RECORD numbers of trains, boats and planes will be used this Easter weekend as Bord Failte reports a very busy weekend for home holidays.
According to Met Eireann, most of the weekend will be mild and sunny. Today will be mainly dry, with some showers in the north and north east. Temperatures will be between 7 and 10. However, for tomorrow and for the remainder of the weekend temperatures will rise to between 11 C and 13.
More than 140,000 passengers will pass through Dublin, Cork, and Shannon airports. Some 102,000 passengers will use Dublin Airport, a 10 per cent increase over last year. Numbers are up by 11 per cent at Shannon and 5 per cent at Cork. A total of 160 flights have been added to cope with demand.
Airlines are reporting record passenger numbers, with Aer Lingus up 9 per cent on last year. A huge increase in continental travel has been reported. Aer Lingus has 9,000 passengers travelling to and from the US, a 17 per cent rise.
Irish Ferries is expecting to carry 3,950 passengers and 690 vehicles between Rosslare and France. Bus Eireann is providing extra buses for weekend travel. The company expects to carry 100,000 passengers.
Iarnrod Eireann has put on 30 extra trains to carry the 180,000 people who will be travelling on InterCity services. Today, the DART and suburban train services will operate on a Saturday timetable. Feeder services will operate. On Easter Monday, the same services will run on a Sunday timetable.
The AA has warned of major road works the Malahide Road and Clare Hall junction in Dublin; on the Naas dual carriageway between Newlands Cross and Rathcoole; on the Dublin/Navan road three miles outside Dunshaughlin; the Lucan/Celridge Road is reduced to one lane. The National Safety Council has warned drivers to be careful.
Major sporting events include the West of Ireland Golf Championships, the Circuit of Ireland and the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday.
Clocks will go forward one hour to summer time at 1 a.m. on Sunday, giving an extra hour off daylight.