Horse around in Dublin or click online for sports and entertainment bargains, writes CAROLINE MADDEN
Join the horsey set for less
Readers beware: there’s a highly contagious bug in the air this week. Little girls seem particularly susceptible to it, but it can strike at any age. No, we’re not talking about influenza of the porcine variety, but rather the horsey bug which always bites at this time of year as the Dublin Horse Show gets underway at the RDS.
German discount retailer Lidl never misses a trick, so it’s no surprise that they’re tapping into this seasonal horse fever. On special offer from today are cooler rugs that wick the sweat away from your horse’s skin after exercise for €24.99, children’s body protectors (which protect backs, ribs and collar-bones against the thrills and spills that come with the territory) for a very reasonable €39.99, and riding boots at an unbeatable €17.99.
However, if you’re looking for top-quality tack at rock-bottom prices, or cut-price country couture, then your best bet is to hit the stands in the exhibition area of the RDS on the last day of the show. Holmestead Saddlery slashes prices in its “mega-stand” as the end of the event draws near, but be prepared for throngs of steely-nerved bargain hunters. Even the non-horsey set will find it hard to resist the preppy take on country classics at the Joules stand (www.joulesclothing.com), which offers great deals on the final day.
Bargain-basement entertainment
If you’re more of an indoorsy type, then it’s not a bad time to stock up on box sets, as they’re currently going cheap on Amazon.co.uk. Fans of House, starring Hugh Laurie as the irascible but brilliant Dr House, can bag the box set of the first four seasons of the series for just £38.98 (€45.87), reduced from almost £80. Or if you prefer Laurie’s earlier work, then the complete Jeeves and Wooster series from 1990 can be yours for a spiffing £11.87 (€14), down from £50.99 (€60).
Avoid any credibility-ruining water-cooler moments where you’re forced to admit you’re not up to date on the latest twists and turns in cult police drama The Wire by snapping up season five for £17.93 (€21.17), down from £39.29 (€46.39), on asda-entertainment.co.uk. As an added incentive, delivery of DVDs to Ireland is currently free.
- Elsewhere, cdwow.ie has launched a warehouse clear-out sale for the month of August, and delivery to Ireland is free. Thousands of items have been discounted, with many CDs and DVDs slashed to €3.99, and games now available from €11.99. Admittedly, some of the bargain- basement offerings are somewhat dubious (there’s probably a reason why Dannii Minogue’s Unleashed: Hits and Rarities costs less than €4), but there are some classics there if you’re willing to root around the
- Users of illegal set-top boxes have finally been bested by the cable-company boffins, and the days of accessing digital channels free of charge are no more. For those who can’t live without their digital fix, it might be worth considering the deal available at the moment from Sky – if you join before the end of August, your first month’s viewing is free. Packages start from €21.50 a month, and if you join online as a new customer, €25 will be credited to your account.
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