Sport and a selection of summer music events will provide the weekend’s entertainment and bring a little extra traffic to major routes this weekend.
Saturday and Sunday will be busy (and rather noisy) days in the usually tranquil surroundings of Ardgillan Castle in north Dublin, with veteran rocker Meat Loaf and REM set to take the stage.
Meat Loaf plays the venue on Saturday with the bedenimed kings of three-chord rock Status Quo providing support.
REM will pay their second visit to Ireland this year on Sunday evening, backed by Moby, The Zutons, The Devlins and Ambulance Ltd.
Both Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann will run special bus services to the venue on both days.
Further information on travel to the venue, accessibility for those with disabilities and car parking can be found at the promoter's website www.mcd.ie
Further south, the superb Glenart Castle in Co Wicklow is the setting for a so-called boutique music festival on Sunday. The ticket-only event will feature a combination of performance and music, with over 35 Irish and international bands, DJs, comedians and performers.
Featured artists include Blue Ghost, Fair Verona, The Sick Notes and The Modern Gospel Ensemble.
On the sport front, special trains will be laid on for Sunday’s big double-header at Croke Park.
Laois take on Kildare in the Leinster Senior Football Championship semi-final at Croke Park at 2.15pm, followed immediately by the Dublin v Wexford clash at 4.05pm. Traffic will be busy around the area.
Motorists in Dublin should also note that Luke Street from Poolbeg Street to Georges Quay is closed from 10pm tonight until 11.30pm on Sunday to facilitate the removal of a crane and truck from Tara Street station. Traffic diversions will be in place.
The Drynam Road in Swords is closed from the Malahide Road roundabout to Feltrim Industrial Estate until September 30th for pipe-laying work. Local access will be allowed as far as is possible.
Outside the capital, there are roadworks in Clare on the N18 south of Bunratty until the end of August. The Limerick/Shannon carriageway in both directions is reduced to a single lane for the duration of the work, and motorists should allow extra time for their journeys.
Shannon airport has warned intending passengers that they may experience long delays due to these roadworks.
In Galway, there are major roadworks on the N6 between Derrydonnell and Craughwell until the end of August, and roadworks may also contribute to delays on the N70 Ring of Kerry.
Traffic diversions are also taking place on the N4 at Kilcock until the end of the year.