30 May 2019
Posted by Aisling Bonner 
Well, we’ve made it folks. It’s the June Bank Holiday. The summer is officially in full swing, although the Child of Prague may need to work a bit harder for that to be believed.
There are oodles of events happening around the country this weekend. If you’re travelling to an event, or doing your best to avoid one, we have the low-down on how to plan your journey like the savviest traffic-dodger there ever was.
Don’t forget to check out our Newsroom page on the day for live traffic information.
DUBLIN
It’s a busy weekend for the capital. A number of large-scale events will bring delays and road closures to the city centre.
Bloom will take over the Phoenix Park from 9am to 6pm, Thursday (30th) to Sunday (2nd). It’s strongly advised that those attending take public transport to the event. Near Heuston Station, a free shuttle bus will operate between Parkgate St and the entrance to Bloom from 8:30am to 7pm daily. There are two designated car parks for Bloom located in the Phoenix Park. If you are planning on driving, or are due to travel in the area, heavy traffic can be expected on the Navan Rd, Castleknock Rd, Auburn Ave, Cabra Rd, Old Cabra Rd, Infirmary Rd and through Chapelizod before and after the event each day.
Not too far away, Forbidden Fruit kicks off the summer festival season with glittery abandon on Saturday (1st), and runs until Monday (3rd) at the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham. There will be no parking at the venue, and traffic restrictions will be in place on Military Rd and Kilmainham Lane each day. The Royal Hospital is well connected by public transport. Dublin Bus provide a number of regular services to the event’s vicinity. Alternatively, hop on a train or Luas to Heuston Station, which is only a five minute walk from the venue. If you’re hitting the town afterwards, a free shuttle bus will bring you in to one of the designated Forbidden Fruit night venues to continue the party.
St Anne’s Park in Raheny will play host to Kodaline on Friday and Saturday nights, and Nile Rodgers & Chic on Sunday night. Doors open each day at 4pm, and the gigs are likely to cause heavy traffic around Raheny and Clontarf, particularly on Clontarf Rd, Howth Rd and Vernon Ave. Concert-goers are advised to take public transport; the nearest DART station is at Halverstown, and the 29a, 30 and 130 Dublin Bus routes also stop nearby.
Here come the girls! On Sunday, the Women’s Mini Marathon takes place in the south-east of the city. The following major routes will be closed on a rolling basis between 6am and 7pm: Fitzwilliam Place, Leeson St, Morehampton Rd, Donnybrook Rd, Stillorgan Rd, Nutley Lane, Merrion Rd, Pembroke Rd, Northumberland Rd and Baggot St. Roads around Merrion Sq will also be closed for much of the day. Motorists should avoid this area of the city on Sunday and can divert via Clonskeagh and Ranelagh.
If all that wasn’t enough, Hugh Jackman and Anne-Marie will both play sold-out gigs at the 3Arena over the weekend. Hugh Jackman takes to the stage on Thursday and Friday nights with an added matinée on Friday afternoon; whilst Anne-Marie is set to take over on Saturday night. It’s likely to be busy along the North Quays, northbound on Sean Moore Rd and inbound on St. John’s Rd West before the gigs. Alternatively, take the Luas Red Line to the Point stop, or one of several Dublin Bus routes that serve the venue.
CORK
On Saturday, all roads lead to Páirc Uí Rinn for the Munster Football Semi-Final between Cork and Limerick. Throw-in is at 7pm. It’s likely to be very busy for traffic in the vicinity of the stadium before and after the match, especially on Boreenmanna Rd, Skehard Rd, Churchyard Lane and Blackrock Rd.
Runners will take to the streets for the Cork City Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday. Road closures will be in place in the city centre, including on the following routes: Patrick St and surrounding streets (between 5:30am and 6pm), Lwr Glanmire Rd (until 1pm), Skehard Rd (until 1pm), Wilton Rd (until 2:30pm), Model Farm Rd (from 10am to 2:30pm) and the inbound stretch of the N22 Carrigrohane Straight (until 3pm). The South City Link Rd, N40 and Jack Lynch Tunnel will all remain open as the main diversion routes around the city, but some lane restrictions will apply at times.
If you’re planning a trip to the Bandon Music Festival over the weekend, you can expect delays around the town. Bear in mind Emmett Row (R586) will be closed from midday on Saturday, until early Monday morning.
KERRY
Bikers of the world will descend upon Killarney this weekend for Ireland BikeFest, which takes place from Friday to Monday. The heart of the action will be the Bike Fest Village at the Gleneagle Hotel, on the Muckross Rd. Traffic is expected to be heavier than usual around Killarney over the weekend.
In the north of the county, the Listowel June Bank Holiday Races should draw a crowd on Sunday and Monday. The busiest traffic is likely to be on the N69 Tralee Rd approach to the town before the races. They kick off at 1:45pm on Sunday and 1:50pm on Monday.
LIMERICK
The Munster Rally begins off the Ballysimon Rd (R527) in Limerick City on Sunday. Delays can be expected in the area, with local road closures to be in place outside the city in the Ballyhoodane, Longstone and Portnard areas between 9am and 7pm approx.
Elsewhere…
From Friday to Sunday, the Cavan County Fleadh will be underway in Belturbet, with part of the Old N3 (R197) closed at Upr Bridge St at various times during the weekend.
On Saturday, the second of the Munster Football Semi-Finals takes place between Clare and Kerry at 7pm at Cusack Park in Ennis. Expect delays around the town, and heading in on the N85 Lahinch Rd.
Kildare and Longford’s Leinster Football Quarter-Final replay at O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly is at 3pm on Sunday. At 4pm, the Semi-Final of the Ulster Football Championship will see Cavan and Armagh go head to head at Clones, Co Monaghan. On Sunday, other games of note for the traffic-dodger include Waterford v Limerick at Walsh Park, Waterford City (2pm); Carlow v Dublin at Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow Town (3pm) and Clare v Tipperary at Cusack Park, Ennis (4pm).
Finally in Roscommon, the regional Athlone Rd (R362) will close in Athleague for the Athleague Fair and Festival from 1pm to 4pm on Sunday.
You can plan your journey using our Routeplanner and we’ll have all the live traffic updates you need all weekend on our Newsroom page.
