The rain may be overstaying its welcome, but a host of sporting events and festivals involving monsters, prawns and world record attempts should keep spirits up this weekend.
Thousands are expected to descend on Galway for the annual Macnas Parade which will take to the streets on Sunday. This year’s theme is ‘The Wild Hunt’ and more than 300 performers are set to take part, as well as wooden beasts and a host of musicians and drummers.
The Bray Summerfest continues Co Wicklow this weekend, with a fireworks extravaganza on Sunday, following a day of entertainment including open air street performers, a storytellers breakfast and a fancy dress bike cavalcade. A number of workshops including adult drawing, dance, puppetry and pilates will also take place in the Grand Pavilions tomorrow and Sunday as part of the festival.
The seaside village of Clogherhead in Co Louth is hoping to attract more than 342 willing participants to be buried from the neck down on Little Strand Beach, in an attempt to beat the world record which is currently held by France.
The record attempt which kicks off at 3pm tomorrow forms part of the Clogherhead Prawn Festival taking place in the village. Bungee jumping, Jet Ski racing and a strong man competition are among the other highlights of the festival, which will see the Drogheda Masters annual Round-the-Head swim take place from Clogherhead lifeboat station at 2.30pm tomorrow.
The country’s tribute bands will be gathering in Monaghan for PáircFEST which is taking place at Pairc Na Sairsealaigh in Newbliss. The unique festival will see tribute acts including the Bon Jovi Experience, Knights of Leon and AZ/DZ take to the stage.
More than 4,000 people are due to descend on Limerick for the world’s largest tag rugby festival which gets under way at the grounds of Old Crescent RFC. A record 140 teams have signed up to take part in the ninth annual Pig n Porter event, which will also feature a hockey blitz.
A number of hurling and football All Ireland Senior Championship games will also take place on Sunday. Derry will play Kildare in the GAA football All Ireland Senior Championship in Celtic Park tomorrow at 3pm, while Cork will play Waterford in the Munster GAA hurling Senior Championship final replay at Semple Stadium in Thurles at 7pm.
Dublin will play Antrim in the hurling All Ireland Senior Championship at 3pm, and Armagh in the football All Ireland Senior Championship at 5pm. Monaghan will play Tyrone in the Ulster GAA football Senior Championship final in Clones on Sunday at 2pm and Tipperary will play Offaly in Portlaoise at 3.30pm.
The Carrick-on-Suir Triathlon will take place tomorrow from midday to 3pm. Traffic disruption is expected in and around the town and gardaí are asking motorists to avoid the area where possible.
Tomorrow is forecast to be generally dry and fairly sunny in the morning, but becoming cloudier in the afternoon with rain during the evening. The rain is forecast to become very heavy during Sunday afternoon and evening.