The National Museum of Ireland is marking the 150th anniversary of the first shots fired in the American Civil War by hosting a special exhibition this weekend at Collins Barracks.
Tomorrow, a number of Irish and international historians will present lectures, starting at 11am and running until 1pm, that will highlight the role Irish soldiers played in the conflict.
On Sunday, members of the public will get a chance to see how they might have looked while fighting for the cause a century and a half ago, with replica weaponry and uniforms available.
In Waterford, the focus will be on herbs and hot cakes rather than history as the fourth annual Waterford Festival of Food rolls into town.
Taking place in Dungarvan, the 2011 festival will bring celebrity chefs such as Richard Corrigan and Mark Hix as well as many food producers, bloggers and Bord Bia representatives to the southeast for the weekend.
Along with the usual array of cooking classes, one of the new events to this year's festival is the "Barbeque by the Sea" on Saturday where local restaurants will be serving up the lunch opposite King John's Castle overlooking the ocean.
On Sunday, the "Farmers Market Extravaganza" will be held in Grattan Square. It is billed as the highlight of the festival with a full music programme in addition to a chance to fill up on local produce from the region.
On the sporting front this weekend, there is rugby action for all four provinces in the Magners League. Connacht take on Cardiff in the Sportsgrounds in Galway tonight at 8pm while Leinster and Ulster meet in an all-Irish clash tomorrow at the RDS in Dublin. Meanwhile, Munster travel to Wales to take on the Scarlets.
The All-Ireland U21 football semi finals sees Cork take on Galway tomorrow evening in Ennis, while Cavan play Wexford at 7pm in Parnell Park, Dublin.
On Sunday, it is the turn of the hurlers as the final round of the Allianz hurling league takes place, with games across the country and the two places in the final still up for grabs for several sides.
Straddling sport and entertainment, the World Wrestling Entertainment organisation hits Irish shores tonight, as the WWE Revenge Tour come to the O2 arena in Dublin, starting at 6pm.
The weekend will also see the Trinity Regatta, held since 1898, take place tomorrow from 9.30am until 6pm in War Memorial Park, Islandbridge, Dublin. In Limerick, the European Duathlon championship will be held.
For music lovers, the Irish National Guitar and Blues Festival is being hosted in the Drogheda Concert Hall and will run all weekend.
Performers at this year's festival include Grammy award winner Ed Gerhard and Irish songwriter Paul Brady. Meanwhile, there are traditional Irish music festivals taking place in both Cork and Galway this weekend, in Ballydehob and Clifden respectively.