Weather hits events across the country

Persistent rain across Ireland has today led to the cancellation or postponement of major cultural events.

Persistent rain across Ireland has today led to the cancellation or postponement of major cultural events.

A massive airshow which was part of Bray's Summerfest has been put off until next month due to flooding and poor visibility.

The National Steam Rally in Stradbally, Co Laois was also cancelled for the first time in its 43-year history because the Stradbally Hall site for the event was too wet.

Rally secretary Joe Deegan said: "It has rained for 20 hours solid onto the ground here so we had no option because of all the machinery moving on it.

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"We were expecting 35 steam engines alone as well as tractors."

The Farmleigh Affair music festival in the Phoenix Park has also been cancelled because of the heavy rain. Kildare's senior hurlers were delayed arriving at Croke Park for the Christy Ring Cup final because their team bus got stuck in floods.

Met Eireann forecasters have predicted further heavy rain in many areas with a risk of flooding in the midlands, east and south.

A spokesman added: "Showers will become heavy over the western half of the country tonight.

"Widespread showers will continue tomorrow and will be heavy in many areas, with a risk of thunder."