The hot event this weekend is FÁS Opportunities 2005 at the Conference Centre in Croke Park.
Europe's largest education, careers and skills showcase kicks off today and continues until Monday 17th January.
The event draws together leading employers, education organisations and skills sectors and should attract a large number of visitors, including school groups. Traffic is expected to be heavy in and around the area of Croke Park over the three days.
You know Christmas is definitely done and dusted when the big wheels stops spinning at Funderland, and this weekend is the final chance to enjoy the thrills at the RDS, as the show winds down on Sunday 16th January.
The major sporting event this weekend is the Heineken Cup match between Leinster and Treviso at Lansdowne Road, which kicks off at 5.15 p.m. on Saturday, and will bring heavy volumes of traffic around the Ballsbridge area.
The other big rugby fixture is the Connacht v Grenoble European Challenge Cup match at the Sportsgrounds, Galway, with kick off at 2 p.m.
There are a number of GAA matches over the weekend, the highlights of the fixture list are the Leith v Westmeath match, which takes place in Drogheda, and Laois v Kildare at Portlaoise. Both O'Byrne Cup semi-finals are on Sunday at 2 p.m.
There will be horse racing at Punchestown on Saturday and Fairyhouse and Cork on Sunday afternoon.
After the recent appalling weather conditions, motorists will be relieved that the forecast is for good conditions for travelling. Saturday's forecast is for dry and cold weather with clear spells and frost in places, and Sunday should be dry and breezy with sunny spells; temperatures will range from about 7 to 10 degrees.
A number of roadworks may cause some delays over the weekend, however. In Dublin there will be roadworks on the southbound land of the Dundrum bypass until Monday 17th January.
The road is closed from just past the junction of the bypass and Sandyford road northbound, and also from the Dundrum Bypass roundabout on Wyckham way to the Dundrum crossroads southbound.
In Kildare roadworks between Kill and Blackchurch on the N7 are leading to a 40 mph speed limit on the Dublin-bound lane. In Waterford roadworks on the New Ring Road will be carried out for the next two weeks at the Airport Road/Killure Road junction.
Disruptions to the weekend Northside DART services will continue until the summer of 2005. Upgrade works on the line between Pearse and Howth/Malahide will be carried out on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, and additional buses have been scheduled to get commuters to their destinations.
The Maynooth Commuter, Northern Commuter, Belfast Enterprise and Sligo InterCity services are also affected.
Ferry services are at a minimum as the ferry operators take advantage of the post-Christmas lull to refit their fleet. Stena Line Dun Laoghaire/Holyhead sailings are suspended until February 10th due to the annual refit.
Irish Ferries Dublin/Holyhead sailings are suspended until January 19th due to its annual dry dock.
The Rosslare/Pembroke service is also suspended until 9 p.m. on Saturday 22nd.