A mixed bag of sporting events, road closures, protests and music festivals this weekend will see traffic in parts of the State, particularly Dublin, a little busier than usual for an autumn weekend that isn't even a bank holiday.
In Dublin, the O2 in the Park concert will bring hoardes of screaming fans to Phoenix Park to see performances from teeny-bop pop idols Westlife, and also Girls Aloud, Bellefire and old rockers Aslan. Singer-songwriter Mark Geary will appeal to the more mature members of the audience.
Dublin Bus is operating a shuttle service to and from the park for the concert. Buses will leave George's Quay (beside Tara Street Dart station) from 11 a.m. and will run until after the concert has ended and the site is clear.
Traffic, particularly airport-bound traffic in the capital, will also be affected by the closure of the airport and citybound lanes on the M1/N1 between the Santry slip and the Coolock interchange from 2 a.m. on Saturday morning until 2 a.m. on Monday morning to facilitate work on the bridge, which had been removed for work on the Port Tunnel.
AA Roadwatch advises motorists to follow the diversion signs or to find an alternative route and to allow extra time for their journeys.
Also on Saturday, a number of roads will be closed in Dun Laoghaire from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. due to a residents' protest march. Library Road, Cross Avenue, Patrick Street and Marine Road will be closed.
Gardaí are also advising motorists to avoid parts of Ballyfermot on Sunday between 1.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. as a heritage parade will take place in the area and delays are likely.
Laois will play host to the Electric Piano festival tomorrow. Bus Eireann will provide services to the event from Limerick, Dublin, Sligo, Cork, Athlone, Galway, Drogheda and Dundalk.
In rail travel, Iarnrod Eireann is carrying out track improvement works on the Rosslare line between Greystones and Rathdrum this weekend. Delays of up to 40 minutes may be experienced.
Intending passengers should check Iarnrod Eireann's website at www.irishrail.ieor the AA Roadwatch site at www.aaroadwatch.iefor full details of cancelled services.
Traffic around parts of Dublin and Kildare is also likely to be busy tomorrow due to two events to be hosted on the River Liffey.
The annual Liffey Descent canoe and kayak race run by the Irish Canoe Union begins at Straffan, Co Kildare at 12 noon and outbound traffic on the Naas Road is likely to be busy from early morning as competitors bring their boats to the start line.
Up to 1,200 canoeists and kayakers take place in the event every year, with competitors and recreational boaters travelling from as far afield as South Africa to take part. The 25 kilometre-long race is the major river 'marathon' event of the canoeing year and onlookers will gather at key vantage points and at the 10 weirs on the course from mid-morning.
The most likely spots for traffic congestion are at Lucan weir, Wren's Nest weir and at the race finish at Islandbridge.
At the far end of the Liffey, some 300 people will take part in the 84th annual Liffey Swim sponsored by Dublin City Council and organised by Swim Ireland.
This year, over 100 women and some 186 men will take part in separate races, passing beneath the new James Joyce Bridge on the Liffey for the first time. The first race starts at 3.25 p.m. where the men will line up on the pontoon at Watling Street Bridge.
Contestants this year will include the Channel swimmers Anne McAdam, Shay Dillon and Owen Gaffney. The youngest female competitor is 12-year-old Hayley Pickering and the youngest male swimmer is 15-year-old Shane Drumm. The oldest swimmer is 71-year-old Jackie Kearney, who first competed in the swim in 1971.