It promises to be live, loud and smooth this bank holiday weekend as thousands descend on the Cork Jazz Festival, which kicks off at 5pm today.
Music legend Art Blake said: "Jazz washes away the dust of life", but Met Éireann forecasts a very wet and windy Saturday night for the non-believers who think water will do the trick. It will be clear overnight, with a drier, bright and breezy Sunday.
The countdown is on as the fit and the ambitious take to Dublin city's streets this Monday for the Adidas Dublin Marathon 2007, which starts at 9am. Thousands of runners and spectators are expected at this annual event.
Getting in and out of the city centre by car is going to be difficult, however. Restrictions will centre around Merrion Square, Fitzwilliam Square and Nassau Street, and road closures will be in place from as early as Sunday morning. Phoenix Park will also be closed to drivers.
With this and more going on, it's a good thing the clocks go back from 1am on Sunday to offer that extra hour to make the most of the weekend.
Elsewhere on the sporting front, Leinster take on Ulster in their Magners League derby in Ravenhill, kick-off 7.30pm, while Connacht play Edinburgh at the Sportsground in Galway, with kick-off at 6.30pm.
The first of the weekend's FAI Ford Cup semi-finals get under way at Dalymount Park tonight when Bohemians host Cork City at 7.30pm. UCD and Longford Town meet in the other tie at Belfield Park on Sunday, with a 3.15pm kick-off. Both matches will be televised live on RTÉ.
Dundalk hosts another of its evening race meetings tonight. The first of seven races on the all-weather surface is at 6.45pm. Tomorrow's racing is at Naas, with the first race scheduled for 2.05pm. There is a double-header on Sunday, with Wexford's card under way at 1.15pm and Galway beginning at 1.25pm
If you're planning to travel into Dublin on the M1 and N3, traffic will be diverted, and AA Roadwatch warns that the N2 will be heavily congested. Motorists should use the N4 or M50 if possible.
In Castlebar, the 10th Roola Boola Children's Festival will carry on through the weekend and finish on Monday after a week of activities that have included theatre, dance and music.
In Mohill, Ireland's best tellers of tales will be spinning a good yarn at the Storytelling Festival. The festival, which begins today at various venues, will draw listeners from all over the country and further afield.
Dublin airport has said around 2,000 flights will be passing through its terminals over the weekend, and passengers should leave plenty of time to check in.