Surf's up for Irish culture fans

Culture Night started this evening with a number of free events taking place around the country. It's just the start of an action-packed weekend that promises something for everyone.

For the highbrow,  there is a feast of activities on as part of Culture Night including more than 150 events in Dublin alone.

Many of the capital's best known attractions and institutions opened their doors to the public including the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Kilmainham Gaol, the Guinness Storehouse, the National Gallery and Christ Church Cathedral.

Museums, galleries, churches, historic houses, artists’ studios and cultural centres in other parts of the country also opened their doors till late to the public

Among the highlights of this year's extravaganza are an Arab Jazz Night at the Chester Beatty Library, a food and craft market at Cork’s County Hall, life drawing classes at the Bourn Vincent Gallery in Limerick, a special night of dance at The Grain Store in Ballymaloe, an evening of music at Scoil Ácla Bunnacurry on Achill and free tours of Windmill Lane Recording Studios in Dublin.

Complimentary shuttle buses are operating along three designated Dublin Bus culture routes this evening. They’ll operate from 6pm to 11pm, leaving every 20 minutes from bus stops at Bachelor’s Walk, Aston Quay and Trinity College.Dublin Castle and the Gate Theatre.

The Spirit of Folk festival gets underway today at Dunderry Park, Co Meath. Among the acts appearing at the event are The Hot Sprockets, Gay Woods, Lisa O'Neill and Dr Strangely Strange. Tickets for the two-day festival are priced at €95, which includes camping. Day tickets are also available from €40.

The Green Village Music and Arts Festival takes place in Castletown Geoghegan, Mullingar Co. Westmeath tomorrow with The Stunning, Ryan Sheridan and Bipolar Empire all playing.

Galway's Latin Quarter will be home to a mini-festival this weekend with acts such as Duke Special, Republic of Loose and Whipping Boy all playing fee gigs in the area.

Still on the music front and 80s post-punk band Echo and the Bunnymen are performing their classic album Ocean Rain at the Olympic in Dublin tonight. David Gray plays a special benefit gig at Vicar Street tomorrow evening with special guests Pugwash and Lir.

A benefit concert for the Concern Horn of Africa Crisis Appeal take place at Whelans on Sunday with an appealing line-up that includes And So I watch You From Afar, Tieranniesaur and Patrick Kelleher. Tickets are priced at €15.

Theatre-goers will be out in force this weekend as the Absolut Fringe festival concludes. Thriller Live continues at the Grand Canal Theatre.

The All-Ireland Craft Beer Fest is on at the RDS in Dublin over the coming days with over 50 beer and ciders available to taste. The 46th annual Irish Antique Dealers Fair also takes place at the RDS this weekend while The Wedding Journal Show takes place in the Citywest Complex.

Sports fans are well served this weekend with Connacht set to take on Newport Gwent Dragons in the RaboDirect Pro12 league at the Galway Sportsground this evening. Delays can be expected in the area around the stadium before and after the event.

Many of the best female golfers in the world are in Ireland this weekend for th Solheim Cup which takes place at Killeen Castle, Dunsany, Co. Meath from today until Sunday. The women’s All-Ireland football finals are on at Croke Park on Sunday with Cavan taking on Westmeath in the intermediate final at 2pm and Cork meeting Monaghan in the senior final at 4pm. Traffic restrictions will be in place throughout the afternoon and delays can be expected.

Surf's up in Tramore and Bundoran this weekend with two separate festivals on.

At least 13 nations are set to compete in the European Surfing Championships which on in Ireland's surf capital, Bundoran. The event  begins tomorrow with the traditional Parade Of Nations through the town. Meanwhile, the fourth Tramore Surf and Sea Festival gets under way today and promises an action-packed programme that includes water sports and beach games.

Elsewhere, there racing a-plenty with meetings on at Listowel and Dundalk tonight, at Gowran Park and Navan tomorrow and at Clonmel and the Curragh on Sunday.

Met Éireann is forecasting a weekend of changeable weather. After a mainly dry day tomorrow, some heavy rain is expected to develop during Sunday. Highs of 14 to 16 degrees are expected.