Spectators could return to GAA, football and rugby matches by the end of June under trial events being prepared by the Government.
As part of the next reopening phase announcement on Friday, the Government will set out plans for the return of fans to pilot sporting fixtures including All Ireland and League of Ireland games as well as rugby and other sports including athletics and golf.
The trial events will start small with a capacity of just 5% of stadia, meaning up to 4,000 spectators could return to the Aviva and Croke Park stadiums.
Regional venues will also be covered by the announcement.
If these are successful, events would scale up gradually through the summer and could see a return to 30% capacity in large stadia later in the summer.
This could see just under 25,000 spectators in Croke Park for an All-Ireland final.
Details are still being finalised but it is not thought that people would not have to be fully vaccinated to attend, as children would also be included.
Dates are still being worked on with late June or early July earmarked for kickoff.
The Cabinet will meet on Friday to sign off on the reopening plan.
Minister for Higher and Further Education Simon Harris told RTÉ's The Week in Politics programme that the meeting will provide clarity on the three trickiest sectors in terms of Covid-19 - indoor hospitality, live events including sport, and aviation.
Senior ministers are understood to be pushing for the announcement to include a firm date for the adoption of the EU Digital Green Certificate by the end of July or early August.
Minister for Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport Eamon Ryan has said that the mandatory hotel quarantine system will be refined to target the variants of real concern.
On live events, Culture Minister Catherine Martin has drawn up proposals for music concerts as well as comedy and theatre.
These include proposals for both large and small events both indoors and outdoors.
However, this all depends on health advice.
The Government will also announce a date for the return of indoor hospitality with the first week in July suggested by some senior sources.
NPHET's advice will be key to the decision-making.
They meet Thursday and this will be followed by a gathering of the Cabinet sub-committee on Covid.
