Comedy, GAA and good weather over long weekend

An enjoyable bank holiday is in prospect for the many heading towards the ninth Cat Laugh's comedy festival, which promises a…

An enjoyable bank holiday is in prospect for the many heading towards the ninth Cat Laugh's comedy festival, which promises a giggle or two in Kilkenny City at least.

The festival, which features a top class international line up including Rich Hall, Phil Kay and Bill Bailey, started last night and goes through until Monday evening and the word is that Jimmy Carr is the hottest act this time around.

Expect long delays to be no laughing matter though if you're on the road this evening, with the traditional bank holiday exodus from all the major cities. So most routes out of Dublin, Limerick, Cork or Galway will be worse than usual.

Bus Eireann are providing extra services over the weekend where required, Monday will operate on a Sunday timetable with normal service resuming on Tuesday.

READ MORE

The weather outlook looks promising too, with tonight and tomorrow forecast as mild, humid and dry with temperatures between 15 and 25 degrees, but perhaps a few clouds on the horizon by the time Sunday comes around.

In Sport, Sunday is a big day in the GAA hurling and football championships. Thurles sees a much anticipated hurling clash between Limerick and Waterford. It should draw a good crowd as will Croke Park when it plays host to a football double bill. Dublin open this years campaign against Louth after which perennial underdogs Westmeath get another crack at upsetting Meath. Motorists should probably steer clear of both venues on that day.

The Circuit of Munster Rally takes place on Sunday,and a number of local roads in the vicinity of Dromcollogher, Feenagh, Killeedy, Strand, Sugar Hill and Dromtrasna, Mountcollins will be closed. Alternative routes will be sign-posted for those travelling in the area.

A security alert this morning has meant that all trains on the Belfast to Dublin line have been replaced with a bus transfer, so if you're travelling on that route allow for it taking a bit extra.