Ideas and Plans for August
Ideas to Celebrate August in Ireland
I love sitting down to write these inspirational moments for months. Laser focussed on all that is good, celebrating the seasons, mind whirring over dates, fruit pickings and plans, the car boot is mentally packed with a picnic and tartan blanket, Rummikub at the ready.
So here’s to August! As we amble towards the ‘season of mellow fruitfulness’ and the narrowing evenings instill an urgency to celebrate all that Summer can bring. In Ireland we are so lucky to have all the seasons that meander together with occasional shorts-wearing weather in March and bitter complaints in July about the blustery cool winds. We can always rely on the weather bringing surprise and often delight. I can almost taste the blackberries that are on the horizon.
The last day of July is for bilberry collecting, to mark the beginning of the Celtic festival of Lughnasadh or the beginning of the harvest. And then we launch into the August bank holiday, a time for barbecues and family.
The children and I trundled out of the fruit market weighed down with watermelon the other day. It seemed like a monstrously good idea at the time but a few slices in I realised we wouldn’t make it before compost, so out came the blender. Happy memories of beaches in Thailand with beakers full of watermelon frosties sprang into my mind. We may not have the Pad Thai (I’ve tried and failed), but we can drink the juice - all of it! (oh, and did you know it is a great mixer with vodka when friends pop by - cocktails ahoy!).
1st August - Holiday. Plan a BBQ with the delicious salad below to celebrate.
31st July - 7th August Fleadh Cheoil in Mullingar. Head over to celebrate all things music and festival. For a timetable of events, see here.
5th August - International Beer Day Perhaps find a local craft brewery and sample some of their ale? Or a pint of the black stuff never fails.
10th August - S’mores Day (USA) Although an American tradition, who doesn’t enjoy a toasted marshmallow? Forks at the ready to add squares of chocolate to crackers topped with gooey hot marshmallows for a melty, messy treat!
11th August - Full Moon. It is also around this time that the Perseid Meteor Shower will be at it’s peak, however the brightness of the full moon might mean that it is less visible this year.
15th - 18th August The Big Grill festival in Herbert Park. This is the biggest in Europe with over 50 chefs and 20 restaurants, not to mention the craft brews. Head over here for tickets.
13th - 21st August - National Heritage Week. Look on the website to find events near you, or you can organise your own and submit it to them.
18th August - World Photography Day. Pull out your old camera and try your hand at some portraits or photographs of buildings that you like.
27th - 28th August - Ukulele Hooley in Dun Laoighre - strum along!
Other Fun Things to do in August
Walk barefoot in the sand
Try sea swimming while the water is warm
Visit a country house near you and marvel at the gardens Remember to bring a picnic! And buy ice creams for the way home. Read chapters aloud from The Secret Garden, for the truly romantic (my children obliged last year but less so, this.
Visit a pick-your-own farm and gather some picnic foods to eat on the wall.
Bike ride with a basketful of Jammy Dodgers and lemonade on a greenway near you.
Climb your county's tallest peak.
Plant a second crop of kale, spinach and radishes.
Grow some snapdragons for the bees.
Courgette and Sweetcorn Salad Recipe
Courgettes and sweetcorn are coming into season now. Make a salad with ribbons of courgettes with fresh corn kernels, goats cheese and basil vinaigrette.
Ingredients and Method
2 small courgettes, shaved into wide ribbons with a potato peeler and blanched in boiling water
1 ear of fresh corn, cooked and then kernels removed by slicing down vertically along the long edge
35g crumbled goats cheese
2 tbsp toasted pine nuts
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Toss together in a salad bowl.
Lemon basil vinaigrette: 1/2 cup olive oil, 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tbsp freshly chopped basil (plus extra leaves for decoration), 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 clove minced garlic, salt and pepper - shake well in a jar and drizzle over the salad.
Recipe inspired by FoodieCrush
What’s in Season?
Leeks, sprouts, gooseberries, marrow, bok choi, courgette, peas, French beans, broad beans, beetroot, aubergine, mushrooms, tomato, cucumber, peppers, rhubarb, parsnip, onion, lettuce, celery, cauliflower, carrot, cabbage, blackcurrant, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, thyme, chives and parsley.
With all these bountiful crops of fruit and vegetables, As a non-vegetarian with aspirations, I grab a pen and paper and make a menu plan of vegetarian dishes and fruity desserts to delight in the range of produce at this time of year.
What are you up to?