Táin Walking FestivalTáin Walking Festival takes place next weekend (March 6th-8th) in Carlingford, Co Louth (below). The walks included take account of all abilities, with a 1,500m walk on the flat, a 14km walk on Slieve Foye and a 16km walk to Ravens Rock among the many to choose from. Registration fees are €25 for two days and €15 for one day. 042-9353116 or alison. condra@louthcoco.ie. For accommodation see www.carlingford.ie.
Croagh PatrickThe first Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail Walking Festival will take place from March 14th to 16th in Westport, Co Mayo. The three-day festival consists of organised walks over a 61km trail of low-moderate intensity. A team of professional guides will lead walkers on the exciting trail through deciduous woodlands, rolling fields, raised bog and ancient pathways from Balla, in central Mayo, to the village of Murrisk, at the base of Mayo's holy mountain, Croagh Patrick. The organisers describe this as a strenuous walk requiring a reasonable level of fitness. Children under 12 years are not permitted, and teenagers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. www.mayowalks.ie.
Gardening seminarMonart Spa, in Co Wexford, is hosting a garden-design workshop with Mary Reynolds (above), Ireland's only recipient of a gold medal at Chelsea Flower Show (and, as it happens, the designer of the gardens at Monart). The event takes place on March 7th. 053-9238999, www.monart.ie.