Horses, goats, culture and currachs feature in this weekend's line-up of events nationwide.
The Dublin Horse show at the RDS ends tomorrow with a day that features pony competitions, the Longines International Grand Prix and the Hunt Chase.
Tomorrow is also the last day of the Puck Fair in Killorglin, Co Kerry. Crowds of up to 30,000 have been attending festivities in the town and a similar number is expected tomorrow. The dethronement of King Jimmy will be followed by a midnight firework display. The centre of the town will reopen to traffic after the last events.
Heavy traffic is also expected around Croke Park in Dublin today and tomorrow, where capacity attendances are expected for major games in the All-Ireland football and hurling championships.
Dublin and Derry meet in this afternoon's football quarter-final, while tomorrow's double header features Kerry and Monaghan in football and Waterford and Limerick in the hurling semi-final.
In Co Offaly, the Tullamore Agricultural and National Livestock Show will take place tomorrow in the grounds of Charleville Castle. More than 50,000 visitors are expected for the county's biggest one-day show, whose main feature is the award ceremony for Ireland's champion bullock. The showground is located on the outskirts of Tullamore and gardaí have warned motorists to expect delays in the area and that diversions will be in operation.
Elsewhere in Offaly, the Georgian Heritage town of Birr is hosting its annual Vintage Week and Arts Festival this week. There will be plenty of period drama in the town, with shop assistants, bar staff and townspeople decked out in their best, historic regalia. Street theatre and art exhibitions provide the contemporary culture.
The Kilkenny Arts Festival started yesterday and will run until August 19th, featuring music, theatre and visual arts events. This is expected to lead to heavy traffic around Kilkenny city, especially tomorrow for the free outdoor performance, The Ark, which takes place at Cillín Hill on the Dublin/Carlow Road. Other highlights throughout the week include a lecture by Pulitzer Prize-winning American author, Samantha Power, on Wednesday in St Canice's Cathedral, a recital by renowned pianist Leon McCawley on Friday and an exciting music event on the same day, called Back to Balkan, featuring a lively set from a range of different Balkan-inspired groups including the North Strand Klezmer Band.
A large crowd is expected to gather with the boats at Cruinniú na mBád in Kinvara, Co Galway. The last day of the Cruinniú is tomorrow when a presentation of prizes will take place on the pier after the boats make a final parade at 6pm.
Further inland, the annual Borris fair takes place on Wednesday and up to 7,000 visitors and traders are expected. The town will be closed for traffic from Tueday and a detour will be in place.
The week ends with the Rose of Tralee Festival, which opens on Friday with the International Gala Rose Ball in the Festival Dome.