Rain forecast, big GAA games, traffic diversions - it’s the August bank holiday

Sarah Burns

With the August bank holiday weekend fast approaching, here’s all you need to know in terms of weather, transport and the big events happening around the country.

In contrast to the sustained sunshine of the past few weeks, the weather will revert to standard bank holiday fare, with scattered showers forecast in addition to sunny spells over the long weekend.

Friday will be a bright, fresh day with sunny periods, showers and highest temperatures of between 16 and 19 degrees, with moderate winds.

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Saturday is due to be another mainly dry day - featuring showers again - with temperatures falling slightly to between 15 and 18 degrees.

Sunday looks set to bring the heaviest rain, with heavy and persistent showers forecast in the southwest, west and northwest.

Met Eireann’s duty forecaster said: “On Sunday, we have a band of rain moving in from the west which will go across the country throughout the day. We’ll see outbreaks of rain in many places. For Bank Holiday Monday, again it’s a case of showers and some sunny intervals.”

The AA has warned motorists to allow additional distance between themselves and other vehicles and to be aware of vulnerable road users.

“Particularly with the August bank holiday weekend, you will see a lot of pedestrians and cyclists out, some on routes they are not familiar with,” a spokesman for the AA said.

There have been 95 deaths on Irish roads so far this year. In 2016, there were 187 fatalities, while July was the most dangerous month for road users with 21 fatalities recorded, followed by May and October with 20 deaths recorded in each month.

Dublin Bus has warned customers there will be a number of diversions in place over the August bank holiday weekend.

Due to road resurfacing works at the junction of Aston Quay and O’Connell Bridge, Aston Quay will be closed from 8pm on Friday, August 4th until 6am on Saturday, August 12th.

Customers are advised to check Dublin Bus website to check the routes affected and diversions in place.

Iarnrod Eireann will run an alternative timetable over the bank holiday weekend and has advised customers to check its website for alterations. It has added additional rail services for the counties involved in the senior football and hurling championship fixtures that take place at Croke Park this weekend.

Tyrone take on Armagh (4pm) on Saturday followed by Dublin versus Monaghan (6pm) in the All-Ireland Senior football quarter-finals.

On Sunday, Galway take on Tipperary (4pm) in the All-Ireland hurling semi-final while the All-Ireland football quarter-final replay between Mayo play Roscommon will take place at 2pm on Monday. Iarnrod Eireann has asked GAA fans to pre-purchase their rail tickets through its website.

The Galway Races Summer Festival continues with Friday’s Fair Lady (separate from Ladies Day on Thursday), “Super Saturday” with entertainment for children including bouncy castles, slides and face-painting and the “Mad Hatters Day” taking place on Sunday. Tickets are priced between €10-€25 while children under 12 go free.

The Dublin Horse Show kicks off from next Wednesday, August 9th at the RDS and runs until Sunday, August 13th.