IF SUN lovers feel they deserve a break after the coldest May on the record books, they will be disappointed this weekend. Weather forecasters are predicting some bright spells, but mainly showers, fresh winds and cool temperatures for the June bank holiday.
But the poor weather is not going to deter holiday makers searching for sun elsewhere. Ireland is on the move this weekend. More than 187,000 people will leave the country. At Dublin Airport an extra 20,000 seats will be added to the normal schedule to accommodate the additional bank holiday travellers.
For those who stay at home a weekend of fun is promised. Tall ships will sail into Dublin along with a fleet of Galway hookers and the Asgard II.
The Cat Laughs comedy festival gets under way in Kilkenny and the Guinness International Cartoon Festival starts in Rathdrum, Co Wicklow.
In Castlebar, Heineken hosts a Blues Festival, while the Harp Lager Goodtime Jazz Festival will be on in Portlaoise. In Ballycastle, Co Antrim, there is a folk festival and in Glin, Co Limerick, a fleadh.
In Dublin, the Mean Fiddler opens its first birthday celebrations with a week long series of gigs with Ian Dury, Christy Moore, Kris Kristofferson and. Lloyd Cole.
The Freewheelers Motorcycle Club of Ireland will hold its 10th Annual Custom and Classic Bike Show in Kilmeaden, Co Waterford.
There will be currach racing in Connemara and a traditional singing contest in Ennistymon, while 160 Viking actors will re enact the Battle of Clontarf on the outskirts of Leixlip.
Cinemas throughout the country are inviting people to the movie of their choice for just £1 to celebrate National Cinema Day on Sunday.
Traffic jams are inevitable as thousands flee the cities. Bus Eireann and Iarnrod Eireann expect to carry about 100,000 passengers.
No suburban trains will operate from Dublin on Monday, DART services on Monday will operate to a Sunday timetable.
Most of the large supermarkets and shopping centres will be open over the weekend. The banks will remain closed until 10 on Tuesday morning. However, the bank at Dublin Airport will stay open for the holiday weekend.