Climate change is the theme for a weekend that promises the reveal the macro and micro impacts of the issue - and perhaps get you wet.
For the environmentally conscious (and those who aren’t), the National Greener Ireland Expo is being staged at the RDS Main Hall on Saturday, 10am to 6pm, and Sunday, 10am to 5pm.
The organisers promise the event will be a celebration of securing a better future, and will feature something for everybody, from fashions shows to electric cars and workshops for kids. No mention of lentil soup and hemp shirts, but you never know your luck.
Elsewhere, a tug of war will take place in Cork City on Sunday as part of Cystic Fibrosis Week. The heave-ho will take place at noon at the Footbridge, Popes Quay, in the centre of the city, and the AA warns more traffic than usual can be expected in the area during the afternoon.
On another battle front, the resurgent Galway hurlers under manager Ger Loughnane take on Tipperary in the league final on Sunday at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick. The game between two of the would-be contenders to Kilkenny starts at 4.15, and traffic disruption can be expected around the ground.
Sunday also sees the National Football League clash between old rivals Dublin and promotion-chasing Meath at Parnell Park. Throw-in for the all-ticket clash is 2.30pm.
On the rugby field, Munster play Ospreys in the Magners League at Musgrave Park in Cork on Saturday, with kick-off at 7:30pm. Coach Declan Kidney has made a raft of changes to his backline, with Barry Murphy among those making the starting line-up to face the Ospreys, recent winners of the Anglo-Welsh cup.
In terms of travel, rail track works between Connolly/Drumcondra over the weekend mean Sligo/Longford/Maynooth services will not serve Drumcondra, the AA reports.
Work is ongoing – unlike the commuter traffic - on the M50 upgrade from the M1 at the Airport to the M50 at Junction 6, Blanchardstown, and there are also works between J10 Ballymount and the M11 merge. A traffic management plan is in place.
The forecast for the weekend doesn’t generate any great excitement and epitomises the unpredictable spring weather of late. Cold easterly winds will persist through the weekend, and some showery rain may occur during Sunday, but overall the day will be dry with bright sunny periods - or so Met Éireann says.
Climate change can’t come soon enough.
