Quickly, leave now, your weekend depends on it

Valium, sunscreen and wellies are likely to be required by some, or even all, of the 140,000 thinking of attending the Witness festival or one in a series of GAA matches this weekend.

And where there is travel on this fair isle, congestion inevitably follows. With 50,000 music-lovers expected at Punchestown racecourse, Co Kildare, for Coldplay, David Gray and Supergrass, among others getting to and from the venue will be slow and torturous. Not being negative here, it's just the way it is.

To get all of the bad news out of the way early Sunday's headliners the White Stripes have confirmed they have cancelled their appearance.

The best advice to avoid eating your festival sarnies on a dual carriageway hardshoulder leave early. In fact, stop reading this and leave now.

Those still reading this are proof (if needed) of the continued strength of the inherent Irish "leave it to the last minute gene". Either that, or you're still in work.

The Witnness campsite and carpark are now open for fans who are driving and bands and DJs are on site to entertain the early arrivals. There are also 10,000 free parking spaces available for the two-day event.

Dublin Bus is operating a shuttle service, with buses Busaras in Dublin every 15 minutes from 11 a.m., until 11.30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Return tickets cost €17 and buses return to Dublin immediately after concert.

The festival is not yet sold out.

Those planning to travel by rail should be advised that Iarnród Éireann is expecting one of its busiest weekends of the year. The company has asked intending passengers to book in advance and to carry a control card issued by the firm to control overcrowding.

Up to 90,000 GAA fans will traverse the country this Sunday. Some 32,000 northern Ireland football fans will head to the traffic cul de sac known as Clones for the Ulster football final at 2.30 p.m. on Sunday.

And the imminent beating to be dished out by Limerick to Kerry (in the inexpert opinion of this biased reporter) at Killarney will be witnessed by 35,000. Throw in at the Munster football final is at 4.30 p.m.

The Galway versus Tipperary hurling qualifier at Pearse Stadium is expected to attract up to 30,000 people. Throw is at 3.30 p.m.

A quick notice to DART users this weekend. There will be no trains between Howth and Howth jnct on Saturday and up until 8 p.m. on Sunday. DART users are also advised that no trains will stop at Tara St station on Saturday or Sunday. Passengers for the city centreshould use Pearse or Connolly Stations.

With 150,000 people on the move the humour of the weather gods will be of interest to many. According to Met Eireann some showers are expected this evening but it should be "mostly dry".

Tomorrow should be dry with "pleasant sunshine". And Sunday promises to be hazy, particularly for the festival goers. Enjoy.