Ceol agus spraoi: what's on this Bank Holiday weekend?

RTÉ News​

a day ago

This weekend marks the last Bank Holiday weekend of the summer, and with a wide range of events and festivals planned and a largely clear weather forecast, there is no shortage of opportunities for diversion across the country.
What's on?
Fleadh Cheoil
Starting big, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann kicks off in Wexford town on Sunday for its second year in a row in the sunny southeast.
The festival will officially kick off on Sunday with a special address from President Michael D Higgins but the early-bird festivities and excitement have already begun.
Expect music around every corner and impromptu seisiúns into the early hours of the morning as trad music takes over Wexford town.
Up to 600,000 musicians and visitors are expected to descend on the town for a week of traditional Irish music, dance and culture which will run up until Sunday, 10 August.
While some events are ticketed and require visitors to book, the majority of the events and seisiúns are free of charge.
All Together Now
There won't quite be 600,000 descending on Curraghmore Estate in Co Waterford, but 30,000 revellers will make their voices heard as All Together Now gets under way today for its sixth edition.
Fontaines DC and CMAT are two of the big Irish names who will take to the main stage while international acts Nelly Furtado and BICEP are also set to thrill crowds.
The festival is, unfortunately, fully sold out.
Spraoi International Street Arts Festival
Also taking place in Waterford this weekend is the Spraoi International Street Arts Festival.
Marketed as "Ireland's premiere summer street party", performers from across Ireland and the world will come to Waterford City with an exciting programme of street performers, contemporary circus, music, dance and fireworks.
The festival begins today and runs through until Sunday with the headline event, the Spraoi Festival Parade, expected to attract 25,000 spectators when it begins at 9.30pm on Sunday evening.
All performances in Spraoi festival are free.
Bray Air Display
For one day only, the Bray Air Display will excite north Wicklow crowds tomorrow with a "breathtaking array of aircraft and awe-inspiring aerobatics".
The free family festival kicks off at midday with fun, games and exhibitions on the seafront.
The air display itself begins at 3pm.
Mary from Dungloe
While the Mary from Dungloe International Arts Festival officially opened last weekend, the bulk of the events kick off today and run through until Sunday.
Inspired by the song 'Mary from Dungloe', the festival is centred around crowning a young woman who is deemed to embody the spirit of the festival and the town.
With events ranging from musical performances to dinosaur exhibitions and children's shortbread making classes, there is bound to be something for everyone at the famous Donegal festival.
The festival wraps up on Sunday night with the crowning of the 2025 Mary from Dungloe as she is welcomed on stage by none other than Donegal's favourite son, Daniel O'Donnell.
All-Ireland football final
Meath face Dublin in the TG4 All-Ireland ladies' football final in Croke Park at 4.15pm on Sunday.
The final is a repeat of the 2021 decider where Meath surprised Dublin to win the Brendan Martin Cup for the first time.
A crowd of just over 30,000 attended last year's final between Kerry and Galway with the LGFA hoping for an increased attendance this year.
What's in the cinema?
The reboot of the classic spoof cop franchise The Naked Gun is in cinemas from today and has received glowing praise in these pages.
Get ready to have your socks knocked off by the silliest film you'll see this year.
If you are not up for a laugh, the gripping night-in-the-life hospital drama Late Shift is also in cinemas from today as nurse Floria battles through an increasingly frantic night on a Swiss ward.
What's the weather going to be like?
The good news is that Saturday and Sunday look largely dry and warm across the country with only the odd shower and temperatures as high as 23C in parts.
However, heavy rain is forecast on Monday morning with Met Éireann predicting an unsettled day with unseasonably windy weather.
What's the advice?
The Road Safety Authority and gardaí have appealed to all road users to take care on the roads this Bank Holiday weekend.
Garda Chief Superintendent Ray McMahon said this is one of the busiest weekends on the roads and asked everybody to be "very conscious of our vulnerable road users, our cyclists and our pedestrians".
"We're asking people to slow down, we're asking people to just plan their journey ahead. Some will have long journeys this weekend, so take your time and take your breaks. Don't be using mobile phones or anything that might distract you while driving.
"We really do not want to be visiting another family with terrible news this weekend."
Water Safety Ireland also issued a rip current warning ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend with strong winds forecast.
It called on swimmers and open water users to choose lifeguarded beaches and to never use inflatable toys in open water.
It specifically warned the public of difficulties on east coast beaches where offshore winds will blow from land to sea.
"Offshore conditions make it even easier to be swept out to sea and harder to return safely. Swimmers, paddleboarders and other water users are urged not to take to the water in such conditions," it said, regarding offshore winds.