The weekend holds the promise of some cold and frosty November weather and a huge selection of events and entertainment around the country.
The Point Village market in Dublin’s docklands will be closed for the weekend.
“After monitoring the weather over the last few days and given the forecast for the weekend we are left with no option but to close the market this weekend,” a statement from the organisers said.
They said the market would be back in action next weekend, November 20th and 21st.
In Tullamore, Co Offaly the annual Queen of the Land Festival kicks off this evening and runs until Sunday.
It began in 1964 as part of the Kilkenny beer festival and was later taken over by Offaly Macra na Feirme.
The organisers promise that this year “as every year” the festival will welcome “a host of beautiful girls” to the Faithful County. “Over three event-packed days they will be appraised by a distinguished judging panel who will take into account appearance, personality, energy, confidence,” the festival’s website says.
In Co Louth, the Ardee Baroque festival also takes place until Sunday, with music, lectures and children's activities based on the music of the 17th and 18th centuries.
In the south east, the Waterford International Music Festival, incorporating the light opera festival, gospel festival and high-school festivals, concludes tomorrow with the gala ball and awards at the Tower Hotel. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the event known locally as “the mother of all festivals”.
The 55th Cork film festival continues until Sunday.
In Dublin, Rodrigo y Gabriela are likely to all but lift the roof off the Grand Canal Theatre tonight and tomorrow night. Doors open at 6.30pm for an 8pm show.
In sport, the main event is tomorrow’s Ireland v Samoa rugby clash at Lansdowne Road at 2.30pm.
On the traffic front, the new M18 Gort to Crusheen bypass will open to motorists today. The opening ceremony took place at noon and the road is expected to open to the public by 3pm. This section of the route is 23km in length and will bypass Gort, Co Galway and Crusheen, Co Clare.
Weather wise, Met Éireann says tomorrow will be a cold, bright day with sunny spells. Some scattered and heavy showers will be mainly confined to western and southwestern areas for much of the day.
Prolonged showers will affect the southern half of the country later, the national forecasting service says.
There will be clear periods and showers tomorrow night and it will be cold and frosty with subzero temperatures inland and some fog developing.
Sunday will also be cold with sunny spells, and prolonged showers in parts of Munster and south Leinster.
The weather has affected some ferry sailings today, including the Stena Line 1.15pm service from Dún Laoghaire to Holyhead, which has been cancelled.
Irish Ferries Jonathan Swift sailings from Dublin to Holyhead at 8.45am and 2,30pm were also cancelled. Other sailings cancelled include the Holyhead to Dublin sailings on the Swift service at 12pm and 5.15pm.
Any keen ship-watchers who are prepared to brave the cold will be able to witness the departure of the last cruise liner of the season from Dublin Port at 7pm tonight.
Some 800 passengers will board the 200-metre Boudicca to embark on a 10-day cruise, returning to Dublin Port on Saturday, November 20th.