Antrim

If there’s a city that knows how to throw a festival, it’s Belfast, and the people are doing it for a whole year with Celebrate Belfast 2006. As well as the Belfast Festival – Ireland’s largest arts festival with arts, jazz, blues, dance, classical and film – you can hang with film types at the internationally renowned Belfast Film Festival, or enjoy a rake of arty carry-on in off-beat locations at the hugely entertaining Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival.

Bushmills is the oldest legal whiskey distillery in the world and has been in business since 1608. You can visit the distillery, get a guided tour and, of course, indulge in a spot of whiskey tasting.

The streets of this seaside town get closed off to make way for the bustling annual sheep, pony and livestock sale. But it’s not just about the animals – a host of market stands line the pavements of this small village and foodies can gorge on unique sweet and savoury treats, as well as a host of local produce.