Met Éireann is forecasting a mainly sunny weekend as thousands of people take to the roads, rail, air and sea from early today to make the most of the May Bank Holiday.
The sun will shine today and tomorrow but some rain will start to spread into western counties on Sunday night. The rest of the country will stay mainly dry but on Monday rain will spread through Connacht and Munster.
Dublin Airport Authority expects that more than 300,000 people will fly in and out of the capital this weekend. When the peak summer season arrives, some 90,000 passengers will use the airport every day.
Bus Éireann is also predicting a busy period. It expects to carry more than 200,000 people between today and Tuesday morning. Additional services will be laid on at peak times to cater for the increased number of passengers. Details are available from www.buseireann.ie or at 01 8366111.
Iarnród Éireann expects to carry more than 180,000 on its Intercity services in the coming days. It has also amended its timetables for the weekend and has advised passengers to check with local stations or on the website www.irishrail.ie before travelling.
Hundreds of festivals and events are being held around the State. The Heineken Green Energy Festival kicks off at Dublin Castle tomorrow with Snow Patrol while the 21st Cúirt literary festival continues in Galway. A memorial tribute to the late John McGahern will be held in the Town Hall Theatre tonight while travel writer Dervla Murphy will read with Drago Jancar tomorrow night.
More than 6,000 visitors are expected to attend the inaugural Lombard on the Water Boat Show at Malahide marina in Dublin this weekend. The Irish Marine Federation event will showcase up to 180 boats, worth more than an estimated €50 million.
And the International Dance Festival continues in venues around Dublin.
