An estimated 60,000 Munster rugby fans are expected in Cardiff for the Heineken Cup final between Munster and French rivals Toulouse tomorrow, with the mass exodus beginning in earnest today.
Munster will be returning to the scene of their 2006 title triumph against Biarritz where they'll take on a side which has been crowned European champions on three occasions.
The AA has warned drivers to expect extra traffic at airports and at Rosslare Harbour as Munster supporters make their way across the Irish Sea.
For those unable to travel to Cardiff, Limerick is considered the next best place to be for the game on Saturday afternoon. The city authorities are erecting a giant 45 square metre television screen on O'Connell Street.
While all eyes will be focused on the Millennium Stadium tommorow, there's plenty of action on elsewhere this weekend with the Republic of Ireland taking on Serbia at Croke Park and Bruce Springsteen continuing his run of sell-out dates at the RDS.
Gardaí advise motorists to use public transport if possible as traffic is expected to be heavy.
Football fans will get their first chance to see Ireland playing at home under new manager Giovanni Trapattoni in their friendly tomorrow evening, with kick-off set for 7.45 pm. Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic, Valencia's Nikola Zigic and Inter's Dejan Stankovic are all included in the Serbia squad.
GAA fans are also in for a treat this weekend with a number of Championship games on including Sligo against London and Tipperary versus Limerick.
Bruce Springsteen fans will be packing out the RDS tonight and Sunday as 'the Boss' plays all the hits in a show that lasts more than two and a half hours. Hip-hop fans are well catered for with seminal rap group Public Enemy returning to Dublin to perform their classic album,
It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back.
Also taking place in the capital this weekend is Africa Day, a one-day celebration of African culture hosted at Dublin Castle. Mundy, Kila and the Republic of Loose will all be performing at the event. Children's events include story-telling, face-painting and bracelet-
St Patrick's Choral choir from Bristol are in town to sing at Galway Cathedral tonight and tomorrow and will perform in Waterford on Sunday. Fleadh Nua, an eight day festival held in Ennis, Co Clare, also continues this weekend with concerts, stage shows, workshops, and ceilis, street entertainment all taking place in the town.
A celebration of traditional timber sailing boats is also taking place in Baltimore, Co Cork this weekend with the seventh annual Wooden Boat Festival promising plenty for sailors and boat-lovers.
Elsewhere, Belfast plays host to the Red Bull Soapbox event on Sunday at Stormont with 45 competitors set to try their luck in a variety of ingeniously designed and created non-motorized soapbox cars.
Iarnród Éireann has warned rail travellers that disruptions are possible over the weekend as unofficial industrial action by train drivers in Cork escalates to other routes. Iarnród Éireann is posting details of train cancellations on its website.
Meanwhile, Met Éireann has said that Saturday will be bright and breezy with good sunny spells and temperatures expected to be between 16 to 30 degrees. Sunday will be windy and mostly dry with a chance of a little rain at times near the south and southeast coast.
