A weekend of new bands and old hands are promised over the coming days with the Ones to Watch music festival continuing in Dublin and a Munster rugby squad featuring Paul O'Connell and Ronan O'Gara hoping to maintain their unbeaten Heineken Cup run.
Met Éireann is forecasting a mixed weekend weather-wise with low temperatures and some rain or drizzle expected in most areas except in western coastal counties which will see some bright or sunny spells on Sunday.
Following on from the success of last year’s Ones To Watch festival, this year's four-day event continues at Whelan's and the Village tonight and tomorrow with acts such as Sleep Thieves, Bantum, Spies and Holy Roman Army all playing.
First Fortnight, the Republic's only arts festival dedicated to promoting mental health awareness, ends tomorrow with a concert at the Button Factory in Temple Bar. Royseven, whose song We Should Be Lovers was the most played Irish single on radio here last year, are the headliners with support from Cashier No 9, Le Galaxie.
Still on the music front and well-respected maverick musician Luke Haines of the Auteurs and Black Box Recorder, performs at the Black Box in Belfast tonight and in Whelan's, Dublin on Sunday evening.
Scala & Kolacny Brothers, who have become internationally known for their radical interpretations of songs from artists such as Radiohead and U2, are at the Olympia tomorrow, while much-loved Irish musician Paul Brady continues his current tour with performances at the Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray tonight and tomorrow. Christy Moore will perform at the Grand Canal Theatre this evening.
Meanwhile, the 13th Shannonside Winter Music Weekend is on this weekend with over 70 events across 15 venues at Sixmilebridge and Bunratty, Co Clare.
English Heineken Cup giants Leicester are at Ravenhill tonight where they take on Ulster in a sold-out game. Kick-off is at 8pm.
Munster are also in action this weekend with a home match against Castres Olympique at Thomand Park tomorrow afternoon. Kick-off is at 3.40pm.
An estimated 500 people are expected to take part in the 8k Tuam Road Race on Sunday. The race gets underway at 2.30pm with participants departing from The Mercy Gym on the Dublin Rd (R332) and making their way around Tuam before returning back to the town.
No road closures will be in place to facilitate the race; however motorists are advised to be extra vigilant on approach to the area.
Racing is on at Dundalk, Punchestown and Navan over the next three days.
In Dublin, the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition continues at the RDS Main Hall tomorrow. Delays are likely in the Ballsbridge area as a result of the event. Elsewhere, the Wedding Journal Show takes place at the Citywest Convention Centre until Sunday.
