What’s on this weekend?

A guide to what’s on around the country this weekend:

First Fortnight

An ideal tonic to the new year blues, the First Fortnight creative arts festival returns for its third annual instalment at locations across Dublin city this January.

With the aim of challenging mental health prejudice at its core, the festival brings together an eclectic group of performers from a range of disciplines at various exhibitions, plays, screenings, gigs and workshops throughout the capital.

Drawing symbolism from the surrounding venue, singer Kevin Nolan returns to St Patrick's Hospital, where he spent some time as a patient, for a musical 'Hootenanny' on Saturday evening. He'll be joined by Choice Music Award winner Julie Feeney, along with a host of other singers and musicians for an intimate performance.

A journey of musical intrigue awaits those who attend Sunday's Co-Motion event in St Stephen's Green. Patrons are encouraged to "bring an inquisitive mind" as they don a pair of earphones- complete with splitters- before teaming up with a total stranger and sharing some songs that mean the most to them.

Later in the day, ‘Slam Sunday’ will see 12 intrepid bards face off in a quick-fire poetry contest in Accents Cafe on nearby Stephen St.

For more information, visit www.firstfortnight.ie/whats-on

NYOI New Year Gala

The National Youth Orchestra of Ireland brings its New Year Gala to the National Concert Hall on Sunday afternoon. Performing classics by composers such as Tripp, Kleisinger and Monti, the 104-member group will be joined by ace musician Les Neish, described as one of the best tuba players of his generation, for an evening of spectacular New Year celebrations.

For more information, visit www.nch.ie/Online/Whats-On

Leinster v Ulster, Guinness PRO12

With the trying Christmas schedule nearly over, the Blues will be looking to build momentum ahead of a final push for European qualification later this month.

Their own European aspirations may lie in tatters, but Ulster aren't short of motivation heading to the RDS as they aim to maintain their top-four spot in the PRO12 table.

For more information, visit www.leinsterrugby.ie/

GAA

It's been a long, hard winter for fans of intercounty football, but their tortuous wait for action will finally come to an end this weekend as teams in Munster, Leinster and Ulster resume provincial competition in their respective pre-season tournaments.

Armagh tackle Tyrone at the Athletic Grounds on Sunday in the standout opening fixture of the Dr McKenna Cup, while midlands rivals Offaly and Laois square up in Tullamore as both sides look to embark on a morale-boosting O'Byrne Cup run ahead of the league in spring.

Tommy Tiernan at Vicar Street

The Meath native returns to his comedic spiritual home this Saturday, and is sure to bring all his whimsical eccentricities with him. Following on from a typically barnstorming Late Late Show appearance after the release of his latest DVD, audiences can expect a trademark visceral, no-holds-barred performance from Ireland’s most controversial stand-up performer. Tickets €35.