Rugby the weekend's major draw

It's the week before payday for most people and therefore entertainment options are somewhat limited over the coming days.

It's the week before payday for most people and therefore entertainment options are somewhat limited over the coming days.

With most of us still trying to stick to our new health regimes and attempting to pay off bills, few individuals are prepared to go out and splurge on gigs and games on this weekend.

Quirky French covers band Nouvelle Vague appear at Tripod in Dublin this evening while Grammy Award-winning musician Ani DiFranco will play the National Concert Hall tomorrow.

The Workman's Club in Dublin will be hosting brother and sister act Holy Roman Army this evening while in Cavan tomorrow night the Certain Three 2011 tour continues with Irish acts The Ambience Affair, We Cut Corners and Windings all performing.

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On the sporting front, rugby, racing and GAA are all on this weekend with the main draw being the Heineken Cup clash between Munster and London Irish at Thomond Park tomorrow afternoon.

A Garda cordon will be in place some three hours before the game and up to an hour after on Ennis Road at the entrance to Lansdowne Park, on Shelbourne Road Upper at Shelbourne Park and Mayorstone Drive, on Kileely Road at Ballynanty Road, Knockalisheen Road at Old Cratloe Road, at Mayorstone Avenuee and at Mayorstone Upper, on Shannonvale/Hazeldene and Corrib Drive at Ennis Road. Diversions will be in place.

Staying with rugby and Connacht will play Italian team Cavalieri Prato in the Amlin Challenge Cup at the Galway Sportsground at 6pm tommorow evening. Delays can be expected in the area around the stadium before and after the event.

Racing is on at Gowan Park racecourse tomorrow with the first race on at 1.05pm and the last taking place at 4.20pm. There's also racing on at Leopardstown in Dublin on Sunday with the first race on at 1.10pm and the final race scheduled to run at 4.20pm.

Elsewhere, the Leinster Senior Football Club Final between Dublin side Kimacud Crokes and Rhode of Offaly will take place at O'Moore Park in Porlaoise, Co Laoise on Sunday at 2pm.

AT the RDS in Dublin this weekend Showcase Ireland, the country's largest craft, gift and fashion fair, continues.

Up to 450 exhibitors and 6,000 buyers from around the world will be at this year's events and for the second year running Showcase will present “Creative Island” –a space dedicated locally produced artisan designs.

Choices 2011 - a free careers and education event - also continues this weekend at the Aviva Stadium.

Met Éireann forecasts that it will be mainly dry and settled weather over the coming days. Tonight will be dry and cold with frost and temperatures are expected to reach as low as -5 degrees in some areas.

Tomorrow will be dry but cold with some bright or sunny breaks as the day progresses. Sunday will remain dry but cloudy with light winds.