The Greek tragedy that is the bank holiday weekend scramble has begun. ireland.comhas dissected a dead bird and is predicting bad weather, gridlocked roads and train line maintenance. Enough to make you gouge your eyes out with grief.
Met Éireann is ominously predicting a mish mash of rain, sunny spells and showers, as four million of us dash hither and tither. Sport dominates the weekend events with the Galway Races winding up down the country and the Dublin V Donegal clash in Croke Park on Monday.
"The weather will be unsettled in places but warm over the bank holiday weekend with temperatures in the low to mid twenties and light variable winds," the Met office's website reports.
It continues: "Saturday night will see the rain dying away in the south and east somewhat and it will be a drier night with some clear spells in the west and northwest. Sunday will be a brighter day with sunny spells in most areas and some scattered showers."
"The big rush of people leaving work will start about lunchtime. Motorists can expect delays on all the key routes from then," Ms Emma Caulfield, of AA Roadwatch said.
Traffic in Dublin tends to die down from 7 p.m., she said, but is likely to remain heavy for most of the evening on the N7 through Kildare and Monasterevin, the N8 through Fermoy and Mitchelstown, and all roads north of Dublin heading to Cavan and Belfast.
The Enfield bypass will be particularly hectic, with punters heading for the last few days of the Galway Races. The first race today is at 5 p.m. Racing tomorrow and on Sunday begins at 2.30 p.m. and finishes at 5 p.m. The racecourse is approximately three miles from Galway city and gates will open 2' hours before the first race each day. All routes to the racecourse are clearly marked by AA signs.
Because of the All Ireland Football Championship games, AA Roadwatch also says to expect delays heading towards Dublin from counties Armagh, Sligo, Galway, and Kerry on Sunday and from counties Cork, Mayo and Donegal on Monday.
Bus Éireann says it expects to carry up to 100,000 passengers on its services over the weekend. A normal weekly service will operate today and tomorrow, while Sunday and Monday will see a Sunday service. Bus Éireann travel information can be accessed by dialling 01 8366111, or on the Bus Éireann website.
Iarnród Éireann continues its reconstruction work on the most crashed-into bridge in the world at East Wall Road in Dublin. Services will operate normally today.
However north-bound DARTs and northern suburban trains tomorrow, Sunday and Monday will be disrupted. The Belfast Enterprise train will leave 40 minutes early for these three days, with bus a bus transfer between Connolly Station Dublin and Drogheda, Co Louth. Full details are available on the Iarnród Éireann website or by dialling 01 8366222.
All hail to the Bank Holiday God. What fate has befallen our nation?
