Professional and elite sports, including Gaelic Games, will be allowed to continue as Ireland moves to full Level 5 restrictions amid a surge in cases of Covid-19.
But golf courses and tennis clubs will again have to close down with the new restrictions to be in place until midnight on 31 January 2021.
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools will all be closed from end of business tomorrow.
Horse racing, greyhound racing and approved equestrian events are permitted to continued behind closed doors.
It comes after an agreement was reached today at the second Cabinet meeting in three days.
The Golfing Union of Ireland had said before Christmas that following discussions with government authorities and Sport Ireland, golf courses would be permitted to stay open with added restrictions during Level 5 measures.
But, with the number of cases continuing to escalate, the Government has decided to close sports clubs such as golf and tennis.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly today spoke of a deteriorating situation: "We are seeing a very rapid increase, an ongoing increase in cases, we are also seeing a very rapid increase in hospitalisations," he said on his way into the meeting.
"I, and Government, are watching what is happening in the UK very closely. What we are seeing now in NHS hospitals is, because of this variant which appears to be far more contagious the UK hospitals are beginning to become overwhelmed.
"So really the focus right now has to be on doing everything that is necessary to surprise this virus while we get vaccinating "
"So obviously very serious decisions have to be looked at today. The good news however is that we have the vaccine, there are more vaccines coming we are rolling it out, we are accelerating that and so t he strategy is to surprise the virus to give time to vaccinate front line workers and those who are most vulnerable."
