SPRING WEATHER is finally due to arrive this weekend with Met Éireann predicting widespread sunny spells today.
A dry and mild forecast should see temperatures ranging from 9-11 degrees with very isolated showers on the west coast.
Despite a return to rain for most of the country tonight and throughout tomorrow, the sunny spell should stay around long enough to brighten up Croke Park for the big GAA double header.
Today’s sunshine will coincide with the first of the “Spring Series” games when Dublin’s footballers and hurlers will play the All-Ireland champions from both codes in their respective leagues.
It will be the first rematch between the footballers of Cork and Dublin since their epic championship semi-final last year, which Cork won by the narrowest of margins. Dublin’s hurlers will host Tipperary in the earlier game, which begins at 5.15pm.
The double billing in Croke Park will see Ireland’s Eurovision representatives, Jedward, provide the interval entertainment.
It is the first of four planned Spring Series evenings of Dublin GAA between now and April.
A special promotional ticket to see all four double-headers is available for €45.
Croke Park isn’t the only location for hurling and football league with matches across the country all weekend. For non-sports fans, there is the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival 2011. Launched on Thursday, the country’s largest film festival will run until February 27th and will present over 130 films.
Today is the last day of the Cork Spring Literary Festival with events taking place in the Munster Literature Centre and Metropole Hotel.