Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A trip to the beach, fun at the fair, Stradbally steam show and the Robertstown Canal Festival some of the ways to spend the long weekend.
People around the country enjoy the sunshine over the long August weekend.
The most popular place to be today was on the beach.
Sunseekers headed for the beaches of Dublin causing traffic chaos along the coast. While it was sunny, coastal temperatures reached just 17 or 18 degrees.
For those who don't like lying about on a beach all day, there were other bank holiday diversions. At the popular vintage rally at Stradbally in County Laois, there was a large display of steam engines on display along with old tractors and farm implements. There was also a fun fair.
Railway enthusiasts get their annual chance to blow off some steam.
Another highlight of the Bank Holiday is the Robertstown Canal Festival in County Kildare.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 2 August 1981.
The reporter is Alan McCullough.
A trip to the beach, fun at the fair, Stradbally steam show and the Robertstown Canal Festival some of the ways to spend the long weekend.
People around the country enjoy the sunshine over the long August weekend.
The most popular place to be today was on the beach.
Sunseekers headed for the beaches of Dublin causing traffic chaos along the coast. While it was sunny, coastal temperatures reached just 17 or 18 degrees.
For those who don't like lying about on a beach all day, there were other bank holiday diversions. At the popular vintage rally at Stradbally in County Laois, there was a large display of steam engines on display along with old tractors and farm implements. There was also a fun fair.
Railway enthusiasts get their annual chance to blow off some steam.
Another highlight of the Bank Holiday is the Robertstown Canal Festival in County Kildare.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 2 August 1981.
The reporter is Alan McCullough.
