There are only two certainties this bankholiday weekend - the same two certainties there are every bank holiday weekend.
Firstly, that it will rain until Monday evening and, secondly, the roads in and out of major centres of population will be gridlocked on both Friday and Monday (the AA assures us that if you miss the traffic on either of these two days you'll probably be able to catch-up on it on Saturday.)
What makes this weekend different from all others during the year, is that the hour goes back on Saturday night/Sunday morning, giving you some maths to do while your sitting in traffic.
The number of events and happenings this weekend is myriad, but the one that many people will be trying to get to is the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival which, the PR blurb tells us will feature "the hippest, coolest young stars of world jazz, including Jason Moran, Lonnie Plxio, Jim Black Nasheet Waits and Julian Arguelles."
Also in Cork is the Franciscan Well Beerfest, the 8th to be held here in four years and which will offer no less than ten draught Belgium beers, including the sinister sounding "Delirium Tremens" beer. All beers at this festival, we are told, are made from natural ingredients with no chemicals or additives.
For this reporter's money, however, the highlight of the weekend is the Bundoran Country Music festival in Bundroan, Co Donegal. Now in its fifth year, this year's line-up includes Joe Dolan, Dickie Rock, Roly Daniels, Mick Flavin, Brendan Shine et al.
Travel, of course, is the big consideration this weekend. Iarnród Éireann says that, already, all its trains to Cork have been booked out for Friday and Monday and say there are very few places left for Saturday.
Other mainline routes, it says, will probably be equally busy, but there is no way of knowing beforehand (The Cork trains must be pre-booked so they have a better idea of what the volume of traffic will be.)
Bus Éireann also expects to be busy and expects to carry over 100,000 people over the course of the weekend. On Friday and Saturday services will operate as normal with additional buses on intercity routes.
On Sunday and Monday services will run as they usually do on Sunday's with restricted services on most routes. The company advises people to travel in the morning or early afternoon.
Apart from the usual traffic problems around Dublin City centre, Monday is likely to be particularly difficult for motorists as The Dublin City Marathon will begin at 9 a.m.
Gardaí are advising motorists that traffic will be restricted along the route with most south city centre streets closed to all except the 8,000 runners and walkers who are expected to participate.
Sailings in and out of Irish ports will depend on the weather. Already, today, there has been some disruption with Stena Line's HSS Explorer to Dun Laoghaire from Holyhead running behind schedule and is not arrive in Dublin until 16.30 and depart for Holyhead at 17.00.
The 6pm Irish Ferries sailing from Dublin to Holyhead has been cancelled, passengers will be accommodated on the Conventional sailing. For information over the weekend telephone the company you booked your passage with.
None of the airports around the country are expecting any major problems over the weekend.
Finally, the National Safety Council, are continuing their EYES WIDE OPEN Safety Campaign for the bank holiday weekend and is appealing to all road users to keep their 'Eyes Wide Open' to added danger from bad weather & reduced hours of daylight.
The National Safety Council are urging pedestrians walking on country roads at night to carry a torch to see better and be seen more clearly by wearing reflective clothing.
They are also urging motorists at twilight and later in the evening to watch for people in dark clothing, to drive slowly and watch for pedestrians and pedal cyclists on roadways, medians and curbs and to expect the unexpected.