What’s on: something for the weekend

Dublin Chinese New Year Festival

The Dublin Chinese New Year Festival marks the 4712th year of the Chinese calendar in the Temple Bar area this weekend. A highlight of the packed two-week celebration will be the Chinese New Year Carnival in Meeting House Square on Sunday afternoon. Featuring authentic Chinese performances such as dragon and lion dances, the public will also be entertained with Tai Chi and martial arts displays. Children's arts and crafts will also feature. The Asia Market will stage an Asian cooking demonstration with chef Liu Guangcheng from London's Chinatown.

For more information on the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival:

[ cny.ie ]

GAA Spring Series

The pick of Saturday's sporting events has to be the double header at Croke Park where Anthony Daly's Dublin hurlers take on the might of Kilkenny in the Walsh Cup final. And, if that doesn't whet the appetite, their footballing counterparts take on Kerry in the later fixture, marking round 1 of the National Football League. Throw-in for the hurling is at 5pm followed by the football at 7pm.

For more information:

[ gaa.ie ]

Merriman Winter School

Cumann Merriman will mark Limerick's national City of Culture status by bringing its annual Winter School to the city this weekend. Brian Merriman composed the 1000-line irreverent 18th century poem Cúirt an Mheán Oíche/The Midnight Court - considered the greatest comedic poem in the Irish language and arguably in all of Irish literature. County Clare native Merriman died in Limerick City in 1805. Organisers say the Irish language event will have a strong bilingual or multilingual fringe, and this year's theme will be An Cultúr Gaelach— ó Luimneach go Leòdhas ( Irish Culture from Limerick to the Isle of Lewis).

The main venue is the Strand Hotel, Ennis Road, Limerick and speakers include renowned poet Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, historian, Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh and educationalist Helen O Murchú. Traditional musicians from Ireland including singers Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Pádraig Ó Cearbhaill, Lillis Ó Laoire and piper Mickey Dunne will be joined by Scottish singer from the Isle of Lewis Mairi Nic a'Ghobainn and piper Ailean Domhnallach.

See merriman.ie for the full programme.

* Motorists using the M50/Red Cow interchange towards Naas (westbound) should note that the flow of traffic will be shifted to their left onto three newly constructed temporary lanes this weekend. This is to facilitate the N7 Newlands flyover upgrade.