We are keenly aware that when these words were being written, Ireland was basking in a heatwave and the world was full of delightfully sun-kissed possibilities. And we know that things will most likely have reverted to our land’s more traditional 40 shades of grey by the time you are reading these very same words. Colder, gloomier days may have returned bringing with them a light – or not so light – sprinkling of summer rain but even if they have, we should not allow them to cloud our prospects of a fine summer in Ireland. Now, you might think putting the words Ireland and cheap in the same sentence is oxymoronic – or just moronic – but we reckon there are still ways to knock a bit of craic out of the place without having to sell an organ to pay for it.1. No such thing as bad weatherThe first and most important thing to remember when planning a budget summer in Ireland is not to get too stressed about the weather. Having fun on the cheap is definitely easier when the sun is shining but we’ve no control over that. We may have a glorious summer or it may be cold and wet for months. Come what may, the trick is to plan for the worst and treat any sunny day as a bonus. And while assuming it will rain while you are on holidays make sure to map out your days accordingly focusing on activities that can be done in all weathers. Canoeing and surfing and even cycling make weather irrelevant while investing in wet suits – ideally sourced in Lidl or Aldi – will give you more options in the water when it’s not lovely. And remember what the Germans (or Swedes, or Dutch or Finns) say, there is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.2. Camping sites and gearWhile we’d all love to spend our holidays in the fanciest of hotels with staff on hand to cater for our most capricious whims, two weeks in a high-end hotel can be financially ruinous for a family while two weeks in a budget option can be entirely miserable. This is where camping comes in. Ireland is incredibly well served with campsites in beautiful locations and if you choose wisely you could easily have your accommodation costs for a fortnight covered for less than a grand. You might have a tent already but if you don’t, we had a look at the Decathlon site and found a two bedroom canvas house that – the shop says – sleeps six people selling for €199. You’d need more than a tent mind you and four self-inflating airbeds came in at just over €100. That would be enough to get you started, although childhood memories tell us you might also need a stove and a cooler and chairs and tables and torches and mallets and other bits and pieces. We won’t price the whole list but we reckon 300 quid would easily cover the essential accessories. And if you have the stuff already, sure, you’re half way there. 3. Wild camping to glamping optionsOnce you have all the gear you will need the pitch. There are scores of options from wild camping to fully equipped campsites to high-end glamping sites but here are eight to get you started. Podumna Glamping Village, Co GalwayGlamping in the Galway town of Portumna will see you stay in pods, dome-shaped wooden structures or wooden sheds that can accommodate up to six people. A week for two in July was coming in at just over €1,000 when we checked on its site last week, although weekends were in high demand.podumnavillage.ie Comeragh Pods, Co WaterfordThis Kilmacthomas glamping set up has some gorgeous views if the website is anything to go by. And while weekends are even harder to come by over the summer than in Podumna, five midweek nights were on the table for a total of less than €800. comeraghpods.ie There are scores of options for all types of camping in Ireland. Photo: Getty Images Pure Camping, Co ClareThis site has canvas bell tents and ‘off-grid wooden cabins” with the beach a 15-minute walk away and Killkee a 20-minute cycle away. When we looked on its site last week, a two-bed wooden cabin that would handily sleep four was available for a week in July for just €735 – although we’d imagine at that price, they will be snapped up pretty sharpish. purecamping.ieWicklow Way Camping, Co WicklowSituated on the fringe of the Wicklow National Park at Oldbridge, here you will find a small number of pitches and easy access to some of the most gorgeous walks you will find anywhere in Ireland. A pitch big enough to accommodate a tent sleeping two adults and two children in the middle of July was coming in at €469 in the middle of last week. wicklowwaycamping.comHidden Valley Camping and Caravan Park, Co WicklowThis campsite in Rathdrum is – as the name might suggest – a hidden gem and caters for camper vans, motorhomes and tents with a small number of wooden huts and self-catering options. The Avonmore (the river, not the soup) runs through here with fishing and kayaking on the cards. There is also an impressive aqua park, which offers kids (big and small) 30 obstacles to conquer, tree golf – no, we have no idea what that is either – a cinema and more. When we looked at availability for July weekends were booked out but we did find a pitch on offer for five nights for €300 hiddenvalley.ieWave Crest Caravan and Campsite, Co KerryThis four-star caravan and camping site in Caherdaniel offers panoramic views across Kenmare Bay, along with direct access to a pristine, white sand beach below. wavecrestcamping.comRenvyle Beach Caravan Park, Co GalwayCampsite on the Atlantic with pitches for tents, campervans and caravans plus direct access to a white sand beach and views of Clare Island, Inishturk, Achill, Mweelrea and Croagh Patrick. renvylebeachcaravanpark.comLough Key Caravan and Camping Park, Co RoscommonOne of the shining lights of the Irish camping scene for half a century, this site has the makings of a very fine holiday with lots of things to keep kids and adults amused. A pitch for a four-man tent this summer is €30 a night rising to €35 for a six man option. Showers cost an additional €2. loughkey.ieZipit Forest Adventures at Lough Key Forest Park near Boyle, Co Roscommon 4. When to book the hotelIf you are going to stay in a hotel, the key to getting the best value for money – is to book midweek. And if you are fairly relaxed about where you end up, you should play chicken with the hotels. A hotelier recently explained to us that hotel rooms come with a very strict expiry date and it is impossible to see last night’s empty room today. So one way to snag a bargain is to call hotels directly on the day before you are hoping to go away to see what class of deal they might be able to offer you. 5. Al fresco self-cateringThere is no escaping the fact that eating out in Ireland is not cheap, particularly if you have to pay for a family of four or more. When it comes to saving money, then, it is important we self-cater as much as possible. In times past, the summer diet of Irish people was made up largely of sandwiches, soft drinks and Tayto crisps. There were no fancy brunch options in restaurants or three course meals as the sun went down. It did not do anyone any harm – in fact in many respects, it was perfect. Two adults and two moderately hungry children eating out every day over a fortnight’s holiday in Ireland will easily cost in excess of a grand. A picnic for four by contrast, can easily be constructed for less than a tenner and as an added bonus when you are dining al fresco you don’t have to police your children quite so carefully, which makes the experience a lot more relaxing for them and for you. 6. Hail a cheap chipperIreland is also well served by some amazing chippers and while we’re not saying you have chips every night of your summer holidays at home, a big bag of chips covered in salt and vinegar on a summer’s evening can make for a memorable and incredibly cheap dinner. If you are unsure what is the best chipper wherever you find yourself, go to Google to find out what other people are saying. 7. Master ruthless orderingIf you are going to eat in restaurants as a family, avoid all the starter, mains, desserts palaver. A main in a restaurant and a 99 afterwards is all you need and being ruthless with your ordering will see the bill halved. A big bag of chips covered in salt and vinegar on a summer’s evening can make for a memorable dinner. Photo: Getty Images 8. Supermarkets’ eclectic summer bitsWhen it comes to holidaying on the cheap, Lidl and Aldi will be your friends so between now and whenever you set off, keep an eye on the middle aisles for things that might make your summer more fun. The discounters sell all sorts of eclectic and summer-themed stuff from paddling pools to the aforementioned wet suits.9. Check your sun cream shelf-lifeAnd speaking of discounters, they also do a good line in sun creams – and they are just as important at home as they are overseas. It is not all about Lidl and Aldi either and all the big retailers stock their own creams and oils for not much more than a fiver, which is a fraction of the price you’ll pay elsewhere and, according to consumer magazine Which?, they’re just as good as all the rest. And before you buy new, check what you have left over from last year. The shelf-life of sun screens is surprisingly long and an open bottle can last up to two years. The bottles have the information you need on them, although it is not easy to find. You will find a “period after opening” number in small print on the back of a bottle. It will say either 24 months or 12 months.Keem bay on Achill island has previously been named in the Lonely Planet's best beaches in the world. Photo: Getty Images 10. Sea swimming summerSwimming in the sea in Ireland is both brilliant and free, although, let’s be honest it can be a bit chilly betimes. It will always make you feel better, mind you, no matter what the temperature is – but please remember that if you are going swimming, make sure you do it in a place that is well-populated and don’t take any risks. And pay close attention to potential rip-tides. 11. Do your itinerary homeworkBefore you go on holidays anywhere do your homework to get a sense of the best cycle routes, best walking trails and the most interesting indoor places you can visit, so you have a loose itinerary you might be able to follow while away. The last thing you want to do is wake up every morning in a flap about what to do to keep yourself and your family entertained. 12. Capture summer memories yourselfHarness the power of your smartphone to make low-cost memories. We are not talking about spending your days mindlessly scrolling Instagram or TikTok or whatever social media or news platform that takes your fancy. The video cameras on all our phones are probably sharper and more responsive than anything Orson Welles or Alfred Hitchcock had at their disposal, while the editing software that is readily available can be mastered in about 60 seconds. Take advantage of the tech to make this the summer of the home movie. You can just make reality TV style recordings or – if it is raining – get the whole family involved to write short, fun films. It is all very simple and all you need is time, space, maybe a few props and the will.There are readings, workshops, classes, free wifi, DVDs and box sets available in libraries. Photo: Getty Images 13. Head to the libraryLibraries are a fantastic resource and almost entirely free and the among the best places to find free entertainment on days when the sun’s not shining. There are readings, workshops, classes, free wifi, DVDs and box sets. And they have the odd book for rent too. 14. Visit free national museumsIreland has loads of free attractions, most notably our national museums. There are family drop-in activities, tours and workshops throughout the summer in all four branches of our National Museum network. If you haven’t visited one for a while, then make this summer the time to change that. In case you have forgotten, the themes of the four branches are archaeology (Kildare Street); decorative arts and history (Collins Barracks); natural history (Merrion Street) and country life (Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo). You can find a full programme of events at each, and more besides, at museum.ie. Then there is the National Gallery of Ireland. There is also Castletown House Parklands, Glendalough and the Botanic Gardens. And they are just some of the free spaces we are lucky to have here. 15. Plan star gazingMarvelling at the heavens does not cost a cent even if when it comes to star gazing, you’re more Roger Moore than Patrick Moore. When the clouds clear and the evening is warm, go somewhere remote to watch the sun go down. The Sky Guide app shows where all the constellations, planets and satellites are and all you have to do is point your phone towards the sky. There is a free version if you don’t want to pay the few quid for no ads.When the clouds clear and the evening is warm, go somewhere remote to watch the sun go down. Photo: Getty Images 16. Get a good walking tourFind a walking tour happening near where you are. We googled “Free Walking Tour Dublin” and the great oracle almost instantly gave us more than a dozen matches. We have no idea how good or bad the tours are, but were you to do a bit of research and look through the Trip Advisor reviews we reckon you could find one that was pretty good. 17. Free (or inexpensive) heritage sitesIf you need help being a tourist in your own land this OPW list of heritage sites at heritageireland.ie might be what you need. The site is searchable based on location and admission price. Many are free and none are wildly expensive. 18. Board games and home cinemaLive in the past by setting aside days – or nights for old school board games – we’re thinking Monopoly, Risk, Chess, Draughts, Scrabble. And when that is done force your Monopoly and chess! Then set up a home cinema with the movies of your childhood and force everyone to watch them. Be warned however that many will not have aged well.