Some 30,000 people are expected in Kilkenny this weekend for the Smithwick's Cat Laughs Comedy Festival.
The festival, which features 44 comedy acts from Ireland and abroad at various venues around the city, kicked off yesterday and will run until Monday.
Top Irish acts attending the festival will include Tommy Tiernan, Jason Byrne, Dylan Moran, Des Bishop and Ed Byrne, while international talent comes in the shape of acts such as Andy Parsons, Bill Bailey, Phil Kay and Mitch Fatel to name but a few.
In Dublin, the BudRising festival continues. The week-long festival opened on Wednesday and will host 23 indoor and outdoor events featuring over 130 acts including The Hives, Andy Preston, Delorentos, The Kills, Weezer, Masters at Work and Supersystem.
BudRising will also have two large outdoor events later in the year - at Marlay Park and Lansdowne Road.
The annual Women's Mini Marathon takes place next Monday. Some 40,000 women will be taking to the streets of Dublin, running, jogging or walking the 10 kilometres to raise money for their favourite charities.
The marathon has been held annually since 1983, and more than 440,000 women have participated.
The Cork Capital of Culture programme for the bank holiday weekend features 21 gigs over five days in city-centre venues. Zane Lowe and Snow Patrol will perform a DJ set in the Bodega, while The La's and Joey Negro will be in the Savoy.
Elsewhere in Co Cork, the Bandon Music Festival will run from tomorrow until Monday; the Dixie, Swing and Jazz Festival takes place in Co Clare; and the Guinness Castlebar Blues Festival will run from today until Monday.
The Rory Gallagher tribute festival will take place in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, to mark the 10th anniversary of his death. It features Gallagher's Band of Friends, with original members Gerry McAvoy, Denis Greaves, Gwyn Ashton and Brendan O'Neill.