The highlight of the weekend for sports fans at least will be Sunday's Six Nations fixture at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, with the exodus of Ireland fans starting this evening.
Ferries from Dublin to Holyhead and Rosslare to Pembroke will be jammed with high-spirited rugby fans. Up to 20,000 people are expected to travel from Ireland for the game.
But before the Ireland v Wales challenger, Croke Park becomes centre of attention tomorrow night for the NFL opener - the first game under floodlights at the Dublin venue.
It's a sell-out crowd of over 82,000 fans expecting an electric atmosphere at Croker, so ticket-holders have been warned to get to Drumcondra early.
At half-time, schoolchildren of 18 different nationalities will provide entertainment for the crowds. It has yet to be confirmed whether a special yellow ball - reportedly easier to see under floodlights - will be used for the game.
Turnstiles will open at 5pm, with a performance by the Dublin Gospel Choir at 5.40pm, and the official ceremony to mark the turning on of the lights at 6.10pm.
Anyone arriving after 6.30pm for the 7pm start have been told to expect delays getting in and out of the stadium.
As always, delays mark the start of Friday evening on all the major routes throughout the country. A number of road crashes and incidents have affected traffic today.
Diversions have been lifted into Portlaoise after a truck hit a bridge on the Mount Rath Road.
Main Street in Arklow, Co Wicklow, remained closed until further notice following a crash.
In Kerry, the road at Lixnaw (R551) near Ballyduff is impassable after a bridge collapsed yesterday. A lengthy diversion is in place via Listowel.
Motorists in Co Monaghan should also expect delays during rush hour on the N2 through Castleblayney.
On the N3, roadworks are still in place at the Arch Bar in Dunshaughlin. Navan will also be busy with delays expected due to ongoing roadworks on the N3 from the Kells direction and the closure of Trimgate Street for work on a broadband scheme.
In Westmeath, the N52 Kilbeggan to Tullamore Road is reduced to one lane until mid February. Temporary traffic lights are in place.
Tonight, there may be delays around the Point Theatre in Dublin due to a concert by pop acts Pussycat Dolls and Rihanna. The gig sold out in minutes and resulted in a second concert tomorrow night.
Met Éireann predicts a dry, cold but fairly sunny day tomorrow but says frost and fog will be slow to clear in some areas.
Sunday will begin mostly dry with light winds, but cloud will increase from the northwest with patchy rain later in the day. This should clear in the southeast by Sunday night, and the rest of the night is expected to be dry with widespread frost.
To kick off next week, Met Éireann predicts another bright and mostly dry day - the best anyone can hope for who still has to go to work not having won this week's record Lotto jackpot.
Today, a lucky couple from Co Kilkenny picked up their prize at National Lottery headquarters in Dublin.
The €8,606,212 jackpot has been rolling since January 3rd. The couple, who have young children, bought the ticket in a local Statoil garage. They wish to remain anonymous.