THE RAIN which has dampened the bank holiday weekend looks set to give way to brighter weather today, providing people with the perfect excuse to get out of the house and enjoy some of the many festivals and events taking place.
Met Éireann predicts most of today will be dry, allowing festival-goers to enjoy sunny spells and highest temperatures of 17 to 21 degrees.
The 2008 Festival of the Erne is on in Belturbet, Co Cavan, with a display of seaplanes, fireworks and hot air balloons (weather permitting) among the events. Other highlights include rowing trips, a scouts' jamboree, a fly fishing competition and the annual rowing competition.
The 44th annual national steam rally takes place in Stradbally, Co Laois. Highlights include the Model T Ford car display to mark the 100th anniversary of Henry Ford's design, and train rides on Ireland's longest-established narrow gauge railway.
Other elements of the event include steam threshing, sheep dog trials, tractor competitions, helicopter rides and a grand parade of engines, vintage cars and tractors.
In Kildare, a family fun raceday is taking place at Naas racecourse, with free children's entertainment including go-karts, magic shows, face painting and a bouncy castle. Races include the Irish Stallion Farms EBF fillies maiden, the Coolmore Aussie Rules European Breeders fund maiden and the Derrinstown Stud apprentice series handicap.
Also happening today is the Wicklow Regatta Festival. The rowing regatta begins at 1pm, while a display on life-saving jointly organised by the RNLI and the Coastguard will take place at 2.30pm. A funfair will be held on the fair green from 2pm to 5pm and from 7pm to 10.30pm
A number of events for children are also taking place across the country. These include a Mad Hatters' tea party with an interactive children's exhibition, as part of Féile an Phobail in west Belfast, and a teddy bears' picnic in Oak Forest Park on the outskirts of Carlow. Between 500 and 1,000 tractors from Monaghan, Cavan and Meath are expected to take part in the North East Pylon Pressure Tractor Run, being organised to highlight a campaign by residents to have planned high-power electric cables placed underground. AA Roadwatch said drivers could expect some disruption on the N51 Drogheda/Delvin Road, N52 Dundalk/Mullingar Road and the N3 Dublin/Navan Road as the tractors cross the road.
Tinahely Agricultural Show in Co Wicklow takes place at Fairwood Park today. Events include horse and pony show jumping, carriage driving classes and a dog show. One of the biggest events of the weekend, the World Fleadh in Portlaoise, Co Laois, concludes tonight.