The loss of the Skyfest to the Rock of Cashel is unlikely to dampen spirits at this year's St Patrick's Festival in the capital with organisers promising five days of music, street theatre and carnival.
The prospects of a rain-free St Patrick's Day are also good, according to Met Éireann, which is forecasting a dry day on Monday with sunny spells.
However, it did warn that sporadic wintry showers remain a distinct possibility, especially in the north.
Festival organisers are promising a spectacle of spectacle of floats and marching bands in Monday's showcase parade with more than 4,000 participants scheduled to make their way from Parnell Square North to Christ Church from noon.
Other events in the city include The Pearl, John Steinbeck's tale performed by the giant inflatable characters of French theatre company Plasticiens Volants in Dublin's docklands tonight and tomorrow night at 7.30pm; a funfair at Merrion Square all weekend; the Denny Treasure Hunt on Saturday at locations around the city; and the Denny Big Day Out on Sunday.
There will also be events for adults and children at Merrion Square, and the Céilí Mór at Earlsfort Terrace on Sunday from 2.30pm to 5.30pm.
Information on all these events is available at www.stpatricksday.ie
In Cashel, the Skyfest takes place from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. It is a free event, and all tickets have now been allocated, but the fireworks should be visible from some distance.
The St Patrick's Day parade in Cork city starts at 1pm from the South Mall to Merchant's Quay. The Cork Circus is taking to the streets with the theme of "Monsters of the Marsh". Street artists from Spraoí and Cork-based dance group No Frontiers are also taking part in the parade.
An outdoor food market will be held at St Patrick's Street tomorrow and Sunday, and at Emmet Place on Monday.
In Galway, the parade starts at Dominick Street at 12.30pm and makes its way to Eyre Square. Its theme is "tribes" and will feature a traditional Nigerian tribe from the Association of Nigerians in Galway, Bog People from Macnas, a Norse tribe and boat from the Galway Traveller Movement, and a full tribe of "St Patricks with snakes" from the Brothers of Charity.
Limerick Springfest and international band competition takes place over the weekend. The Friendship Band from Northern Ireland will perform a free, open-air morning concert in the Milk Market on Saturday. The parade begins at noon on Monday from Sarsfield Barracks.
Gardaí have said they will establish additional checkpoints over the extended holiday period to combat drink-driving and speeding.
Last year 1,990 motorists were caught speeding and 481 drink-driving over the St Patrick's Day holiday period. Over Easter, 2,644 speeding motorists and 445 drink-driving incidents were recorded.
A virtual St Patrick's Day parade will be held in the internet virtual world Second Life this Sunday, March 16th.
The virtual parade, hosted by Tourism Ireland, will include 20 Irish and Celtic-themed floats, and is part of a three-day Discover Ireland Festival that will be hosted in a virtual Dublin that has been created in Second Life.