The RAF's Red Arrows will perform in the State's airspace for the first time next Sunday when they will demonstrate their aerobatics at the Salthill Millennium Air Show in Galway.
Also taking part in a packed programme, weather permitting, will be several "aerobabes", who are wing-walkers with the St Ivel Utterly Butterly Barnstormers.
The participation of the Red Arrows is seen as something of a coup for the Salthill Tourist and Development Association.
However, the invitation to the RAF has drawn criticism from a Sinn Fein local election candidate, Mr Tomas O Curraoin, who has described it as "an insult to Northern nationalists".
The Red Arrows have performed in thousands of displays in Britain and around the world.
Among their manoeuvres is a series of crossovers by a "synchro-pair"; they can also fly in split formation, passing each other at just 30 feet with a closing speed of 650 m.p.h.
The full display can last up to 30 minutes if visibility and cloud base are suitable.
The air show has attracted strong home support. The Air Corps Dauphin helicopter and Casa maritime patrol aircraft, the Garda Support Unit and the Naval Service are all taking part.
The Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES) Sikorsky helicopter, Aer Arann, a British Aerospace Hawk, a Russian Yak 52 and the Aer Arann Islander aircraft will also be involved.
For the first time in six years, the annual show will not have a display from the Air Corps aerobatics team, the Silver Swallows, as the last of the Fouga Magister jets has been "retired".
The Salthill air show starts at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 4th. Half of the proceeds from the sale of the £2 programme will go to Croi, the West of Ireland Cardiology Foundation.