Strictly comes to Dublin

A host of stars will be showing off their best moves in Dublin this weekend as the phenomenally popular Strictly Come Dancing…

A host of stars will be showing off their best moves in Dublin this weekend as the phenomenally popular Strictly Come Dancing show hits town.

The live version of the BBC show will be at the O2 in Dublin over the next four nights are soap stars Kara Tointon and Tina O'Brien, sportsman Colin Jason, actress Patsy Kensit, psychologist and Not the Nine O'Clock News star Pamela Stephenson and former MP Ann Widdecombe.

Doors will open for the evening performances at 6.30pm. There will also be a matinee performance tomorrow with doors opening at 1.30pm.

Staying in the capital and both the Holiday World exhibition and the Bride of the Year Show will be on at the RDS this weekend and delays can be expected through Ballsbridge and Sandymount.

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The Temple Bar Trad Fest continues in Dublin with legendary Donegal band Clannad celebrating their 40th anniversary at ChristChurch Cathedral tonight and tomorrow.

Noted Irish singer-songwriter appears in Newbridge in Co Kildare this evening while Paul Brady is among the performers who will be at Transatlantic Sessions on Tour at Grand Canal Theatre.

The Certain Three 2011 tour continues it's way around the country with up-and-coming bands The Ambience Affair, We Cut Corners and Windings all on the bill in DeBarras in Clonakilty, Co Cork this evening and at Dolans Warehouse in Limerick tomorrow.

Also on this weekend is Australian/American bluesman CW StoneKing, who will be bringing his unique sounds to Cyrpus Avenue in Cork this evening and to The Workman's Club in Dublin tomorrow night.

Elsewhere, the terrible twins AKA Jedward are on at the INEC at Killarney, Co Kerry tomorrow.

On the sporting front, the big draw of the weekend will be the Hennessy Gold Cup which takes place at Leopardstown racecourse on Sunday. Gates open at 11am and the feature race is at 3.45pm. There's also racing at Fairyhouse in Co Meath tomorrow and at Punchestown in Co Kildare on Sunday.

The Leinster Senior Hurling Club Final between O'Loughlin Gaels of Kilkenny and Oulart-the-Ballagh of Wexford will take place on Sunday at Dr Cullen Park at 2pm while the Munster Senior Football Club Final between Nemo Rangers and Dr Crokes is on at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick at 2.30pm.

Met Éireann forecasts a good weekend weather-wise with most areas dry with a few bright or sunny spells tomorrow. Sunday will also be mainly dry but very cold with temperatures of between 0 and 2 degrees.

Charlie Taylor

Charlie Taylor

Charlie Taylor is a former Irish Times business journalist