It’s the beginning of the end for summer this weekend with the summer solstice taking place tonight. And so far there’s been little decent weather to cheer about which is likely to slow those travelling on the roads this weekend.
If you’re heading off for a weekend break and in search off a break in the weather...you’re out of luck. You can leave your shades in the glove compartment. The forecast for all of Ireland is bleak.
A cloudy start bringing countrywide outbreaks of rain will clear to more showers later with some bright spells. Temperatures are expected to hover between 15 and 18 degrees.
Further patchy rain will punctuate the evening with temperatures falling to 10 and 12 degrees and some fog developing.
The outlook for the rest of the weekend is little better. Tomorrow will bring a mixture of bright periods and showers, the showers merging to give a spell of more prolonged rain in the west and Northwest later.
Sunday will bring a mixture of sunshine and occasional showers. Some of the showers will be heavy and lengthy, though good dry spells will occur in between. Another batch of heavy rain will spread across the region during Monday, accompanied by strong Southwest winds.
For those travelling out of or around Dublin today watch out for roadworks along the North Road between the St Margaret’s Roundabout in Finglas and the M50, from today until at least July 5th. Tonight the outside northbound lane will be closed for excavation work and all traffic will have to use the bus lane.
This weekend sees the continuation of the National Special Olympic Games with a cycle race taking place on Chesterfield Ave, between the Phoenix Park Monument and Mountjoy Cross, on Ordinance Survey Road and Furze Road. Gardaí will direct traffic around the event until 6 p.m.
Preliminary work on the Allen Park Road roadworks, due to begin on Monday, has started behind the Lower Kilmacud Road and Merville Road. The road reconstruction will take approximately two weeks.
It is intended to temporarily close Upper Churchtown Road at Taney Cross and the entire Taney Cross junction in order to facilitate bridge deck works as part of LUAS works. The road will be closed, starting today, from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. on weekdays and from 8 p.m. Saturdays until 6 a.m. Sundays. A traffic management plan will be in operation. Further information is available on 1800 676464.
In Limerick a stop/go system remains in place at Singland Motors on the Dublin Road. Two way traffic will not be reinstated this morning as intended as heavy overnight rain has stalled the works.
Road surfacing works are taking place at Castlemaine, Co Kerry for one kilometre on the Tralee side of the village for three to four days until early next week.
In Wexford today roadworks continue on the N25 on O'Hanrahan Bridge in New Ross. Lane restrictions are in place on the bridge and a stop/go system will operate. The traffic lights in New Ross will be turned off during the works. Delays may result as this is the main route servicing those between Wexford and Waterford.
All rail and ferry services are fully operational and no disruptions are anticipated for the weekend.
And if you do get stuck in traffic somewhere remember the words of Robert Louis Stevenson: "It is better to have travelled hopefully than to have arrived."