Individuals hoping to get in the festive mood over this weekend can choose from a range of Christmas festivals, themed music shows and pantomime performances which are taking place around the country.
In Dublin's Temple Bar, traders from the Temple Bar food market are holding a special festive market today alongside the Cow's Lane fashion and Christmas market, which takes place today and tomorrow.
Also in Dublin, the Twelve Days of Christmas festival at the Docklands continues until tomorrow.
In Cork, the first Christmas Fest also concludes this weekend at various venues around the city, while the third annual Christmas in Killarney Festival, which includes open-air Christmas markets on Main Street this weekend, will run until January 6th.
Drogheda has also been hosting its first winter festival since the start of this month. Featuring an ice-rink, craft market, Santa's grotto traditional food stalls and festive entertainment, this paid event will continue over the weekend.
Festive music lovers are also well catered for this weekend, with highlights including "The Glory of Christmas" (featuring conductor John Pryce-Jones) at the National Concert Hall in Dublin this afternoon and this evening, and the Christmas Carol Singalong tomorrow afternoon and evening.
Tomorrow night, the Argento Chamber Ensemble is performing "Music for Museums" at the National Gallery of Ireland, while there are matinee and evening performances of the classic panto Cinderella at the Cork Opera House today and tomorrow.
The Pogues play the RDS in Dublin on Sunday evening, while comedian Tommy Tiernan continues his hugely successful run of shows at Vicar Street in Dublin tonight and tomorrow.
Getting home
Nitelink:Nitelink runs seven nights a week on 24 routes until January 5th, excluding Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Buses on most routes run every half hour until 4.30am. Fares are €4 for most journeys; €6 for longer trips. See www.dublinbus.ie/your_journey/ nitelink.asp
Luas:On Green and Red lines, services will run until 3am on some nights, but until 3.30am on others, including New Year's Eve.
On New Year's Day, Luas will run from 6.45am to 11:30pm. Late night Luas tickets are €4 (€3.80 with a Smart Card). See www.luas.ie
Dart:Dart services are running to a normal service over Christmas, except on Christmas Eve, when it will finish at 9pm. See www.iarnrodeireann.ie/dart/ home/customer_service. asp
Intercity trains:Irish Rail expects up to 500,000 people to travel by Intercity. Customers should note that there are no Intercity, Dart or commuter services on Christmas Day or St Stephen's Day.
An alternative timetable will also apply over the Christmas period, from December 24th to January 1st inclusive.
Customers are advised to check their travel details at www.irishrail.ie or telephone 1890 778899, or in timetable leaflets at local stations. Additional services will operate at busiest times.
Bus Éireann:Bus Éireann will operate every day over the Christmas period with the exception of Christmas Day. It advises customers that there will be some changes to the normal timetable over the holiday period.
The company's late-night Nightrider services will also be extended over the festive season and will operate in Dublin, Galway, Donegal, Sligo and Waterford.
Brochures detailing the timetable alterations are available at Bus Éireann travel centres nationwide and also online at www.buseireann.ie
Alternatively, customers can telephone their local travel centre or customer information on (01) 836 6111 for details.