Betting it's a beautiful Leopardstown day

Every cloud has a silver lining, or so they say, and there could be one for all you poor unfortunates who failed to score U2 tickets, as the Hennessy Gold Cup is on in Leopardstown racecourse on Sunday.

Take the money you would have wasted on seeing Bono and Co prancing about on a stage half a mile away as you dodge vomiting teenagers and stick it on Beef Or Salmon instead.

Then spend your winnings on something useful. See?

Speaking of clouds, Met Éireann predicts a pretty unsettled, wintry weekend. Tomorrow will be cold and bright with sunny spells and scattered wintry showers. There's also a chance of sleet or snow on higher ground.

The rain will be heaviest in the west and north, while parts of the east and south may escape it altogether. Maximum temperatures will be around four to seven degrees and severe night frost is likely.

Sunday's weather will be much of the same, with fresh and gusting and gusty northeasterly winds. There's a bit of swell out there, surfers could do worse than head to Clare in search of a wave.

Other sporting events which may cause traffic disruption are the race meeting at Naas on Saturday and the beginning of the National Football League this weekend.

Cork play Kerry in what should be a cracking encounter in Páirc Uí Rinn this evening, while Dublin take on Mayo in Parnell Park tomorrow. There are 14 other matches all around the country on Sunday afternoon.

And then there's the rugby on the TV to look forward to. France play Scotland in Paris tomorrow, while England travel to Cardiff to meet Wales. Ireland's first match of the Six Nations is against perennial underdogs Italy in Rome on Sunday.

The Galway International Rally is on over this weekend, beginning on the Oranmore to Claregalway Road this afternoon. Racing will be centred around the Loughrea, Gort and Kinvara areas tomorrow, and Ballinasloe on Sunday. Delays are expected.

In travel news, there are no reported delays at Dublin, Shannon or Cork airports. Renovations on the northbound DART line are continuing, and there will be no services north of Pearse Street this weekend.

Stena Line HSS services from Dún Laoghaire to Holyhead have been suspended until next Thursday, but Irish Ferries and regular Stena Line sailings are operating as normal.

Camping enthusiasts may be interested in the Holiday World Caravan and Campings Show, which is taking place in the Silver Springs Hotel in Cork this weekend, while fishermen and women will be hooked by the idea of the Ireland Angling Show in the National Show Centre.