Irish Tourist Radio

19/08/2026

Ever stood at the gate staring at that dreaded word "CANCELLED," shoes off, boarding pass crumpled, wondering what you're actually owed? 😅✈️

Turns out, nearly half of Irish flyers don't know their rights when flights go wrong, and it can mean missing out on real compensation (up to €600!). The good news: your rights don't vanish just because the weather turned biblical over Dublin Airport.

We've broken it all down: delays, cancellations, overbooking, and a handy checklist to keep in your back pocket before your next trip. Give it a read and fly a little smarter next time! 🍀

🔗 https://irishtouristradio.com/nearly-half-irish-flyers-dont-know-rights-flights-go-wrong/

15/08/2026

Wee walk to St Erc’s Hermitage

15/08/2026

☘️ Lady Well Day 2026: Walking an Ancient Slane Tradition

Every year on 15 August, an ancient tradition comes alive again in Slane, County Meath.

For generations, people have made their way to Lady Well on the Slane Castle estate, praying at the well, collecting its water and following a tradition wrapped in faith, folklore and local memory.

But Lady Well Day was once much more than a pilgrimage.

Thousands travelled to Slane. The village filled with visitors, houses displayed signs saying “Meat Teas Served Here”, and after the pilgrimage came music, sport, stalls, entertainment and celebration.

Our new Irish Tourist Radio story follows that tradition through Slane from the Gothic Gates to St Erc’s Hermitage and the mysterious Twelve Apostle Stone, before reaching Lady Well itself.

It’s also a personal journey for me, beginning with childhood memories of holy wells and bringing holy water home to my granny in Derry, and eventually finding another remarkable holy-well tradition here in Slane.

🎧 There’s also a new audio version of the story to listen to.

📖 Read the full Lady Well Day 2026 story and discover a tradition that is still very much alive today.

👇 https://irishtouristradio.com/lady-well-day-2026-walking-an-ancient-slane-tradition/

And if you're visiting Lady Well today, perhaps I'll see you there.

Irish Tourist Radio: Exploring Ireland Through Sound & Stories. ☘️📻

13/08/2026

Picnics, a barbecue, two monks, and a sky full of eclipse-watchers that was the scene on the Hill of Slane last Wednesday evening! 🌒

We climbed up (with a little help from a kind stranger) to watch the eclipse alongside families, photographers, and even a dad who travelled down from Belfast so his sons could see what he saw in France back in '99. Along the way, we picked up the usual ITR tradition of asking everyone where they'd send a visitor for a pint or a bite. Hegarty's, The Village Inn, The Mariner, Donegan's... let's just say nobody in the Boyne Valley goes hungry or thirsty. 😄

It's a reminder that this corner of Ireland's Ancient East has just as much charm as the big-name spots, sometimes more.

Read the full story (and check out our 360° view from the hill!) 👇
🔗 https://irishtouristradio.com/families-monks-and-an-eclipse-an-evening-on-the-hill-of-slane/

Tune into Irish Tourist Radio for more stories from around the country 🎙️🇮🇪

10/08/2026

Turns out one of Ireland's best-kept secrets... is the dark. 🌌

Out west, communities from Kerry to Mayo to Donegal have realised that a truly black, star-filled sky is something most of the world has lost, and people will travel a long way to stand under one. Kerry's Dark-Sky Reserve was actually the first in the whole Northern Hemisphere to earn Gold Tier status. Not bad for a bit of "nothing," is it?

And this Wednesday, August 12, there's an extra reason to look up: a massive partial solar eclipse will sweep across the country in the evening, with up to 97% of the Sun covered in the west. Grab your eclipse glasses (please, no staring at it with the naked eye!), find a spot with a clear view west, and stick around after dark, the Perseid meteor shower peaks that same night. ✨

Make a proper evening of it: a coastal walk, a bite to eat, then eyes to the sky.

Full guide to the best spots to watch on ITR 👇
https://irishtouristradio.com/irelands-dark-sky-tourism-solar-eclipse/

07/08/2026

☀️ What a morning on the Hill of Slane! 🇮🇪

You really couldn’t ask for a better start to the day. Blue skies, sunshine, a little mist still hanging over the Boyne Valley, and centuries of history sitting quietly on top of the hill.

I’ve walked up here more times than I could possibly count, but mornings like this remind me why I never get tired of it. Every visit looks just a little bit different.

And yes… the sun really does shine in Ireland! 😂☀️

If you’re travelling through County Meath and exploring Ireland’s Ancient East, put the Hill of Slane on your list. Sometimes the best way to experience Irish history is simply to stand in the middle of it and enjoy the view.

📍 Hill of Slane, County Meath
☘️ Irish Tourist Radio, Exploring Ireland Through Sound & Stories

☘️🇮🇪

05/08/2026

We went back to Spraoi 2026 in Waterford, and once again, it did not disappoint! 🎉🎆

Fish and chips at a Waterford institution, giant illuminated puppets parading through the streets, brass bands, aerial acrobats, and a family who told us they've been coming to this festival for 25 years, bringing their kids, and now their kids' kids. That's the magic of Spraoi.

Oh, and if anyone tells you to skip Geoff's Café Bar in the Apple Market... don't listen to them. The seafood chowder alone is worth the trip. 🍲

Read the full story (and see all the photos) here 👇
https://irishtouristradio.com/spraoi-2026-music-magic-and-memories-in-irelands-festival-city/

Have you been to Spraoi? Tell us your favourite memory in the comments! 👇

02/08/2026

02/08/2026

A little Irish drizzle wasn't going to stop the fun today! ☔🇮🇪

I took a break from exploring Spraoi Festival and stopped into Geoff's Café Bar in Waterford for a fantastic bowl of Seafood Chowder. Sitting outside under the awning, watching the crowds wander by between the light showers, there was still an incredible buzz around the city.

That's the magic of Ireland, when there's a festival on, a few drops of rain don't stop anyone! The street performers keep entertaining, the cafés stay busy, and everyone just gets on with enjoying the day.

If you're in Waterford for Spraoi, be sure to take in the performances, soak up the atmosphere, and treat yourself to some great local food along the way.

🇮🇪 Follow Irish Tourist Radio as we continue exploring Ireland, one story at a time.