SPORTING EVENTS dominate the agenda across the country this weekend with rugby and GAA fixtures taking centre stage while the festival calendar takes a breather ahead of next weekend’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Met Éireann has forecast overcast but largely dry and mild conditions over the coming days, with temperatures rising to about 16 degrees in some places.
Heavy cloud cover is expected across much of the country today and some sunny spells are forecast in southern and eastern areas. Drizzle may fall in the northwest and some parts of the midlands but temperatures should reach 12 to 16 degrees in most areas.
Met Éireann said tomorrow would be “another mild day for March” with temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees expected in the afternoon. More dry but cloudy conditions are forecast with the midlands and east likely to experience the best of the weather.
The forecast will come as good news for the 50,000-plus fans set to travel to the Aviva Stadium in Dublin for the RBS Six Nations clash between Ireland and Scotland. Kick-off is at 5pm today.
A busy programme of Allianz National Hurling and Football League fixtures take place across the country this weekend, with a double header at Croke Park tomorrow expected to draw the largest crowd. Dublin’s hurlers, the reigning league champions, face Cork at 2pm before the All Ireland champion footballers square off with Armagh at 4.15pm.
Local pride will be at stake as Kilkenny’s hurlers make the short trip to Walsh Park to face Waterford at 2.30pm tomorrow.
Wexford and Offaly GAA fans will be divided as their hurling teams square off at Wexford Park at 2.30pm tomorrow, while their footballers meet at Tullamore’s O’Connor Park at the same time.
Elsewhere, the Beauty Show - featuring therapies, treatments and products - takes place at the RDS in Dublin tomorrow and Monday from 10am.
There are two X Factor Live Tour performances at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast today (at 2pm and 8pm), while former Yes keyboardist and Grumpy Old Men contributor Rick Wakeman visits Dublin’s Olympia tonight.
In Cork, Iarnród Éireann is to mark 150 years of the Cobh rail service today with a family fun day. Fares between Cork and Cobh are being reduced to €1.50 and a farmers’ market, photography display and children entertainment are being laid on along Cobh’s quayside from 12 to 4pm.
In Kerry, a health initiative aiming to reduce instances of suicide takes place at the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre from 10am tomorrow and Monday.
The Mental Wellness Exhibition will see organisations such as the HSE, Console and Pieta House providing free information about mental health and support services available in the region.
Separately, a film on the restoration of Kilkenny Castle is to be shown as part of a heritage “open day” at the castle tomorrow. Visitors will be able to trace the history of the city, castle and some of its former residents during the open day which begins at 9.30am.
