A number of sporting, and fashion events will add to the traditional weekend traffic gridlock in some urban areas this weekend.
Apart from the usual array of interminable roadworks, motorists in Dublin will need to be on alert for the rugby match at Lansdowne Road on Saturday, when reigning Tri-nations champions South Africa kick off against Ireland at 2.45 p.m.
A full house is expected as an estimated 48,000 rugby fans converge on Ballsbridge for the autumn international with the inevitable knock-on effect on traffic in the area.
Iarnród Éireann is laying on an extra non-stop train from Limerick to Heuston, departing at 7.25 a.m. and arriving at 9.35 a.m.
The train has been scheduled in response to extra demand created by both the rugby international and the Off the Rails fashion and beauty show, which takes place at the RDS Simmonscourt throughout the weekend.
According to the organisers, there has been such "phenomenal" demand for tickets that extra tickets have been released.
Trains will return from Heuston at 3.20 p.m., 5.10 p.m., 5.35 p.m., 7.00 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Local traffic in Cork will be affected by another rugby event, when Munster play The Dragons in the Celtic League at Musgrave Park at 8.05 p.m. tomorrow.
A race meeting at Punchestown, Co Kildare, on Saturday and Sunday will also see increased volumes of traffic through the area.
The DIT's graduation ceremonies take place tomorrow at St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Extra volumes of traffic should be expected before and after the ceremonies, especially around Patrick Street and St Patrick's Close.
Also in Dublin, pipe maintenance work continues on Talbot Street until December 6th. Diversions via Buckingham Street, Sean McDermott Street and Marlborough Street are in place for buses and other traffic.
DART services between Pearse Street and Howth/Malahide are still not operating at weekends due to work on the track. Extra bus services have been put in place.
Bus users should also note that revised timetables came into operation on Dublin Bus's number 40 routes from last Sunday. In addition, Route 40C will terminate in Cappagh Hospital and will no longer serve Kildonan Road, Barry Road, Plunkett Avenue and St. Margaret's Road.
There have been changes to the departure points for some Bus Éireann services from Busaras. They include all Dublin/Mullingar and Dublin/Edenderry services up to 6.30 p.m. and all Dublin/Wicklow services up to 8.10 p.m. These services now depart from Amiens Street beside the Luas terminus.
A protest by a patients' lobby group from the Garden of Remembrance tomorrow afternoon may have some effect on city centre traffic.
One piece of good news for motorists this weekend is the newly opened Monasterevin bypass, which has already shaved a significant amount of time off many journeys on the N7 and relieved the town's famous gridlock.
In other travel news, Church Road in Blackrock, Co Cork, is closed for resurfacing works. Hanover Street will be closed until 6 p.m. this evening.
Work is continuing on the construction of a new roundabout at the Belmont Road on the N25 New Ross Road (Ferrybank). Delays should be expected southbound from Sallypark and as far as the Quays.
In Meath, site investigation work on the main street in Enfield will continue until next weekend. Drivers are asked to use the bypass instead.
Roadworks, which have caused significant delays at rush-hour in recent weeks, also continue north of Ashbourne on the N2. A stop-go system is in place during the day and temporary traffic lights will operate after 7 p.m.
Iarnród Éireann has started the phased introduction of online reservations for its standard class trains. Customers may now reserve places on the following Friday trains - 4.50 p.m. from Heuston to Galway; 5 p.m. from Heuston to Cork and the 5.10 p.m. from Heuston to Limerick.