A look at the latest sports deals
Cricket
The Irish men's team are preparing for a summer during which they will defend their European Championships title in Dublin, then host the Twenty20 World Cup qualifying tournament at Stormont.
Before all that, they will be in action overseas, when they take part in a triangular series in Scotland. Ireland will face the hosts and World Cup semi-finalists New Zealand in two one-day internationals on July 1st and 2nd in Aberdeen.
It is the first time Ireland will have taken on New Zealand since they lost
out to them during their memorable run in last year's world cup, in the Caribbean. If you plan to travel to Scotland for a cheap midweek break, Ryanair (
www.ryanair.com) flies to Aberdeen Airport, about 10km from the city centre.
Tickets for both matches cost £15 (€19).
Formula 1
A key race in the Formula 1 season is likely to be on September 7th at Spa-Francorchamps, in Belgium, one of the most demanding circuits.
The Travel Department (01-6371600,
www.thetraveldepartment.ie) and Foreign Afares (021-
4278999,
www.foreignafares.ie) both have a three-night package for the Grand Prix. The deals include flights, transfers, hotel accommodation and tickets for qualifying and for Sunday's race. Both depart on September 5th and cost €699 plus taxes.
Soccer
Gohop.ie (01-2412389,
www.gohop.ie) is offering two-night trips to two curtain-raisers for the English season. Its deal for the Emirates Cup, in London between August 2nd and 4th and involving Arsenal, Real Madrid, Juventus and Hamburg, costs €369pps plus taxes. Gohop's Community Shield package, for Manchester United versus Portsmouth at Wembley on August 10th, costs €439pps plus taxes.