Bank Holiday escape set to Bloom

The June Bank Holiday weekend promises plenty in terms of sporting fixtures, concerts and events with Bloom in the park, the Cork City Marathon and the Cat Laughs Comedy festival all taking place over the next three days.

With more than 320,000 passengers expected to travel through Dublin airport over the weekend, many people are taking the opportunity to head to sunnier climes. But while good weather can't be guaranteed there's enough happening locally to satisfy those staying closer to home.

AA Roadwatch said that national commuter routes are likely to carry heavy traffic volumes from this afternoon and returning Monday afternoon.

"Delays are likely at a number of well known problem spots, like the N6 at Moate, the N7 at Mountrath and the N8 at Abbeyleix and Durrow," AA Roadwatch said.

Gardai warned drivers that the M1 Motorway will be closed tomorrow morning from 7am to 9am at the Walshstown Exit Southbound to facilitate the removal of a lorry involved in a collision on Thursday. Vehicles will be diverted onto the R132 to rejoin the motorway at Lissenhall.

Motorists were also advised that there may be some disruption to traffic flows to facilitate the upgrading of the M50 starting from Monday onwards.

Over 30,000 people are expected to attend the Smithwick's Cat Laughs Comedy Festival in Kilkenny this weekend where Des Bishop, Ed Byrne, Rich Hall and Maeve Higgins will be among the performers.

Motorists heading to Kilkenny city from Dublin are advised to take the N7/M7 Naas Rd and join up with the M9. From there head on to the N9, at Paulstown join up with the N10.

Those travelling from Cork should take the N8 and N24 to Clonmel and then the N76 to Kilkenny while motorists visiting the city from Limerick are advised to take the N24 to Clonmel and the N76 to Kilkenny.

As a result of the Bloom garden festival in the Phoenix Park in Dublin, the Ashtown gate of the park will be closed and extra traffic can be expected on roads near the park.

Delays are expected around the Ballsbridge area over the next few days with heavy traffic volumes due to the Woman's World Show at the RDS.

Motorists are also being warned to avoid the area surrounding Croke Park on Friday and Sunday evenings as Celine Dion and Westlife play the north Dublin stadium.

AA Roadwatch is warning that delays are likely in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, during the four-day Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival 2008 and in Carrickmacross which hosts its annual festival this weekend.

Other events scheduled over the next few days include the Leixlip festival, the Blue Jean Country Queen Festival in Athboy, Co Meath and The Festival by the Sea in Rosscarbery, Co Cork.

On bank holiday Monday the Cork City Marathon and the Dublin City Mini Marathon will take place, attracting thousands of visitors to the respective cities.

“In Dublin rolling road closures will be in place along the route from 8am – 6:30 pm and until 4pm in Cork” said AA Roadwatch.

Met Éireann warns that it's going to be a mixed weekend weatherwise with showers forecast for tonight and early tomorrow. Showers will mostly die out on Saturday night and, with little or no wind, mist and fog will form.

Sunday and Monday is expected to bring spells of dry weather with warm sunshine. However, showers will develop during the afternoons. Met Éireann said that not all areas will get the showers, but where they do occur, some will be heavy and a few possibly thundery.

The nights, on the other hand, are expected to be mostly dry with mist and fog.