Provinces clash in capital affair

Sports fans and music lovers will enjoy a weekend packed full of events as long as they are willing to take a chance on the weather.

Met Éireann expects it to be dry in most areas tomorrow with some rain in the west during the late afternoon and evening. Sunday should see a mixture of showers and sunny spells, it said.

It should remain dry then for X-Factor hopefuls queuing for auditions at Croke Park. A large number of people are expected to attend from 9am tomorrow, and road users are being advised  by the AA Roadwatch to expect heavier than usual traffic in the Drumcondra area.

Rugby returns to Dublin tomorrow night with Leinster playing Munster in the semi final of the Magners League at the RDS. The match kicks off at 8pm and fans are advised to travel early. Iarnród Éireann is providing a special service for Munster supporters returning to Limerick departing Heuston at 23.15pm.

Dublin sees two major running races taking place this weekend, the first of which is expected to attract up to 1,500 contestants.

The Calcutta Run will take place in the Phoenix Park tomorrow afternoon where 1,500 participants are expected to take part in the 10-kilometre race. The following roads will be closed to traffic: Serpentine Rd from 2pm-4pm, Wellington Rd from 2pm-4pm and Islandbridge Gate Rd from 2pm-4pm. The Islandbridge Gate, Cabra Gate and Chapelizod Gate will all be closed from 2pm to 4pm.

Described as Ireland's “premier road race”, the Dublin Five Mile Classic Road Race will take place tomorrow in the Walkinstown and Templeogue areas. It is hoped that between 700 and 1,000 participants will take part in the race which also starts at 9am.

Sixty cyclists are expected to participate in the Women's Aid East Coast Cycle Challenge tomorrow morning. The peloton departs Belfield Bridge at 11am. Participants will pedal through Shankill, Bray, Greystones, Kilcoole, Newcastle, Rathnew and Wicklow town. Cyclists are expected in Arklow town at 6pm.

Elsewhere, there will be two matches in the second round of the Ulster GAA Hurling Senior Championship, played at Belfast’s Casement Park tomorrow afternoon where London will play Monaghan at 2pm and Armagh will take on Tyrone at 4pm.

The North West 200 continues until Sunday in the Portrush, Portstewart, Coleraine areas.

Organisers expect 15,000 people to attend the Northeast Vintage and Classic Car Show at Mosney on Sunday from 12pm until 6pm. Unsurprisingly, AA Roadwatch has warned that with over 11,000 old and slow moving vehicles expected in the area, traffic is likely to be heavy.