Easter is upon us and there's plenty of egg-citing events lined up over the coming days including the Irish Grand National on Monday.
With Met Éireann predicting a warm and mostly dry weekend, sitting by the barbecue will be the highlight for most people, but for those seeking more adventure there is sport, music and fun to be had.
Easter-themed events being held include an egg hunt at Belvedere House and Gardens in Mullingar, an Easter trail in the Castlecomer Discovery Park in Kilkenny, an Easter parade in Naas and a number of free family events at Farmleigh in Dublin on Sunday and Monday.
Dublin Zoo is also hosting a number of activities over the weekend including a an Easter Trail and a disco with a special guest - the Easter bunny.
The 1916 Easter Rising Commemoration Event takes place on Sunday outside the GPO in Dublin. O’Connell Street will be closed between Parnell Street and the North Quays at Bachelors Walk/Eden Quay from 5am to 3pm to accommodate the event.
Traffic on Bachelors Walk and O’Connell Bridge wishing to access Parnell Street will be diverted via Eden Quay, Beresford Place, Gardiner Street and Parnell Street.
Those on Parnell Square East wishing to access D’Olier Street will be diverted via Parnell Street, Marlborough Street, Sean MacDermott Street, Gardiner St, Beresford Place, Memorial Road, Georges Quay and Burgh Quay.
Meanwhile, traffic on Sean MacDermott Street wishing to access D’Olier Street via Cathal Brugha St and O’Connell Street will be diverted via Marlborough Street, Eden Quay, Beresford Place, Memorial Road, Georges Quay and Burgh Quay.
On the music front, the Dublin Gospel Choir with special guests Cathy Davey, Neil Hannon and Paddy Casey will appear at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin tomorrow night. Terrible twosome Jedward play the same venue the following evening and on Sunday.
Elsewhere, well-received Waterford band O Emperor will perform at the Pavilion in Cork on Saturday.
The Sound of Music continues its run at the Grand Canal Theatre in Dublin this weekend while the D'Unbelieveables are on at Vicar Street.
On the racing front the Fairyhouse Festival in Ratoath, Co Meath, features the Powers Gold Cup on Sunday, and the Irish Grand National on Easter Monday.
Separately, a three-day Easter Racing Festival is on at Cork Racecourse in Mallow from Saturday, and motorists are advised to expect extra traffic around the area over the weekend. A free shuttle bus will be available to and from Mallow train station and Mallow Town for the race-meetings.
There will be two National Football League finals on at Croke Park in Dublin on Sunday with Donegal taking on Laois at 2pm and Dublin meeting Cork at 4pm. Traffic restrictions will be in place, and delays can be expected in Drumcondra and in the surrounding area.
A number of games in the Christy Ring Cup will also take place on Saturday with Armagh taking on Meath at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh, Down meeting Derry at Ballycran, Kildare against Kerry in Newbridge and Mayo playing Wicklow at MacHale Park in Castlebar.
The Circuit of Ireland Motorcycle Run begins in Arklow tomorrow morning and will pass through a number of towns and cities including Monaghan, Clones, Enniskillen, Belleek, Sligo, Galway, Listowl, Tralee, Killarney, Mallow, Fermoy, Dungarvon, New Ross and Enniscorty betwen now and Sunday evening.
In Co Kerry, over 150 cyclists are expected to take part in Rás Mumhan, which will held in and around Killorglin from tomorrow to Monday. Rolling road closures will be in place along the race route, and delays can be expected. Still on the cycling front, Rás Chonamara is on in Oughterard, Co Galway, from Saturday to Monday, while the Gorey 3-Day Cycle Race also takes place over the same days.
Met Éireann predicts a warm weekend with above average temperatures in most parts of the country.
The forecaster says tomorrow will be somewhat mixed with mostly dry weather in the east but some showery rain hitting the west soon after daybreak and spreading eastwards during the afternoon.
However, the rain is expected to clear in the evening. Temperatures will remain above average during the day with a maximum of between 17 and 21 degrees predicted.
Saturday will be a bright and dry day with some pleasant sunshine with temperatures in the high teens and possibly reaching higher.
Temperatures are expected to drop to between 15 and 18 degrees on Easter Sunday and to between 12 and 16 degrees on Easter Monday but both days should be dry in most parts of the country with the possibility of drizzle in some areas.
