Some 70,000 music fans will attend this weekend's Oxegen music festival which gets under way at Punchestown racecourse today.
About 80 acts will perform on five stages at the two-day event which sold out six weeks ago.
Elaborate traffic management plans have been put in place around Kildare to facilitate Oxegen. Gardaí and AA Roadwatch have warned of heavy traffic in the Dublin region all weekend, as the Ulster football final also takes place tomorrow.
More than 70 ambulance staff will be at the Oxegen event, as well as dozens of gardaí and security officers.The Order of Malta has warned concert-goers to drink responsibly and to protect themselves from the sun, as temperatures are expected to reach the mid-20s on Sunday.
While parking has been provided for about 10,000 cars around the venue, festival organisers have encouraged concert-goers to use public transport if possible.
Dublin Bus has been providing a shuttle service from Parnell Square since yesterday afternoon to cater for people camping at the racecourse. More than 5,000 concert-goers are expected to use the campsites this weekend.
Bus Éireann is also running buses from the Custom House Quay to the event and returning immediately after the concert each night. Advance booking is necessary and tickets can be bought at the nearby Busáras station. Bus Éireann is running a shuttle bus service between Naas and Punchestown in both directions until Monday afternoon. Gardaí at Naas are policing the event.
They have advised motorists coming from the M1, N2, N3 and N4 to travel via the M50 and on to the N7. Traffic should turn off for Naas and on to the Blessington Road via the R410 and on to Punchestown.
Traffic travelling from south Dublin should travel via the N81 (Tallaght/Blessington Road) to Ballymore Eustace and on to Punchestown.
Traffic from the southeast should travel via Carlow or Athy through Kilcullen and on to the Naas Road.
Traffic from the south and southwest should travel via the N7, turning off at the Newbridge exit (Ballymany flyover) for Kilcullen.
Gardaí have also reminded parents picking up concert-goers that the designated collection point will close at 11 30pm tonight and tomorrow night.
All approaches to Dublin will be busy tomorrow as the Ulster football final between Armagh and Tyrone is being held in Croke Park.
Parking will be available from 11am at Clonliffe College, Lower Drumcondra Road, O'Connell School, North Richmond Street and St Vincent's School, Finglas Road.
