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Extra.ie
17-07-2025
- Climate
- Extra.ie
Things to do this weekend -- July 18 to July 20
While last weekend saw the country in a status yellow high temperature warning, this weekend is forecast to be a little more unsettled with sunny spells and scattered showers throughout. This Sunday will be a big weekend for Cork and Tipperary GAA fans as the county hurling teams face off in the All Ireland Hurling Championships at Croke Park. For those who aren't interested in the hurling, there's plenty of things to get stuck into with the family out and about… This Sunday will be a big weekend for Cork and Tipperary GAA fans as the county hurling teams face off in the All Ireland Hurling Championships at Croke Park. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Here are five of the best activities to do this weekend. You can check out more family days out and summer events on YourDaysOut. Dublin, July 19 and 20 The Rose Festival returns to St Anne's Park, Dublin this weekend to mark 50 years of the Rose Garden. The weekend event is family-friendly and free, and promises to be a fun event featuring live music as well as kids' entertainment, crafts, food stalls as well as yoga, tai chi and a dedicated bike park. Gates open from 10am to 6pm on both days. Pic: YourDaysOut Mayo, July 12 to 20 The culmination of the Ballina Salmon Festival takes place this weekend with plenty of fun for kids of all ages. On Friday, the youngsters can bop along at Baby Boppers or try paddle boarding at the Quay, while Saturday features a fun fancy dress disco was well as rockets and slime workshops. Sunday is the final day of the festival with a Teddy Bears Picnic taking place at Tom Ruane Park. Attendees to the event can expect plenty of music and games as well as a sensory hour for some quieter play. Pic: YourDaysOut Dublin, July 19 and 20 This one is for the Lego fanatics in your life! Brick Feile is the biggest LEGO fan event in Ireland and returns to CityNorth Hotel this weekend with stunning custom models, giant brick pits, a live big-build and creative challenges for all ages. Attendees are invited to check out the displays from take part in fun builds, shop rare sets and help raise important funds for Fairy Bricks. Pic: YourDaysOut Meath, July 19 and 20 If fairies are more your scene, why not step into the magical world at Loughcrew Gardens with fairy trails, unicorns, puppets, storytelling and circus fun. Attendees can enjoy crafts, bubbles, vintage games and enchanting performances from 12pm to 6pm daily. The weekend promises to be a spellbinding weekend for little believers with big imaginations. Pic: YourDaysOut Kildare, July 20 Barretstown opens its gates for an exciting family day on Sunday with a range of activities including canoeing, archery, face painting, dancing, mini golf and more! Fossett's Circus will be on hand on the day, putting on three performances throughout the day (11.15am; 1.15pm and 3.15pm). Admission to Barretstown Big Picnic is free, though the Circus is a ticketed and should be booked in advance. Pic: YourDaysOut is Ireland's leading platform for discovering things to do with a booking system built for Irish businesses with local support and at no extra cost.
Extra.ie
16-07-2025
- Climate
- Extra.ie
Met Éireann predicts trouble for All-Ireland final
Cork and Tipperary hurlers are set to face difficult conditions in Croke Park this weekend with Irish weather up to its usual tricks. Despite a recent heatwave, this week has been up and down in terms of sunshine as heavy showers continue to break periodically throughout the days. According to the latest Met Éireann forecast, these bouts of rain will continue into the weekend and Sunday's final looks set to face some of the worst of it. Cork and Tipperary hurlers are set to face difficult conditions in Croke Park this weekend with Irish weather up to its usual tricks. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Over 80,000 fans who will be attending the highly-anticipated showdown will likely need their ponchos and rain jackets with 'thundery showers, merging into longer spells of rain' forecast for the big day. This could also spell trouble for both sides in the final with wet and blustery conditions sure to play their part in how the afternoon unfolds. Sunday's forecast also includes 'spot flooding, local hail and lightning' but there will be chances of warm spells of sunshine in some parts of the country. Despite a recent heatwave, this week has been up and down in terms of sunshine as heavy showers continue to break periodically throughout the days. Pic: Tom Honan The build up to the weekend looks similar as well with the forecast predicting 'a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers' on Friday. However, these showers will turn heavy later in the afternoon and evening across east and northeast counties. Friday night will likely be mostly dry but isolated showers are still expected. The hurling showdown will get underway at 3.30pm on Sunday afternoon in Croke Park. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Saturday looks set to be mostly dry with scattered showers continuing to dampen washing lines. The night time will see 'thundery bursts of rain' however, although some areas could escape the downpour. The hurling showdown will get underway at 3.30pm on Sunday afternoon in Croke Park. It is just the sixth time that the final will be an all-Munster affair. The previous time two Munster sides met in the final was just last year when Cork fell to defeat against Clare. The Rebels will be hoping to avoid a similar fate and secure their first All-Ireland title since 2005. Meanwhile, Tipperary's last success story in the competition came back in 2019 when they smashed through Kilkenny in a 3-25 to 0-20 victory. The difficult conditions forecast by Met Éireann will surely mean another entertaining and unpredictable clash for both sides and the hundreds of thousands of fans set to be tuned in.
Extra.ie
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Extra.ie
All the transport options Cork and Tipperary GAA fans for hurling final
All roads lead to Croke Park on Sunday as the hurling season reaches it climax in an all-Munster All Ireland final. Cork take on Tipperary after both teams advanced from their respective semi-finals last week, with the bid for train tickets almost as hot as the bid for All Ireland tickets. Usually tickets to GAA matches are sold via selected Centra and SuperValu stores as well as online via Ticketmaster, however for the final the tickets were handed to county boards across Ireland. Cork take on Tipperary after both teams advanced from their respective semi-finals last week, with the bid for train tickets almost as hot as the bid for All Ireland tickets. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile With train tickets already booked up for the day, many fans will be looking for alternative travel options for the big day. There is always the option to drive to the capital, however Irish Rail have confirmed to that they are currently working on adding further services for All Ireland final day. A spokesperson revealed that they last week added three extra trains each way between Cork and Dublin, and two extra each way for Tipperary supporters between Limerick Junction and Dublin which 'sold out within minutes.' With train tickets already booked up for the day, many fans will be looking for alternative travel options for the big day. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile They added: 'We are working on adding further services and hope to confirm these today or tomorrow. Again, we fully expect these to sell out straight away.' Those making the trip to Dublin via train are reminded that they need to pre-book tickets, and no tickets will be available at stations on the day. Travellers must travel on the train they have booked for 'particularly on the return leg.' 'No alcohol is permitted on any train service,' they said. Bus Éireann have confirmed a special Cork to Dublin service which will depart Cork Bus Station at 8am on Sunday morning, scheduled to arrive at 11am in Busáras on the day. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile The spokesperson added that pre-booking is 'also essential' for Saturday and Monday with train services from Cork and Tipperary busy on both days, and some already sold out. Bus Éireann have confirmed a special Cork to Dublin service which will depart Cork Bus Station at 8am on Sunday morning, scheduled to arrive at 11am in Busáras on the day. The return bus will depart Busáras at 8pm, scheduled to arrive at Cork Bus Station at 11pm on the night. have reached out to Bus Éireann to see if there will be an additional bus to cater to Tipperary fans. Other options for Cork fans include Big Green Bus which has a number of seats available across services on Sunday morning including 7.05am (arriving to Dublin for 11.25am) and 9.05am (arriving to Dublin for 1.25pm). There is one return bus from 8pm on Sunday that would get Cork supporters back to Andersons Quay in the city at quarter past midnight. The Aircoach from Cork to Dublin is booked early on Sunday morning, though there is limited capacity for the 9am service which arrives to Dublin for midday, similarly for the 11am service which arrives to Dublin at 2pm. The 10pm service back to Cork as limited capacity, while the bus leaving Dublin at midnight has still got seats for Cork fans. Tipperary fans seem to have less bus options, however one possibility is getting the Local Link from Tipperary to Cashel and getting the Bus Eireann bus from Cashel to Dublin. This does include a wait at Cashel of almost an hour and a half.
Extra.ie
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Leinster and La Rochelle set for another epic encounter as Champions Cup fixtures announced
Leinster-La Rochelle have had one of rugby's best rivalries in the 2020's. They've contested in two of the most competitive and thrilling Investec Champions Cup finals in recent memories and all their other clashes bar one (the quarter-final in 2024) have been nail-biters that went right to the wire. La Rochelle have the upper hand, winning the two finals but Leinster have won the last three encounters, including two away wins in the Stade Marcel Deflandre. With the added element of Ronan O'Gara coaching against his old foes this rivalry really has lived up to all expectations in recent years. The La Rochelle team celebrate after lifting the Champions Cup. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile The next installment in this rivalry was announced last month when the two were drawn in the same Champions Cup pool for the third year in-a-row and now today we finally have a date for the match. The EPCR confirmed on Tuesday that Leinster will host Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle in round 3 of the pool stages on Saturday 10 January 2026, with kick-off slated for 5:30pm. One thing to note in the announcement is the lack of confirmation of a venue for the match. Ciarán Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park and Hugo Keenan after their side's victory against La Rochelle. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile Leinster played the majority of their home games at the Aviva Stadium last season due to renovations to the RDS Arena and are set to continue their residency in Lansdowne Road for the 2025/26 season. Leinster have also since 2024 hosted a number of games at Croke Park, including an interprovincial clash against Munster and the URC Grand Final against the Bulls last month. With a game as prestigious and as hyped as Leinster-La Rochelle we could see the clash on its biggest stage yet at Croke Park. The historic venue would be the perfect stage for such a rivalry and if Leinster give plenty of notice, they'll back themselves to be able to get close to selling out the stadium. Their other pool stage games have also been set. They begin their quest for a fifth star at home to Harlequins on 6 December 2025 before they travel to Leicester to face the Tigers on December 12. They then face La Rochelle in Dublin before finishing the pool stages in a first-time ever clash against Bayonne on 17 January. Ryan Baird, right, and Josh van der Flier of Leinster celebrate win against Stade Rochelais. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Munster too have confirmed their Champions Cup fixtures as they begin their campaign away to English Premiership Champions Bath on 6 December. They will then make their return to Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on 13 December as they host Gloucester in Cork. Munster players make their way on to the pitch at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile They'll then travel away to the Stade Felix Mayol to face Toulon on 11 January before finishing their pool stage at home to Castres on 17 January. We may have all eyes set on the Lions but the club season is only around the corner yet again as Leinster will look to finally end their European hoodoo and get their fifth star.
Extra.ie
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Extra.ie
All the transport options GAA fans have for this weekends football semi-finals
The culmination of the Senior Football season is almost upon us as Kerry, Tyrone, Meath and Donegal all vy for places in the All Ireland final in two weeks time. All roads lead to Croker this weekend as Kerry take on Tyrone on Saturday and Meath face Donegal on Sunday in the semi-final stages. Many hopeful supporters have booked their bus and train tickets weeks in advance, but some might not be as organised. With train tickets from Kerry and Sligo (where Donegal fans would travel by rail from) already booked out for the weekend, many supporters may be wondering what their alternative is, apart from making the drive to the capital. All roads lead to Croker this weekend as Kerry take on Tyrone on Saturday and Meath face Donegal on Sunday in the semi-final stages. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Jack O'Connor's Kerry face off Malachy O'Rourke and the Tyrone boys in the first semi-final on Saturday with kick-off at 5pm at Croke Park. Unfortunately, at the time of writing the all Tralee to Dublin trains are fully booked as is the 7pm Dublin Heuston to Tralee train. Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae took to social media in recent days, confirming he had been in contact with Irish Rail who said 'they will be providing additional services on the day to accommodate supporters.' The Junior Minister added that the rail network are currently finalizing details. have since reached out to Irish Rail for more clarity on when the tickets could go on sale for supporters to book. While there is no Kerry to Dublin bus via Bus Eireann, supporters can get to Dublin via Dublin Coach who on Monday confirmed they have 'increased capacity' on Route 300 on Saturday. Kerry fans have the option from getting the bus at either Killarney or Tralee, with buses from Tralee at 5.30am and 10.30am. Times from Killarney include 6.30am; 7.30am; 9.30am and 11.30am. For returning supporters there are still available tickets for the 8.15pm and 11.15pm buses to Tralee and 7.15pm and 9.15pm back to Killarney. While Bus Eireann don't cater for Kerry to Dublin, Tyrone supporters may be able to travel via the bus company on Saturday with a number of bus tickets still available from Omagh, which is just ten minutes from the semi-finalists county. The bus route runs in and around every hour. Those looking to get the bus back to Omagh on Saturday night should book sooner rather than later as the 9.15pm is fully booked. Setas on the 7.15pm is still available. While Bus Eireann don't cater for Kerry to Dublin, Tyrone supporters may be able to travel via the bus company on Saturday with a number of bus tickets still available from Omagh, which is just ten minutes from the semi-finalists county. Pic: Getty Images In the second semi-final of the All Ireland Football Championships, Meath face Donegal with kick off on Sunday at 4pm at Croke Park. have contacted Bus Eireann regarding options for Meath supporters travelling to the capital for the semi-final. Another option Meath fans have is private bus service Collins Coaches, who are not running special buses for the day but have added extra capacity to their regular commuter service. In the second semi-final of the All Ireland Football Championships, Meath face Donegal with kick off on Sunday at 4pm at Croke Park. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile A spokesperson told 'The 10am and 1pm N2 services from Carrickmacross on Sunday goes through Ardee, Collon, Slane, McGruder's Cross, The Brink, Curtis Cross, Balrath Cross and Rathfeigh Cross to Dublin. 'We plan to get a bit closer than usual by dropping at Mountjoy Square which is a short walk to Croke Park.' Those looking to travel back to Meath via Collins Coaches on Sunday will have the 5pm; 7.15pm and 8.30pm bus services with the closest stop to Croke Park at Mountjoy Square West (bus stop I.D. 1174). The company added that their Whitworth Road stop will not be serviced on the day due to safety issues. For more information and timetables you can go here, with tickets only bought while boarding (cash, card, Leap Card and Free Travel Pass are all accepted). For Donegal fans still looking to book travel tickets down to Dublin, tickets for the first train at 9.05am are fully booked, though there are tickets for the 11.05am train. There are no train tickets back to Donegal after the match. The Expressway Donegal to Dublin route has still got plenty of tickets available also, with tickets available for the 5.30am; 7am and 10am Donegal to Dublin bus and return tickets also available on the 9.30pm and 11.00pm services.
