Alternatives range from the Gala Rose Ball to regattas

If you are not one of the 70,000 planning to attend the Rolling Stones' gig this weekend in Slane, do not despair as there are…

If you are not one of the 70,000 planning to attend the Rolling Stones' gig this weekend in Slane, do not despair as there are plenty of alternative events nationwide.

Two highly anticipated events take place in Co Kerry this weekend. In Dingle, the annual Regatta races begin on Saturday with junior races and the senior events on Sunday.

An estimated 20,000 visitors are expected in Tralee for the 48th Rose of Tralee International Festival. The five-day Festival, which kicked off yesterday with the annual International Gala Rose Ball, includes the annual Rose parade and fashion shows in the Festival Dome, plus live music and street performances.

Heavy traffic is also expected around Croke Park tomorrow where a big attendance is expected at the All-Ireland football semi-final between Cork and Meath.

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In Co Galway, the annual summer festival will take place in the village of Roundstone with a crowd of over 14,000 expected to attend. The festival, which doubles as a charity fundraiser for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, is mainly a family orientated affair, with events including treasure hunts, sports competitions while a dance and drama workshop is the festival's highlight this year.

The Ballinamore Festival in Co Leitrim is hoping to attract 4,000 visitors. The festival, which began last Tuesday with its annual agricultural show, will feature cockfighting on the streets of the town.

Festival goers in Co Wexford will paint the town green as they attend a new three-day Eco- friendly festival on the grounds of Woodbrook Estate, Killane.

Billed as the "sustainable living" music festival, the Irish Green Gathering is run on renewable energy and features an organic wine bar, green workshops and three live music stages at €50 for a camping ticket.