Gardaí have put in place a traffic plan to cope with the crowds attending a motocross extravaganza at Slane Castle, Co Meath, this weekend.
Motocross riders will battle it out for the title of High King of X-Fighters at the Red Bull X-Fighters international freestyle motocross event. Organisers describe the competition, which involves participants performing a variety of aerial stunts, as "one of the most exciting live sports spectacles in the world".
Gardaí said they had drawn up a "major traffic plan" to cope with the expected 45,000 visitors. Diversions will be in place from 2pm today to 2am tomorrow, although local access will be maintained.
Northbound traffic on the N2 will be redirected at Flemington Cross via Duleek towards the M1, while southbound traffic on the N2 will be directed towards the M1 at Collon.
Fans travelling from the North on the M1 will be directed to leave the motorway at the Dunleer/Collon interchange and travel to Slane via Collon. Event traffic, except buses, from Dublin on the M1 will be directed to leave the motorway at the Slane exit. Vehicles bound for the event and coming from the Drogheda, Dublin, Navan and Kells roads will be directed to designated car parks located on each road.
There will be strict parking restrictions on all approaches to the castle, gardaí warned. Dublin Bus is running special buses from Parnell Square West to Slane, leaving every 30 minutes between 2pm and 4pm.
Also bound for Moscow and Madrid, the event reflects the history of its host country. Organisers say today's extravaganza will see Slane Castle's "natural amphitheatre transformed into a modern Celtic battleground".
A less high-octane treat is in store for music lovers at the inaugural Dublin City Soul Festival, described by founder Chris Maher as "a celebration of peace, unity and love". Most of the events take place at the Dandelion Cafe Bar Club on St Stephen's Green West. DJ and "living legend" Dr Bob Jones, who celebrates 40 years as a DJ this month, plays at the Dandelion tonight.
The Soul Picnic takes place tomorrow between 2pm and 6pm in Merrion Square Park, with entertainment by The Commitments, including cast-members from the 1991 Alan Parker hit movie.
Meanwhile, Ireland Bike Week continues at the Gleneagle Complex in Killarney, while "Our Fragile Earth" is the theme of the Iniscealtra Festival of Arts in Mountshannon, Co Clare.
Racing at the Curragh, a celebration of country life at the National Museum of Ireland at Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo, and the Dundalk International Maytime Festival are other highlights this weekend.