The weather forecast may be uninspiring but there's plenty to get excited about over the coming days with the Wexford Opera Festival, the international Puppet Festival and the Dublin Darklight Festival all taking place.
Met Éireann may be predicting something of a wet weekend but that is unlikely to dampen spirits with a number of others events on around the country including the Over-50s show at the RDS in Dublin and the Waterford Imagine Arts Festival
Now in its 60th year, the Wexford Opera Festival gets under way this evening and up to 25,000 people are expected on the town's quays for the traditional fireworks display.
The festival, which is to be opened by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, runs for 15 nights. Highlights including Donizetti's Gianni di Parigi, with Edgardo Rocha in the tile role.
The quays will close to traffic from 5.30pm until 8.30pm for the opening ceremony and car parks on the quay, which normally close at 6pm, will be open until 9pm.
The International Puppet Festival, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, also begins today and continues until next weekend with shows taking place in venues in Monkstown, Dún Laoghaire, Bray and in Dublin City Centre.
The theme of this year's Darklight Festival, which opened in Dublin yesterday and continues till Sunday, is strictly roots. The festival, which is now in its 13th year, celebrates independent filmmakers. Among this year's highlights are the debut of Ireland's first 3D live action short film Clockhead.
Still in the capital and the RDS in Ballsbridge is host to both the Over 50s show and the Back to the Past genealogy event this weekend.
In the Coombe area of Dublin, a three-day exhibition entitled Pricks and Mortar by controversial street artist ADW is on at South Studios, New Row South while Surface Tension, a new exhibition focusing on the future of water is on at the Science Gallery on Pearse Street.
The 23rd All-Ireland Open Festival of Dancing Championships are on in Gort, Co Galway this weekend while the Ulster Bank Theatre Festival continues in Belfast. In Waterford, the Imagine Arts Festival, which promises the best in theatre, music, literature, comedy, visual arts, dance and film, is underway.
On the music front, singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow is at the Olympia tonight and tomorrow evening while former Oasis star Noel Gallagher brings his High Flying Birds to the same venue on Sunday. Jape continue their Irish tour with gigs in Tralee and Sligo over the weekend while Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra are at the Grand Canal Theatre this evening.
In Dublin, the Best of Imro Showcase Tour is on at the Workman's Club. As many as 12 acts are expected to perform and the event, which is hosted by RTÉ 2FM DJ Jenny Huston, is free.
As many as 300 people are expected to take part in the inaugural Southcoast Adventure Race in Skibbereen, Co. Cork tomorrow. The race includes hill running, cycling and kayaking.
Still on the sporting front, there's racing tomorrow and Sunday at Galway Racecourse.
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