An estimated 25,000 rugby fans plan to travel to Cardiff tomorrow for the Munster-Leicester European Cup Final. Ferries permitting, tour operators believe it will be the one of the largest exoduses of people from the State for a single event.
Ferry operators have assured their 15,000 passengers alternative arrangements will be in place to take them to Wales, following the cancellation of "fast ferry" services today due to bad weather.
A spokesman for Irish Ferries, Mr Don Hall, said about 9,000 passengers would be travelling today and tomorrow. The Isle of Inishmore craft between Rosslare-and Pembroke is not likely to be affected by the weather, he said.
But the Jonathan Swift "fast ferry" between Dublin and Holyhead will probably be cancelled and arrangements have been made to transfer travellers to the conventional Ulysses craft on the same route.
Ms Rosaleen Keegan, of Stena Line, said today's four sailings of the 130-car Stena Lynx III from Rosslare to Fishguard had been cancelled and people were being re-routed to ferry sailings in Dún Laoghaire and Dublin. Some people opted to travel yesterday evening instead.
"We have asked people to get in touch with us and we have also made call-outs to people, informing them."
Meanwhile, airports will be working overtime to deal with the increased demand.
A total of 31 chartered planes are flying today and tomorrow from Farranfore, Co Kerry, Shannon, Cork and Dublin to Cardiff and Bristol.
Travel agents said many fans are also taking scheduled flights to London and Birmingham. "There is not a flight to be got within a 300- to 400-mile radius of Cardiff," Ms Teresa South of Creation Travel, Limerick, said.
Westair Aviation in Shannon, which leases private planes, said six flights involving four crews had been booked including one pick-up in Nice.
One Cork-based yachtsman cancelled his sailing from Crosshaven to Cardiff yesterday evening because of the front which is building up over the Bay of Biscay. Mr Roy Maguire and his eight companions managed to get air tickets instead.
"People are moving from sea to air big time even though they have passages booked because they are afraid of the probability of cancellations."
• Irish Ferries may be contacted on 1800-313131 or, for Rosslare services, 053-33158. Website: www.irishferries.com. The Stena Line numbers are: 01-2047799, or from Britain 07805-755755.