After seven weeks of waiting due to foot-and-mouth, racing makes a return to what is a full sporting Easter weekend involving Gaelic games, golf, rugby, soccer and racing.
There are two race meetings scheduled for Easter Monday, a mixed meeting at Cork and a flat card at Leopardstown, which features trials for the local Guineas. In the 1,000 Guineas Trial, leading trainer Aidan O'Brien has four entries, including Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Sequoyah and Rockfel Stakes runner-up Imagine.
Some restrictions will be in place. There will be no access via the Foxrock entrance (golf-club driving range gates) and any vehicles covered in mud will not be allowed to enter.
In rugby the main event takes place tomorrow when the Munster team play The Rest of Ireland in Thomond Park at 5 pm. The match has been arranged as a warm-up before Munster's European Cup semi-final next week against French side Stade Francais.
The Rest of Ireland side feature 13 internationals, including Lions outside centre candidate Brian O'Driscoll. In Gaelic games the Ulster Colleges senior football final will take place between St Michael's, Enniskillen and Omagh CBS in Casement Park on Saturday at 1.30 p.m. The Ulster under-21 football championship follows, with Tyrone facing Fermanagh.
The National Football League and the National Hurling League are also in full swing on Sunday with a repeat of the AllIreland final between Galway and Kerry in Tuam the pick of the football. The meeting of Munster rivals Tipperary and Cork in Thurles will be the top game in hurling. There are 14 league football matches and 10 hurling matches scheduled around the country.
The biggest draw of the weekend takes place on Monday with the All-Ireland Club finals in Croke Park. Kilkenny's Graigue-Ballycallan face defending champions St Mary's, Athenry at 2 p.m., with Crossmolina from Mayo up against Cork's Nemo Rangers in the hurling decider at 3.40 p.m.
In amateur golf the West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point, Sligo marks the first major event of the men's season. Tomorrow and Saturday will cut the field to 64 qualifiers before the two-day matchplay decider.
In soccer the main match takes place tomorrow night at 8.05 p.m in Dalymount Park. Dublin rivals Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers face each other in the FAI Harp Lager Cup semi-final. The match will be broadcast live on Network 2.
There is a full soccer Premier League programme scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday.
