the entire family. Make a splash in the cool blue waves, take a ride down the many water slides, float around the lazy river or relax in the bubble bay. It's advisable to phone ahead as the Waterworld is usually busy. Birthday party packages are also available.
Tel: 01-6464364
Louise Holden
If August turns Indian enough, there could be a blackberry bonanza. But what differences there can be between briars; on one bush the berry is small and made of many tightly-packed segments, on another the berry is huge, with enormous segments bursting with juice and sweetness. There are differences, too, in the shape and size of leaves, flowers and prickles. One English botanist found 57 microspecies of bramble in Irish hedgerows.
Michael Viney
Stars and gripes
Tatianna Ouliankina - Fair City actress
Best Holiday
Mallorca 10 years ago. I went over for Russian television and ended up staying for a year. The island, the mountains and the Spanish language, everything was perfect. I would recommend any holiday out there except the resorts. You really have to go to the little villages to find the real Spanish culture.
Worst Holiday
I can tell you but you're going to laugh. My husband thought we should go to Spain so I booked it. Where did they put us? A family resort. We were promised a four-star hotel but when we got there we didn't even have soap. Those resorts are terrible, they have no character, and basically, they're crap.
In conversation with
Fiachra Ó Cionnaith
Get Out
Where to go, what to see: For entertainment listings, see The Ticket, every Friday in The Irish Times, or go to www.ireland.com/ theticket
For other events see the What's On column in the main paper every Thursday and the Saturday magazine
