Holidaymakers hoping to make a break for France by ferry from Cork this weekend have been left high and dry after Brittany Ferries cancelled its sailing to Roscoff due to a technical problem.
The company has promised to make what alternative arrangements it can to ensure passengers make their destinations, but has said those who can't be accommodated will get a full refund. It is understood up to 2,000 people are affected by the cancellation of tomorrow's sailings.
The ferry frustration is one of a number of events that will certainly contribute to August's travel stresses this weekend; a number of major GAA matches in Dublin are also likely to slow traffic and transport throughout the capital.
But football and hurling fans won't be deterred by a little gridlock around Croke Park and Parnell Park for the major clashes, and plenty of excitement is guaranteed on the field on both Saturday and Sunday.
Tomorrow sees Westmeath play Derry in the Bank of Ireland Football Championship Quarter Finals at 2 p.m., followed by the Kerry v Dublin match at 3.45 p.m.
The All-Ireland Under 16 Hurling Championship Final takes place in Parnell Park at 1.30 p.m., where Carlow will square up to Antrim. At 3 p.m. in Parnell Park, Antrim play Cork in the All Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final.
In Portlaoise, the All Ireland Minor B Hurling Championship Final again sees a Carlow team play, this time against a Kildare side.
Sunday is another major day for hurling, with the Guinness All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final between Wexford and Cork getting under way at 3.30 p.m. The throw-in in the minor match between Cork and Galway is at 1.45 p.m.
Motorists should note the match times, as traffic around the north side of the capital, in particular around Drumcondra, is likely to be very heavy. This will particularly affect anyone travelling to make a flight at Dublin airport at the weekend.
Elsewhere, there will be bus transfers between Limerick and Rosslare Europort until further notice due to damage to a bridge in an accident. The 15.40 Limerick-to-Rosslare Europort service will have a train from Limerick to Limerick Junction and then a bus transfer from Limerick Junction to Rosslare Europort.
The 19.25 Rosslare Europort to Limerick service will have bus transfers from the Europort to Limerick Junction and a train from there to the city for the whole journey until further notice.
DART services on the north side of the track are also affected on Saturdays and Sundays until summer 2005.
There will be no DART services between Pearse station and Howth/Malahide. However, extra buses are operating on Dublin Bus routes adjacent to the line.
Maynooth Commuter, Northern Commuter, Belfast Enterprise and Sligo InterCity services are also affected.
Full details are available on the rail section of the AA Roadwatch website or at www.irishrail.ie.
Rosslare InterCity services are operating normally, but to and from Pearse Station in Dublin rather than to Connolly Station.