BALMY SUMMER weather and a jam-packed two days of festivals and concerts are likely to see thousands on the move this weekend.
After the massive success of their album Science and Faith, Dublin rock band The Script headline their first gig at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin tonight. For lead singer Danny O’Donoghue, tonight’s concert is a “pinch-me moment” for a band who have gone from releasing their first album to a stadium act in less than three years. “I know I’m in the band, but the sense of ‘Wow, it’s an Irish band filling an Irish stadium with Irish people’ is there for me too.”
Last week they headlined their biggest show to date, in Johannesburg to 18,000 fans, but tonight’s concert will be to a crowd of 50,000. They also play Oxegen next Friday night.
O’Donoghue said the band first set the goal of headlining stadiums while supporting U2 in Croke Park in 2009. “You can have goals and dreams as a band. We jumped off the stage, looked each other in the eye and said ‘This is ours for the taking’,” he said.
Meanwhile, up to 500,000 people are expected to attend the Tall Ships festival in Waterford, which runs until tomorrow. The programme includes street performance, comedy, helicopter rides, parades, nightly firework displays, a fringe festival and an artisan crafts and food village.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny will take part in the 180km annual Ring of Kerry cycle today. More than 4,000 people will participate in Munsters biggest charity fundraising occasion, with proceeds going to seven local charities.
Trim, Co Meath plays hosts to the 4th annual Trim Swift Festival this weekend. A stellar cast including comedians Barry Murphy, Alan Shortt and David McSavage will take part.
Tens of thousands of teenagers, some with their parents, are expected to converge on the O2 in Dublin for the stage musical of the TV smash hit Glee.
Ireland and Leinster rugby player Luke Fitzgerald will lead volunteers in Ballymun today in a clean-up of the area as part of the Mars Play Your Part campaign.
Limerick’s Market Quarter will resound with music and a carnival atmosphere as the city’s newest downtown area hosts a free Mardi Gras street party tomorrow from 6pm. Dublin jump jive jazz/swing band The Roaring Forties perform on the main stage on Chapel Street at 8pm.
The west Cork seven-day chamber music festival concludes in Bantry tomorrow with a concert finale at Bantry House.
The week-long West Cork Literary Festival begins in Bantry the following day, and includes a “writing memoir” workshop with author Hugo Hamilton.
Hundreds are expected to attend this weekend’s Mallow garden show in Cork, which includes a French market, a renewable energy exhibition and a hobby and allotment farm.
The annual Mass and blessing of the graves at Dardistown Cemetery in Dublin tomorrow is expected to draw up to 40,000 patrons, and gardaí are warning motorists to expect delays in and around the area from 2.30pm.
The Archdiocese of Armagh is hosting a three-day festival of prayer called Spiritfest this weekend to mark the countdown to next year’s 50th International Eucharistic Congress.