J.M.W Turner, Storm at the Mouth of the Grand Canal, Venice, c. 1840, National Gallery of Ireland 
Family-friendly museum events
Though the holidays are over, the National Gallery of Ireland is offering more occasions for the whole family to have fun and be inventive together. The drop-in session ‘Tearing through nature’ on January 14 from 11.30-3.30 is a creative workshop inspired by Turner’s landscapes, where you can create your own dramatic landscapes by tearing and sticking collage materials.
Families can stay for as long or as little as they like and admission is free with no booking required.
Alongside this the gallery is also offering a free tour from 12.30-1.15pm, specially designed for children and their guardians, parents, and carers.
The aim is to make the works on display fun and engaging for kids, and to welcome families and visitors of all ages and encourage them to feel comfortable in the gallery rooms. No booking is necessary and to attend simply meet at the Merrion Square information desk on the day.
Food galore in family day out
A very different family day out could be had at Limerick’s Saturday Food Market in Limerick city centre, a great way to enjoy the very best of fresh natural produce, ranging from great farmhouse cheeses and chutneys, just-caught fish and artisan meats, organic fruit & vegetables, to delicious healthy breads and fresh pressed juices.
Visitors to the market can snack on gourmet sandwiches, wraps, pastries, chocolates, delicious crepes, soups and freshly brewed teas & coffees or even buy fresh flowers and vibrant plants.
Open every Saturday from 8.00-15.00, the market’s now weather-proofed, housed under the cover of Ireland’s largest single column support canopy, and making sure your family can stay nicely dry, no matter how wet the streets are!
A bottle you just can’t put down
After filling up over the Christmas with everything from mince pies and chocolate to mulled wine and whiskey, it might be time for the family to get back into shape, and there are plenty of apps and gadgets to help you do so.
The Ozmo smart bottle is one especially clever accessory for exercising, keeping you hydrated and allowing you to track what is going into your body.
The bottle connects with an app to record both water and coffee consumption and track hydration over the day, synching with Fitbit, Apple Watch, and other fitness trackers to re-evaluate your hydration needs post-workout.
With small LED lights to track progress and vibration alerts to remind you to stay hydrated, the Ozmo bottle is convenient to carry, extremely durable, and potentially a good investment for anyone with post-sales vouchers to spare.
