Gigs and games aplenty in weekend of Absolut fun

THERE MAY be little in the way of sun forecast for the weekend but there’s plenty of surf expected as the European Surfing Championships get under way in Co Donegal today.

EuroSurf 2011 takes place in Bundoran with 13 nations, including Ireland, taking part.

The fourth Tramore Surf and Sea Festival is also on this weekend and promises an action-packed programme that includes plenty of water sports and beach games.

Some of the best female golfers in the world are in Ireland for the Solheim Cup which is taking place at Killeen Castle, Dunsany, Co Meath. About 85,000 people are expected to attend the event and the heaviest traffic is expected from 8-10am and 6-8pm, today and tomorrow. Iarnród Éireann and Dublin Bus are operating a special day-return rail and shuttle bus service from Connolly Station.

The women’s All-Ireland football finals are on at Croke Park tomorrow with Cavan taking on Westmeath in the intermediate final at 2pm and Cork meeting Monaghan in the senior final at 4pm. Traffic restrictions will be in place throughout the afternoon and delays are expected.

Elsewhere, there is horseracing aplenty with meetings on at Gowran Park and Navan today and at Clonmel and the Curragh tomorrow.

The Spirit of Folk festival continues at Dunderry Park, Co Meath. Among the acts appearing at the event are the Hot Sprockets, Gay Woods and Dr Strangely Strange. Tickets for the two-day festival are €95, which includes camping. Day tickets are also available from €40.

The Green Village Music and Arts Festival takes place in Castletown Geoghegan, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, today with The Stunning, Ryan Sheridan and Bipolar Empire all playing.

Galway’s Latin Quarter will be home to the Guinness Live mini-festival this weekend with acts such as Republic of Loose and Whipping Boy all playing free gigs in bars around the area.

Still on the music front and singer-songwriter David Gray plays a benefit gig at Vicar Street this evening with special guests Pugwash.

A benefit concert for the Concern Horn of Africa crisis appeal takes place at Whelan’s tomorrow with a line-up that includes And So I Watch You From Afar, Tieranniesaur and Patrick Kelleher.

Theatre-goers will be out in force this weekend as the Absolut Fringe festival concludes.

The All-Ireland Craft Beer Fest is on at the RDS in Dublin over the coming days with more than 50 beers and ciders available to taste. The 46th annual Irish Antique Dealers Fair also takes place at the RDS this weekend.

Met Éireann is forecasting a weekend of changeable weather. After a mainly dry day today, some heavy rain is expected to develop during tomorrow. Highs of 14-16 degrees are expected.