With Christmas just a week away, sporting events are beginning to wind down but shoppers are taking to the streets in their droves.
Late night shopping is available in most towns and cities and as a result traffic is expected to be heavy with shoppers and commuters making their way to and from urban centres.
Full capacity is expected on Dublin city centre buses, trains and the Luas, and on public transport in all major towns and cities, while the State's roads will be particularly busy from Thursday evening onwards as people leave the capital to journey home.
Meanwhile sporting enthusiasts can look forward to Munster playing Neath-Swansea Ospreys in the top of the table Celtic League clash tomorrow night. The match takes place Musgrave Park in Cork.
Ulster are also in action tonight against Edinburgh at Ravenhill in Belfast.
In other sports, domestic league club matches will be played across the country tomorrow afternoon
In Racing, meetings are at Navan tomorrow and Thurles on Sunday.
Gardai this evening issued a reminder to all motorists to drive with caution on the busy roads.
The Christmas anti-drink driving campaign is continuing and check points will be set up in all districts throughout the season. The number of people caught drink-driving is already up 19 per cent on the same period last year, confimred a garda spokesman.