Scrums, songs, screenings on show

A feast of sports, music and movies are guaranteed this weekend with the Six Nations rugby tournament getting underway and the Irish Film Institute (IFI) screening free movies as part of its open day.

The IFI is holding the open day to celebrate the completion of its redevelopment project. It will host a number of free screenings including The Ballroom of Romance, Grizzly Man, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Crazy Heart. The Lives of Others, the winning film from the IFI's recent online poll to find the nation's favourite film to have been shown at the cinema , will also be screened.

Tickets for all screenings will be available from 11am from the IFI on a first-come, first-served basis with a maximum of four tickets per person.

Elsewhere, Kelly Clarkston, the winner of the first American Idol show, will be at the O2 tonight while the National Concert Hall will play host to Dublin composer David Fennessy's new orchestral work, Bodies.

Dance music fans will most likely be found at Tripod in Dublin where John Digweed will be behind the decks.

Rugby fans are well catered for over the coming days with Ireland Wolfhounds taking on Scotland A at Ravenhill this evening and Ireland Under-20s going up against Italy Under-20s at Dubarry Park, Athlone, ahead of tomorrow's Six Nations clash.

Croke Park plays host to the starting game of this year's tournament tomorrow where Ireland will be taking on Italy. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.

Traffic restrictions will be in place from 11.30am to 5.15pm and delays can be expected in Drumcondra and in the surrounding area.

Iarnród Éireann has warned customers that services from Tralee, Cork and Limerick are expected to be very busy will people travelling up to Dublin for the match with some services already sold out.

Staying with sports, the Galway International Rally starts this evening in Oranmore and continues until Sunday.

Restrictions will be in place in and around Oranmore this evening and motorists have also been warned to expect delays over tomorrow on the N6 Dublin road, N18 Lydican road between Carnmore and Oranmore, Monivea road between Ballybrit and Carnmore, N63 Galway to Roscommon road, Athenry to Derrydonnell road (R348) and the Tuam to Athenry road (R347).

The final three stages of the rally will be held on Sunday and delays are likely on the N18 Lydican road between Oranmore and Carnmore, Monivea road between Carnmore and Ballybrit, Old Dublin road between Loughrea and Oranmore, N66 Gort to Loughrea Rd and from Clarinbridge to Oranmore.

There will be racing at Naas Racecourse in Co Kildare tomorrow and at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Separately, the Run Ireland Duathlon will take place at the Phoenix Park on Sunday at 10am. To accommodate the event Upper Glen Road, Acres Road and the Chapelizod Gate will be closed from 9am to 12pm

Met Éireann forecasts cold weather over the weekend with easterly winds, although it will remain dry in most places.

Tomorrow will be bright or sunny spells by day, but frosty nights, with icy patches and also some fog at times with temperatures dropping to as low as -3c. On Sunday, frost and fog will clear as the day progresses but it will remain cloudy along parts of the southwest and west coasts, with possibly a little light rain at times.