WeekendTravel & Events

RAIL PASSENGERS will endure disruption and delays to services on nearly all mainline rail routes out of Dublin, as well as commuter services to Kildare this weekend.

Delays of up to 45 minutes for services to Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Galway and Westport are expected due to works close to Heuston Station. Bus transfers will be in place between Heuston and Portlaoise, Portarlington, Thurles and Carlow.

All commuter rail services between Heuston and Kildare have been cancelled for the weekend.

Delays are also expected on the Sligo line as work takes place near Dromod, Co Leitrim. A bus transfer is in operation between Dromod and Sligo.

The northern line remains closed pending the reopening of the Malahide viaduct and intending passengers are advised to visit www.irishrail.ie for further details.

Widespread celebrations will be taking place to mark the wind down of the GAA 125th anniversary events, which have been underway since January.

President of the GAA Críostóir Ó Cuana has encouraged all local clubs to mark the event in some way and the main events will be held in the birthplace of the GAA, Thurles, Co Tipperary, starting with a Mass to be celebrated by Archbishop Dermot Clifford, at 11am.

At noon there will be a procession from Thurles Cathedral to Croke Monument at Liberty Square. At 2.30pm the Munster Club Senior Hurling championship will be shown on a big screen on Town End Terrace.

In Dublin, traffic is expected to be busy around the RDS this weekend as Leinster play Cardiff Blues in the Magners League at the RDS Arena today at 6:30pm. The Knitting Stitching Show will take place in the RDS until tomorrow.

Horse racing will take place at Naas today with the first race at 1.05pm. Racing will take place at Leopardstown tomorrow with the first race at 12.35pm and the last race at 4.15pm. In Cork racing will take place in Mallow tomorrow. The first race is at 1.15pm and the last is at 4.25pm.

In Portlaoise the Halloween festival will take place today with a parade departing from County Hall at 7pm. Participants will march through the town arriving at O’Moore Park, just off Father Brown Avenue at 8pm where a concert and fireworks display will take place. Traffic disruption is expected.

Halloween festivals will also tale place today in Cork city where the Dragon of Shandon Halloween Parade will take place from 4pm and in Longford Town where The Dead of Night Halloween Festival is set for Connolly Barracks. A parade will leave Market Square at 6.45pm and make its way to the barracks. In Donegal the Halloween Madness Festival takes place from Saturday to Monday and features a fireworks display at Dunfanaghy Pier, today at 7pm.

Munster will play Ulster in the Magners League at Thomond Park, Limerick, today at 5pm, while there will be evening events at the Royal Theatre, Castlebar today and Sunday. The National Museum of Ireland in Collins Barracks, is holding a day of talks and activities on November 7th to mark the end of the first World War.