Met Eireann has issued a Status Yellow wind warning for eight counties with gusts of 110km/h expected to hit.
The alert will begin at 6pm on Thursday evening and will remain in place until 9am on Friday.
It reads: "Status Yellow wind warning for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Cork and Kerry.
"This evening and overnight, west to northwest winds will reach mean speeds of 50 to 65 km/hr with gusts of 80 to 110 km/hr.
"Winds will be strongest along coasts and on hills and mountains."
It comes as snow is expected to fall over what will be a "raw and very frosty" weekend.
Forecasters have confirmed parts of Ireland will be waking up to blanket of white snow on Sunday morning.
Showers will turn "increasingly wintry" on Saturday night, and brisk winds will hit as temperatures are set to plunge to -3C.
A Met Eireann forecaster said: "Feeling raw this weekend; bright sunshine but wintry falls in places too. Very frosty at times also, with some icy stretches.
"Saturday will be very cold with an added wind factor, owing to brisk westerly winds.
"Sunshine and well scattered wintry showers will turn increasingly wintry after-dark.
"Highs of only 3 to 6 degrees. Overnight lows of 0 to -3 degrees, with lighter winds, at least for a time."
It will be a frosty and icy start to Sunday and wintry showers may continue throughout the day. There will be overnight lows of -3C.
The forecaster added: "Some lying snow to begin, mainly across parts of the west and the north midlands.
"Frost and ice in parts too. Scattered wintry showers during the day, but winter sunshine at times too.
"Another very cold day, in westerly breezes, with highs of only 3 to 7 degrees.
"Breezy at times across the southern half of Ireland. Temperatures will widely fall back to -3C after-dark."
Meanwhile, the national forecaster has warned of an "ongoing risk of hail and thunder" for Thursday and Friday.
Heavy showers are forecast for both days, with highest temperatures not predicted to surpass 8C or 9C.
Friday night may also see wintry showers, as temperatures are set to plunge to 0C.
The forecaster added: "Clear spells and scattered blustery showers, some of which will turn wintry later, generally across Atlantic counties.
"Frost too, mainly for sheltered areas. Lows of 0 to 3 degrees, in brisk westerly breezes."
