The Health Minister has encouraged people to enjoy their weekend - but urged everyone to continue following social distancing rules.
It's the second weekend of restaurants and pubs which serve food being allowed to open.
However, scenes of large crowds gathered on some streets in Dublin city centre last weekend have raised concerns about social distancing.
Health officials have urged people to be very cautious - noting that young people now account for the vast majority of new COVID-19 cases.
Speaking on The Hard Shoulder, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said people do need to "let loose" after months of restrictions.
He said: "This weekend, the message is very clear - enjoy yourself. Everyone has had to confine themselves for months and months and months, and then when finally we all got back out again it rained on us every day for about three weeks. Finally we've got a bit of sunshine.
"The message is: enjoy yourself, and when you're doing it please comply with social distancing. When you're on public transport, please wear a face mask.
"If you're out and you're having dinner or doing whatever you're doing, that's all good. Just keep two metres between yourselves and other people. It can be awkward... but people need to get out."
He said authorities are beginning to see clusters emerging again, while a "very heavy majority" of the new confirmed cases involving younger people.
He also noted concerns about cases linked to foreign travel.
Minister Donnelly said people won't be "shamed and chastised" for enjoying their weekend - but again urged people to keep social distance from each other.
'Behave responsibly'
Earlier, Taoiseach Micheál Martin appealed to the public to act responsibly this weekend,
He said: "As we have reopened, I think the responsibility is on us all personally and as groups to just behave responsibly - particularly in terms of gatherings and social distancing.
"One can still enjoy oneself, by this is a very dangerous virus - it can damage people's health for quite a long time."
Gardaí will be continuing their operation this week to ensure the public health guidelines are being followed.
26 pubs around the country are facing prosecution after potential breaches of public health guidelines last weekend.
Deputy Commissioner John Twomey said he hopes "lessons have been learnt and we see an even high rate of compliance after this weekend".
