IT’S THE final bank holiday weekend of the summer, and while there’s plenty of entertainment on offer it looks like there will be little in the way of sunshine.
Met Éireann is forecasting a somewhat mixed weekend weather-wise with some bright spells but also bands of rain and cloud coming in from the Atlantic.
The annual pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick takes place tomorrow. Last year more than 20,000 people made the ascent, starting at Murrisk Abbey. Traffic is likely to be extremely heavy throughout the day, and motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible.
There is plenty of sporting action on this weekend including the Irish Open in Killarney, Co Kerry, and the Irish Festival of Speed at Adare Manor in Co Limerick.
In the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-finals at Croke Park tomorrow, Kerry will play Limerick at 2pm and Mayo meet Cork at 4pm.
The Galway Races continue at Ballybrit racecourse over the coming days, and there is also racing in Naas and Cork.
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has selected an impressive squad for this weekend’s Dublin Super Cup, which also features Inter Milan, Celtic and the Airtricity XI.
David Silva, Adam Johnson, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli are among those who may play during the Premier League side’s visit to the Aviva Stadium. New record signing Sergio Agüero may make his debut for the club after completing his signing yesterday.
Music-wise it’s a good time to be in Dublin over the next few days with former Smiths frontman Morrissey at Vicar Street and Prince at Malahide Castle this evening. Bell X1 and Rodrigo y Gabriela headline separate nights at Marlay Park.
Outside the capital several music festivals are taking place this weekend including Castlepalooza at Charleville Castle in Tullamore, Co Offaly. Hip-hop act Naughty by Nature headline the three-day event, while Hudson Mohawke and Jape also feature.
Duke Special, Aslan, Ryan Sheridan and Sharon Shannon are among the acts at the Le Chéile Arts and Music Festival in Oldcastle, Co Meath, while the Reich Effect festival continues in Cork with Efterklang at the Savoy Theatre and Icelandic composer Johann Johannsson at Triskel Christchurch.
Also in Cork this weekend, the Mitchelstown Indiependence Music Festival takes place with a strong line-up that includes Ash, Editors and the Coronas.
Féile na Laoch, which runs until Monday in the Cuil Aodha Glen, west Cork, will celebrate Ireland’s cultural heroes with storytellers, poets, actors, dancers, singers and musicians.
Crosshaven’s recently reopened Fort Camden will host a military re-enactment with a weapons display today and tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the annual Spraoi in Waterford, the Bray Summerfest in Co Wicklow, the Killarney Summerfest in Co Kerry and the Crossmolina Festival in Co Mayo all continue.
Over the past 10 years, 195 people have been killed and seriously injured during the August bank holiday weekend and motorists have been urged to be careful when driving over the coming days. Garda checkpoints will be in place across the State to monitor high-risk behaviour.