IT’S THE SECOND day of a three-day weekend, and those of you not disposed to spending the day shopping for furniture or DIY supplies (what is it about long weekends and furniture shopping?) have plenty on offer.

Don’t let the far poorer weather get in the way – there’s plenty going on around the country.

• Bloom: Phoenix Park, Dublin – Ireland’s largest garden festival continues today, with 27 showgardens, a food village with cookery demonstrations, and plenty to do for children.
• The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival: Kilkenny city – Now a firm staple of the international comedy calendar, there’s plenty of shows on this evening in the Marble City, with tickets starting at €20 each. Sunday also sees the annual free soccer match between the Irish comedians and the overseas ones kicking off at 2:30pm. (If comedy isn’t your thing, the All Ireland and International Sheep Shearing Championships are continuing at Cillín Hill.)
• Cork X Southwest music festival: Skibbereen, Co Cork – Patti Smith, Yuck, God is an Astronaut and Jape will be leading the talent at the Liss Ard Estate today.
• Cork Pride Festival: Cork City – The 10-day festival wraps up on Leeside today, with the main parade kicking off at 3pm while there’s also body painting workshops, political exhibitions and a barbeque.
• Castlebar Blues and Beyond Festival: Co Mayo – Artists from all over the world descend on the Western town, with Thin Lizzy headlining at the Royal Theatre this evening.
• Forbidden Fruit music festival: Kilmainham, Dublin - Aphex Twin, Battles and Caribou will all be strutting their stuff at the grounds of the Royal Hospital, with the offbeat acts including the Trinity College orchestra playing the entire of Daft Punk’s Discovery album.
• Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival: Ballyshannon, Co Donegal – This is the tenth festival in honour of the original Guitar Hero, and many of the events and gigs are free and open to the public. The guitar legend was born in Ballyshannon in 1948.
• Listowel Writers Week: Listowel, Co Kerry – One of the primary events in the country’s literary calendar, a jam-packed programme today includes events with Cathy Kelly and John Boyne, a screening of The Tempest and the final of its legendary adult storytelling competition.
• The Flat Lake Literary & Arts Festival: Scotshouse, Co Monaghan – Poetry slams, an interview with Pulitzer winner Sam Sheperd, a sports day, Louisiana Joyride and Crow Black Chicken. A busy day in Monaghan.
• Bandon Music Festival: Bandon, Co Cork – Today’s bill includes appearances from Fight Like Apes and Republic of Loose, though there’s live music all over the town all day.
• Outdoor Movies in the Park: People’s Park, Dún Laoghaire – Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is holding free screenings of popular classic films – and are inviting people to bring picnics and blankets for a lovely family day out. Today’s screenings: Despicable Me, Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and Singing in the Rain (possibly actually during some rain).
• The Melting Pot: Ardara, Co Donegal – A multicultural showcase with ethnic music, dance, food, workshops and parades continues today with a country market, live music, magic shows, films from Tibet and Jordan, DJs and gypsy jazz bands.
• Gaelic Games this weekend: There’s a Leinster football double-bill in Croke Park as Meath face Kildare and Dublin host Laois, while Cork host Waterford in Pairc Uí Chaoimh hoping to set up a Munster final date with Kerry. In Omagh, meanwhile, Tyrone face Monaghan in a repeat of last year’s Ulster final.

Other points of interest submitted by our readers yesterday:

• Mountbolus Bog Bash Festival, Co Offaly
• Balbriggan Summerfest, Dublin
• Horse racing in Ballyferriter, Co Kerry
• WestFest, Co Mayo

Don’t forget – no matter where you’re off to, we want to see your holiday snaps! Send them to us on Twitter (we’re at @thejournal_ie), via email to tips@thejournal.ie, or by clicking the camera icon in the top-left corner of our iPhone and Android apps.

Additional reporting by Emer McLysaght