Travelling back to Ireland close to IRP expiry date

Hello all, so I have my critical work permit valid till May 2022 and I'm a permanent employee of a company here in Ireland. My current IRP expires on 27th Dec. I need to go to India during the last 2 weeks of December. Does anyone have any experience of travelling back to Ireland around close to the expiry of IRP card date? I will be applying for renewal of IRP before I leave Ireland but very unlikey I will be getting the renewed IRP before I leave Ireland for my home country (planning to leave Ireland on 15th December). I'm a visa requiring national, here on stamp 1 right now. Thanks guys!

Your card is valid until 26 Dec, so you can come back to Ireland as long as you walk past the immigration before 23:59:59 on 26 Dec.

However, note that if you request for a renewal online beforehand, that would automatically cancel your current IRP card once the renewal application is approved. You will get into trouble in the border as the system will tell the immigration officer that you are not using a valid card.

I suppose it shouldn't be a big deal as long as the system shows you have been renewed, but I don't think you should risk that. Only renew your IRP card when you are back in Ireland.