As the Bank Holiday weekend approaches, Met Éireann predicts a mixed forecast of both sun and sporadic showers, with maximum temperatures ranging from 16 to 20 degrees on Saturday. Numerous large events are scheduled to take place, and it is estimated that tens of thousands will participate.
Among these events is the Bray Air Display in Co Wicklow, which should be spared the brunt of the predicted rainfall. Attendees may experience only light showers; a crowd of around 80,000 spectators is anticipated, extending from Killiney Hill to Bray Head and even Howth Head. Highlights of the show include performances from the Royal Jordanian Air Force and aerobatic antics from dentist, Dr Eddie Goggins.
Visitors to Cork, specifically those planning to attend Cork Pride’s Party at the Port, headlined by Bambie Thug, may need to prepare for potentially heavier showers. The event, which also includes performances by J90 and DJ Ruth, is free to enter and begins at 2pm.
Simultaneously, the All Together Now Festival will unfold at the Curraghmore Estate in Waterford. Though organisers are hopeful that any potential rainfall will be brief, the lineup includes acts such as The Prodigy, Jorja Smith, Róisín Murphy, Barry Can’t Swim and The Mary Wallopers.
Galway, on the other hand, will host the Ride The Classic Sportif cycling event on Saturday, followed by the Galway Classic road race on Sunday.
Given the large volume of traffic expected over the weekend, the gardaí have issued a reminder for drivers to exercise extra caution. Road checks are also being carried out in order to identify and curb dangerous driving behaviours such as speeding, as part of the Garda’s August Bank Holiday road safety operations.
On Sunday, Met Éireann forecasts a higher chance of persistent rainfall, particularly in the west. Rain is expected to progress towards Ulster and some northern parts of Leinster later in the day. The possibility of localised flooding has also been flagged.
The forecast for the national bank holiday Monday indicates constant, occasionally intense rainfall expected to shift towards the east, with clearer weather moving in from the west later in the day. The temperatures should peak between 18 and 22 degrees with gusty southerly winds, which will shift to a westerly direction and calm down as the rain clears.
For those abandoning hope for summery conditions and opting to fly out to warmer climes for the weekend, it is crucial to note that car parks at Dublin Airport’s Express Red Long Term, Holiday Blue and the short term at Terminal One are fully occupied. However, Terminal Two’s short term parking should have open spaces on Saturday, according to the airport management.
Graeme Mulqueen from DAA indicated that they anticipate the upcoming weekend to be the busiest in the airport’s history, with around 120,000 travellers predicted to pass through each day. He assured that despite the car parks being occupied, the majority of people would have reserved their parking spots ahead of time. For those who haven’t made prior bookings, he recommends using public transport or arranging a drop-off. He projected a bustling scene, but anticipates no significant troubles.