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Trim balloon fiesta

There’s no guarantee of sun in the sky this weekend, but in Trim, Co Meath, at least there will be some spectacular shapes overhead. Hot-air ballooning is a fairly serious business, but to make this weekend’s Trim Hot Air Balloon Fiesta particularly family friendly, a section is being devoted to fun-shaped giant hot-air balloons. Watch out for Bizzy and Honey, who will be joined by a giant Easter chick and bunny, Darth Vader and Thomas the Tank Engine.

The balloons fly daily between 7am and 10am and 5pm and 7pm, weather permitting. Between times there’s a chance to get a closer look, as the balloons will be tethered in the Porch Field, beside Trim Castle. During the day today and tomorrow you can also watch skydivers landing in the grounds of the castle, as well as seeing an exhibition of paramotoring, a type of powered paragliding. Tomorrow, children will be encouraged to try to find chocolate goodies in the foliage around the grounds in a huge Easter-egg hunt.

A visit to the fiesta is also a chance to get a look at Trim Castle, which featured in the film Braveheart. Built in the 11th century, it is thought to have been Ireland's largest castle, and historians consider it particularly noteworthy, as it has not been altered since Norman times.

• trimballoonfiesta.com