Drama takes top billing this weekend as the Dublin Theatre Festival comes to a close.
Among the remaining highlights are Rough Magic's take on Ibsen's Peer Gynt at Belvedere College, Colm Tóibín's Testament at the Project Arts Centre and Juno and the Paycock at the Abbey.
Mamma Mia also closes after tomorrow's performance, ending a two-week run at the Grand Canal Theatre in Dublin. The Cork Opera House sets out Shakespeare's sad romance, best told in cold weather, with a production of a Winter's Tale running all weekend.
The Festival at Queen’s in Belfast begins this weekend with drama, dance, family works, classical and international music and film. Events will take place in almost forty different venues across the city.
Performers include Elvis Costello and James Vincent McMorrow.
Family fun is on offer at the Baboró International Arts Festival for Children starts this weekend with puppetry, dance and theatre workshops.
For music lovers the Rhythm Weekender begins in Dublin and Cork with the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Mulatu, Cut Chemist and many more set to play venues in both cities.
On the sporting front, the FAI cup semi-finals take place this weekend, with Shelbourne facing St Patrick's Athletic at Tolka Park this evening; while Bohemians will face Sligo Rovers at Dalymount Park on Sunday.
For horse-racing fans there is a meeting at Dundalk this evening, at Cork tomorrow and Sunday, and at Naas racecourse on Sunday.
Met Éireann is predicting a cloudy and wet evening in northern, western and south western areas tonight leading to persistent rain throughout.
Tomorrow is likely to be a dull day with drier weather spreading slowly westward.
Temperatures will drop on Sunday, although it should be a bright, clear day in most places, with scattered showers in the west and north.
Finally, the fifth European Night Without Accident promoting safe driving takes place over 220 nightclubs across the EU Saturday night. Clubs across the country are participating in the push for alcohol free designated drivers.