Festivals catering for all tastes and ages are taking place this August bank holiday weekend. Several smaller festivals celebrating traditional and folk music are under way in towns across the country, while several new events are making their mark on the calendar.
Waterford's established street theatre festival, Spraoi, is expected to draw a crowd of more than 80,000. About 200 free outdoor performances are organised around the city, culminating in the "Waaargh" Spraoi parade at 10pm tomorrow. Highlights include the Irish premiere of the Drummers of Burundi and Wired and Free, by aerial artists Fidget Feet.
Street performers will also be the focal point of Dublin's Merrion Square for the State's first World Street Performance Championships. Ten acts, including sword swallowers, yo-yo experts and jugglers, will compete from noon today for the title of best street performer, to be announced at the end of the festival tomorrow evening.
Elsewhere in Dublin city centre there are two celebrations of African culture.
The Afro-carnival, supported by Dublin City Council, is based in Wolfe Tone Park, off Jervis Street. African bands will perform free on the festival stage from this afternoon, and African stalls will sell food and crafts.
Meanwhile, the Festival of African Arts and Culture (Festaac) will take place in Temple Bar as part of the summer-long Diversions Festival.
Pubs and clubs in the area have been invited to play African music in support of the festival. The main events, showcasing African music and culture, take place tomorrow.
A combination of changing tastes and increased competition means smaller, local festivals may find it difficult to draw numbers.
"It is getting harder," said Mike McGrath, one of the organisers of the Ballyshannon Folk Festival, the oldest festival of its kind in Ireland.
"We try to get a good variation to suit everyone, but we are having to work harder and keep trying to get that perfect mould." About 3,000 people will attend the Ballyshannon festival in Donegal, to watch acts including Kila, Dervish and the Border Collies.
Organisers of the 14th James Morrison festival in Riverstown, Sligo say they are "holding their own". They expect about 1,500 people, with the majority attending the céilí planned in the town diamond tonight and tomorrow.
Other small-scale festivals taking place include the outdoor Scariff Harbour Festival, based on Lough Derg, and the National Steam Rally in Stradbally, billed as the "premier event in the calendar of steam and vintage shows in Ireland".
The Irish Whale and Dolphins Group annual, land-based whale watch is also taking place today and tomorrow.
Organisers in Greystones swapped their traditional pub-based festival in favour of an outdoor arts festival five years ago. "The reason we get so many people coming now is because we provide a safe and happy environment," says festival director Gráinne McLoughlin.
"The country's big enough for all the festivals. The days are gone of people only wanting to go to the pub and drink." Up to 20,000 people are expected in the town.
The Mitchelstown festival has also undergone a makeover this year. The festival, which saw performances by Danni Minogue, Aslan and Coolio in the past, amassed unsustainable debts and was called off last summer.
New organisers have transformed the event into Mitchelstown Indie-pendence, showcasing up-and-coming bands as well as established acts. Scottish outfit the Proclaimers headline tonight followed by The Chalets and national student music award-winners Lotus Lullaby tomorrow.
The Galway Races, extended until Sunday for the first time, continue.
And in Mullingar, the Hi:Fi music event will attempt to draw some of the biggest numbers this weekend. Up to 25,000 will attend Ireland's newest music event in Belvedere House, headlined by The Prodigy and The Streets.