Weekend festivals in Offaly, Kilkenny, Meath

There may be an absence of sun this weekend but there are plenty of summer activities on for those prepared to brave the storms.

The Kilkenny Arts Festival, which begins today, is expected to draw large numbers to the Marble City. The international line-up for the nine-day extravaganza includes Damien Rice's former sidekick, Lisa Hannigan, US alt.rockers Mercury Rev, Polish jazz trumpeter Tomasz Stanko and counter tenor Andreas Scholl.

Kilkenny also plays host to the downsized Dysart Festival this weekend. The event, which was initially scheduled to take place in Thomastown has had to be moved to the Kilford Arms Hotel because of poor ticket sales. The Blind Boys of Alabama and Gemma Hayes headline tomorrow night while John Martyn, the Republic of Loose and Cathy Davey are among Sunday's attractions.

AA Roadwatch advises that traffic is expected to be heavy around the city during the weekend and ticket-holders should allow extra time to ensure they reach their events in time.

A number of well-known local acts will be hitting the stage at the Westport Music Festival in Co Mayo with Sharon Shannon, Mundy and The Walls all performing, while those who prefer traditional Irish music are well served by the Feakle Festival in Co Clare.

The annual Puck Fair in Killorglin, Co Kerry also continues over the weekend.

In Dublin, the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show is on until Sunday and the Simmonscourt Road will be closed daily from 7am to 7pm with traffic diversions in place. Also in the capital, the Northside Music Festival continues with fiddle player Kevin Glackin and Uruguayan duo O'Mambo among the acts.

Meanwhile, a series of drive-in movies kicks off at Farmleigh in the Phoenix Park tomorrow.

Over 20,000 visitors are expected to attend the Moynalty Steam Threshing Festival in Kells, Co Meath on Sunday, which this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Massey Ferguson tractor. The main attraction will undoubtedly be the harvesting and threshing of corn by horse, steam and tractor-powered machines, but there's also a funfair, vintage car display and craft and trade stalls.

An action packed festival programme of arts, music and heritage events is promised in Tullamore as the Phoenix Festival gets underway today. The festival is billed as the biggest outdoor agricultural event in the country. Elsewhere, the 42nd Ballinamore Family Festival, which runs until August 17th, begins in Co Leitrim.

Sports fans are also well served this weekend with a number of GAA fixtures scheduled to take place at Croke Park.

Wexford face the daunting task of taking on Armagh in the first of tomorrow’s All-Ireland football quarter-final clashes this afternoon with the match scheduled to start at 2pm.

Following their win against Monaghnan last Sunday, Kerry are set to meet Connacht champions Galway in the later game which starts at 4pm.

Iarnród Éireann is providing additional services from Galway for supporters travelling to the match. An additional train service will operate from Galway, departing at 09.50am, A return train leaves from Heuston Station at 6.50pm.

On Sunday, Cork take on Kildare in the third of the weekend’s football quarter-finals clash of the weeked at 2pm while later in the day, Cork’s senior hurlers meet Kilkenny in the All-Ireland SHC semi-final gmae which starts at 4pm.

Motorists travelling on the M50 over the weekend are warned they may face traffic flow problems as works to upgrade the motorway continue. The N7 Dublin-Limerick road will be reduced to one line of inbound traffic between the Monastery Lane junction and the M50 overbridge until 8pm on Sunday.

Southbound M50 traffic will be affected from 9pm tomorrow to 9am on Sunday as the southbound ramp from the N7 outbound will be closed. Traffic will be diverted via the N7 on to the M50 southbound from the Monastery Lane/N7 junction.