Heavy seas halt Holyhead ferry sailings

All Irish Ferries' Swift Sailings from Dublin to Holyhead today have been cancelled due to high seas.

All Irish Ferries' Swift Sailings from Dublin to Holyhead today have been cancelled due to high seas.

The MV Jonathan Swift's four departures from Dublin Ferryport, scheduled for 12.15 p.m., 2.15 p.m., 5.30 p.m. and 8.15 p.m. today have been cancelled.

All the company's other sailings are operating as normal, although travellers are advised that there may be some delays on the MV Isle of Inismore's 9.00 p.m. departure from Rosslare Europort , due to the heavy weather on the Irish Sea.

Met Éireann has issued a gale force warning for Irish Sea this afternoon, with strong winds expected to continue overnight.

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But high winds overnight have not affected flights in and out of the country's airports.

Traffic restrictions will be in place around Lansdowne Road for tomorrow's sell-out Six Nations' clash of Ireland and Italy. Up to 40,000 are expected to attend the game, and motorists are advised to avoid the area until proceedings wrap up at about 6 p.m.

Iarnród Eireann are running special morning trains taking fans to the game from Belfast, Limerick amd Cork to Dublin.

In GAA, there is a  full schedule of national league games in football and hurling  for Sunday. As league competition heats up, large attendances can be expected at most of the country's main sportsgrounds.

The weekend's racing action centres on Tramore tomorrow, with the first race off at 2.45 p.m. Sunday's turf action is set for the Curragh and Downpatrick, with the first races set for 2.15 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. respectively.

The weekend DART upgrade works are continuing, so there will be no southbound DARTs in operation between Pearse Street Station and Greystones on Saturday or Sunday.

Most congestion on the country's pavements today will be for the very good cause that it is Daffodil Day. Sellers been out since early morning dispensing the yellow flowers, with all proceeds going to the Irish Cancer Society.

The weekend's weather is set to be a mixture of sunshine and heavy showers, accompanied by heavy winds. Gusts of up to 60 mph can be expected.

It's also likely to be quite cold, with temperatures ranging from three to 11 degrees.