Derby and 'Crazy Horse' draw punters

Thousands of music and sports fans will be taking to Irish roads this weekend as a number of high profile events take place around the country.

Ballsbridge in Dublin is set for an influx of boyband fans tomorrow as Boyzone play at the RDS Arena, supported by Sugababes and Hope. Gates open at 5pm, with the first act taking to the stage at 5pm, and Boyzone expected on stage at 8.30 pm.

AA Roadwatch is warning of delays in Ballsbridge and Sandymount, with Anglesea Rd, Merrion Rd, Simmonscourt Rd, Shelbourne Rd and Pembroke Rd expected to be the worst affected.

Also in Dublin, Morrissey is set to perform at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham tomorrow night, backed up by the New York Dolls. Access to the area will be limited, with no on-site parking, and concert-goers are advised to take public transport to the event.

Neil Young plays at Malahide Castle on Sunday

Canadian singer Neil Young will play at Malahide Castle in Dublin on Sunday, supported by The Frames. Extra traffic can be expected in the area before and after the event.

Meanwhile, in Cork, Christy Moore will play the Marquee tomorrow. The venue is located at the docklands on Centre Park Road. Meatloaf takes to the same stage on Sunday, with both events kicking off at 8pm.

Sporting fans are also catered for thover theweekend, with a number of GAA fixtures scheduled to take place.

Antrim take on Galway in an All Ireland hurling senior championship qualifier match in Casement Park, Co Antrim. The game gets underway at 3.30pm, with additional traffic expected around the stadium before and after the event.

A number of Christy Ring Cup matches take place tomorrow afternoon, with Westmeath going up against Roscommon in Cusack Park, Mullingar, in the first round of the cup. Carlow will play London at Dr Cullen Park in Carlow, and in Páirc Tailteann in Navan, Co Meath, Meath will take on Mayo. Kildare, meanwhile, will face off against Derry in Newbridge, Co Kildare, with the match beginning at 3.30pm.

On Sunday, Dublin and Westmeath will play in Croke Park in the semi-final of the Leinster Senior Football Championship. Kick off is at 2pm. Further north, Down take on Armagh in the Ulster Senior Football Championship semi-final in Clones, Co Monaghan at 4pm.

In racing, the Irish Derby will take place at the Curragh this weekend, with races due to take place today, tomorrow and Sunday. The first race tomorrow is at 3.45 pm, with Sunday’s racing starting at 2.40pm.

In other events, the Taste of Cork festival is taking place this weekend in Cork City Gaol and Heritage Centre, beginning today and running until Sunday. Motorists have been warned to expect extra traffic in the area over the weekend as a result.

Part of Belfast city centre will be closed to traffic tomorrow, when the ‘Gulliver’s Circus’ hits the streets for the annual Belfast City Carnival. Academy St, Curtis St, Exchange St, Exchange St West, Edward St and Little Edward St will be closed to traffic from 7.30am, reopening early in the afternoon. Some roads will be closed as the carnival procession passes, beginning at Writers’ Square at 1.30pm before finishing at Custom House Square at about 3pm.

Drogheda residents are expecting some traffic disruption this weekend as the annual Samba Festival gets underway. Kicking off today at 5pm, the dancing and craic continues until Sunday.

Meanwhile a major international archaeological conference is to be hosted at UCD, starting on Sunday. Delegates from around Ireland, Europe, North America, China, Australia and New Zealand will attend the conference at the Belfield campus.

On the weather front, rain early today will give way to a brighter evening with scattered showers.

It will be mainly dry tonight in the east and south but with occasional showers elsewhere, according to Met Éireann.

There will be clear dry spells and occasional showers on Saturday and Sunday.

There will be some heavy or prolonged showers in places with a risk of thunder, especially on Sunday.