Don't wrap up for Christmas

What's all this about carbon footprints? The only footprint many Irish care about is the one they'll be leaving in the soft, warm sand of the beach or bunker they are heading for this Christmas to escape crumbly turkey, drunken family rows and miserable soul-crushing weather.

With that in mind, Dublin Airport Authority has issued a list of top tips for part-time emigrants come Christmas time.

First, they are told not to wrap presents before bringing them through customs. Really? Who'd have thought it.

Second, they are reminded of European Union regulations restricting them from taking containers of more than 100ml of liquid on board aircraft and thirdly, they are warned about bringing sharp objects and other banned items in their hand luggage.

For those of you not jetting off to foreign climes this weekend, the weather here looks set to be pretty loathsome. Met Éireann is predicting heavy rain throughout Ireland tomorrow morning, although this will recede to scattered showers as the day progresses.

Sunday will be cold, windy and showery, with fresh to strong and gusty northwesterly winds. Highest temperatures will range from six to nine degrees Celsius.

Good weather for ice skating, so. Handy then that the GOSKATE ice rink is open on the Rock Road in Booterstown in south Dublin.

The aptly-named Drogheda Winter Festival is also running in a carpark near the Bridge of Peace all this month. It too features an ice rink, as well as food and drink stalls and a craft market.

For those of you preferring to stay indoors, the National Craft and Design Fair continues at the RDS in Ballsbridge until Sunday evening. Motorists are being advised that traffic will be very busy in the area.

Also in the RDS, Leinster play Edinburgh in the Heineken Cup tonight. Kick off is at 8pm. Connacht play Newcastle in the European Challenge Cup at Galway Sports Ground this evening.

There's racing at Navan tomorrow and Punchestown on Sunday.

Gardaí today asked the public to continue supporting Operation Freeflow in Dublin. Commuters are urged to switch to public transport if possible. If they must travel by car, they are warned to expect increased traffic.

Surfers hoping to emulate last weekend's feats in Mullaghmore, Co Sligo may have to hold their fire. While there is a massive swell out there, peaking at about eight metres with a 15-second period on Sunday, it will be accompanied by howling northwesterlies. Fair play to you if you score. The middle of next week looks promising for the northwest. Time to use up those sick days.

Today's weather has caused the cancellation of the Jonathan Swift sailing on the Dublin to Holyhead route this afternoon. All intending passengers will be accommodated on the cruise ferry sailing this evening. Tonight's Stena Line services on the Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead route may also be affected. All ferry passengers are advised to contact their carrier before setting out.