Thousands are expected to attend the big sporting event this weekend. The Irish Guineas Festival 2004 at the Curragh Racecourse in Co Kildare, is the first racing classic of the season.
Adding to the usual attractions of the festival, the Curragh is adopting Spanish and Chinese themes for the two days of racing. Tomorrow, a flamenco guitarist will serenade race goers, there will be a demonstration of flamenco dancing, samples of Spanish wine and cuisine and Spanish visitors with valid identification will be admitted free.
Sunday promises an oriental theme with traditional Chinese events such as dragon dancers, Chinese singing and music, martial arts exhibitions and an authentic tea ceremony. Chinese visitors will also get free admission on Sunday.
Daytime temperatures should rise over the weekend - it will be dry and settled, with light winds and good sunny periods at times. It will be colder tonight with some ground frost in places and this could turn to sharp ground frost on Saturday and Sunday nights.
The hurling and football championships continue on Sunday and should bring additional traffic to the roads. Croke Park hosts a football double-header as Wicklow tackle Meath and Offaly take on Westmeath. In Connaught, Roscommon have home advantage over Sligo, while Clones is the venue for Armagh and Monaghan. In Munster the big match is Clare versus Kerry in Ennis.
The sole senior hurling championship match is Antrim versus a Derry and London selection at Casement Park in Belfast.
Drivers in the capital should be aware that there will be lane closures on the M50, N1 and M1 tomorrow morning to allow for essential repairs. Delays are expected and this will impact on travel times to and from Dublin airport.
Weekend DART restrictions continue this weekend with no trains running between Pearse Street and Greystones. Additional buses will run and passengers for Gorey and Rosslare will be transferred by bus with delays of up to 40 minutes as a result.
Bus Éireann will be running special buses to the Curragh Races from Dublin's Busáras tomorrow and Sunday.
The summer festival continues with Dundalk hosting the drama-focused Dundalk International Maytime Festival, while Galway welcomes the Early Music Festival which continues until Sunday.