The sun may have only made a fleeting cameo appearance over Saturday and Sunday but it did little to dampen the spirits of those determined to enjoy the bank holiday weekend.
Things got off to a pulsating start in the RDS, Dublin, on Saturday night when veteran 53-year-old US rocker Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band took to the stage for a marathon three-hour set.
Springsteen fans may have forked out a hefty €75 each for an audience with The Boss but few would have been disappointed by the set which included such stadium anthems as Born To Run, Glory Days and Dancing In the Dark.
The fun and games continued in Kilkenny where the annual Cats Laugh comedy festival had 20,000 punters rolling in the aisles. The craic rolls on today with acts appearing throughout the city well into the night. Performers include Ed Byrne, Ian Coppinger, Dara O'Briain and Eddie Bannon.
Yesterday was also a major day on the sporting calendar with Dublin going head-to-head with Louth, and Meath taking on neighbours Westmeath in the Leinster championship.
Dublin overcame a weak Louth team but the other, more entertaining fixture ended in a draw, meaning the two sides must meet again to see who advances to the next stage.
Anybody hoping to work on their tan today might find the UV rays thin on the ground. After temperatures reached into the 20s on Friday and Saturday, the rain reappeared yesterday with today promising more of the same.
Meanwhile more than 37,000 runners, including Sonia O'Sullivan and Catherina McKiernan, will take to the streets for the 10-kilometre Women's Mini-Marathon which starts at Fitzwilliam Square at 3 p.m. today.
Motorists intending to pass through Dublin city centre should expect slight delays.
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