Stars set to shine as Meteors descend

The RDS in Dublin is at the centre of events this weekend, with both the Meteor Music Awards and the Leinster rugby match set…

The RDS in Dublin is at the centre of events this weekend, with both the Meteor Music Awards and the Leinster rugby match set to fill the Ballsbridge venue.

Dara O Briain will host the music event at the RDS tonight, as a few old hands in the industry compete with young upcoming talent. Among those in contention for the best Irish band gong are Future Kings of Spain, The Flaws, Fight Like Apes, Delorentos, Ash and Aslan.

Cathy Davey, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Róisín Murphy, Andrea Corr, Dolores O'Riordan and Sinead O'Connor are in the running for the best Irish female artist.

Lining up for the best male Irish artist prize are Damien Dempsey, Duke Special, Glen Hansard, Paddy Casey, David Geraghty and Declan O'Rourke.

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On the dance front, the Planetlove Winter Session takes place tomorrow, Saturday, just off the M50 motorway. The sell-out gig takes place in a field near junction 15 for Kilternan and some traffic congestion should be expected. Gates open at 5pm and the concert will finish at about 1am.

There is a car and taxi drop-off point on the site and Dublin Bus is running a return service from Burgh Quay from 4pm onwards.

Met Éireann predicts tomorrow will be mainly dry with partly cloudy skies and a mixture of bright spells and cloudy periods, with some sunshine. Good news all round for the folks grooving in the field.

On the rugby field, Leinster play Cardiff Blues in the Magners League at the RDS tomorrow at 7.30pm. Again, some delays should be expected on the traffic front.

On Sunday, the intermediate/junior football championship finals take place in Croke Park. Stiles open at 12.30pm.

It's Boyne Hurdle Day at Navan Racecourse on Sunday. The first race of seven is off at 2.10pm and there will be heavy traffic in the area.

Motorists should also note there will be traffic disruption at the N4 and N7 interchanges on the M50 until the end of this month due to the ongoing upgrade works.

AA Roadwatch said that citybound traffic on the N7 inbound is reduced this weekend from two lanes to one just past Monastery Lane, until 6am on Monday.

At the N4 interchange, junction 7 Lucan, the southbound exit will be closed from midnight on Saturday until 10am on Sunday. Traffic will have to U-turn at junction 9, Red Cow.

In Meath, there is a small diversion in place on the N3 at Blundelstown/Lismullin due to the M3 construction works. Motorists should take extra care due to the realignment.

Roadworks are continuing on the N6 Athlone/Kilbeggan road west of Moate until next Friday, with single-lane traffic in operation. Delays are likely this evening and at peak times next week.