It's the great Easter escape as the country’s transport networks gear up for a busy weekend as holiday makers flock to destinations home and abroad.
Holy Thursday looks set to be a particularly heavy day, with experts predicting that travellers will set out early to make the most of their time off.
Dublin Airport is preparing to welcome more than 390,000 passengers across more than 2,600 flights between Good Friday and Easter Monday.
The Canary Islands and Spanish coastal regions are the most popular sunshine destinations with those set to fly from the airport this weekend while city breaks are also proving popular.
Airport authorities are predicting Monday to be the busiest day in Dublin with more than 102,000 passengers expected to fly in and out of the airport.
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Passenger numbers at Cork Airport are expected to exceed 70,000 over the weekend.
With such heavy footfall expected passengers are being advised to arrive at all hubs 90 minutes before short-haul flights and two hours before heading to transatlantic destinations.
Passengers at Dublin Airport should also check which terminal they are departing from before leaving home.
Meanwhile, Irish Rail is expecting to see around 400,000 passengers use its services over the weekend.
However, the company advised all travellers to book in advance and check the times of the trains before embarking on their journey due to scheduled maintenance. A spokeswoman “We have some engineering works taking place on the Galway-Westport route and on the northside of Dublin city.
“Check times before you travel because we have those engineering works happening but we also have a special time table in operation.
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“For example on Good Friday we would be operating a Saturday service on Dart and commuter services”.
Warm weather this weekend is likely to see many flock to the country’s beaches but Water Safety Ireland are warning revellers of an increased drowning risk.
Swimmers who get into difficulty are advised to float on their backs or tread water to keep as much of their body as possible out of cold water.
Friday’s full moon will also result in spring tides causing strong rip currents and tidal streams which will pose a greater risk.
