The organisers of large sporting and entertainment events were relatively unfazed by the announcement that foot-and-mouth had arrived in the State.
On RTE yesterday, the Minister for Agriculture said that there was no change to the advice issued last week to the effect that low-risk activities could continue if adequate precautions were taken. However, Mr Walsh said that functions such as conferences attracting people from rural areas should be discouraged.
Dublin City University has been forced to hold a "virtual" graduation ceremony on the Internet because of the crisis.
"In order to confer degrees legally, we are obliged to hold a convocation ceremony. But, because of the current foot-and-mouth crisis, we decided not to assemble the students at the university campus in Glasnevin", said Dr Pat Barker, the registrar of DCU.
Dr Barker said that there would be a convocation ceremony tomorrow in the absence of the 500 graduating students. The convocation will be broad cast on the university's website at www.dcu.ie/graduation.
The two largest crowd-pulling events in the State are unaffected. Thousands of fans will attend a sold-out Westlife concert in Dublin's Point Theatre tonight. In Millstreet, Co Cork, the Disney on Ice show, which opens tonight, also goes ahead.
A spokeswoman for the Live Entertainment Industry Association, which represents promoters, venues and ticket vendors, said that all events, large and small, were proceeding as planned.
Sporting events remain relatively untouched. The IRFU confirmed that the weekend's rugby fixtures would go ahead as scheduled, except in Co Louth. A full programme of AIB league matches will be played, with the exception of the Midleton and City of Derry match. The Six Nations Committee has postponed an announcement on Ireland's remaining fixtures until April 1st.
The FAI said that matches at all levels would go ahead, with the exception of Louth, where all games are off.
In a statement, the president of the GAA described confirmation of the foot-and-mouth case as a "crushing blow" to the association. Mr Sean McCague said that Croke Park would issue instructions to county boards within 48 hours.
The Minister for the Marine announced that he was lifting the ban on angling in spite of the outbreak in Louth. Mr Fahey emphasised that guidelines still applied: competitions were to be postponed; anglers from Britain were to be discouraged from visiting Ireland; and anglers should not fish in areas where animals susceptible to foot-and-mouth had access.
The Army announced that it was postponing celebrations scheduled for April 5th to mark the 75th anniversary of its Equitation School at Dublin's McKee Barracks.
The weekly food market in Dublin's Temple Bar is to reopen tomorrow after a three-week suspension.