Motorists and travellers are advised to take extra care this weekend as the first real cold snap of winter and the Christmas shopping frenzy look set to grip the country.
Saturday and Sunday are expected to be dry and sunny if a little cold, which should ensure the shops will be thronged with shoppers on what is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
The Naas Road heading to Punchestown is likely to be extremely busy this weekend with the combination of Santa's Kingdom and the races on December 7th and 8th.
Santa's Kingdom at Punchestown is open each day until December 23rd. It opens for business at 9:30 a.m. and the last shuttle departs for Dublin at 7:30 p.m. each day.
The racing begins at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and 12:20 on Sunday.
Bus Éireann will run special bus services from Dublin to Punchestown Races on both days. Buses will leave 90 minutes before the first races and return straight after they finish.
Tickets cost €12 return and must be booked in advance at Busaras or at the Bus Éireann ticket desk in the Dublin Bus office on Upper O'Connell Street.
In Dublin, the Cranberries are playing at the Point Theatre, and the Collins Cup tennis event continues through to Sunday in the RDS.