Travel advice for Mayo v Kerry semi-final replay

– Written by Noel Byrne

Mayo and Kerry meet for a second time in the replay of the All Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Throw-in is at 5pm.

The Gaelic Grounds are located on the Old Ennis Rd in Limerick City and with a full house expected, delays can be likely in the area around the stadium before and after the match. Parking restrictions and road closures will also operate on the Ennis Rd and adjacent to the Gaelic Grounds on the Ennis Rd from 2pm on Saturday.

In addition to the semi-final replay taking place, the Limerick Pride Parade is also on in the city centre this Saturday from 1.30pm. We have full details of the route on our Event Guide here. There will be rolling road closures in place along the route and this will add further delays to City Centre traffic.

There is also a Graduation Ball taking place at South Court Hotel in Raheen. Although this is located outside the City, this will bring additional traffic through Limerick City Centre which, again, will add to delays.

The key advice for match attendants is to travel early and, if possible, park in the City and then either walk or use the Park’n’Ride services on offer (detailed below).

Getting to the Gaelic Grounds

For Mayo fans, there will be two primary routes that will be taken: the N84 Castlebar/ Galway Rd and the N17 Sligo/ Galway Rd. For those travelling on the latter, it is likely there will be long delays through Claregalway. From here, traffic will travel southbound on N18 Galway/ Limerick Rd with further delays likely through Clarinbridge. At Gort, traffic can then exit onto the M18 for Limerick.

If parking in Limerick City Centre, you continue along the M18 and through the Limerick Tunnell (which is tolled) and then onto the Dock Rd and then into Limerick City Centre. Alternatively, you can exit the M18 at J4 Cratloemoyle onto the Old Ennis Rd (R445/ R857), with the Gaelic Grounds located around 4.5kms straight ahead, on the left hand side.

If travelling from Kerry, additional traffic can be expected on the N21 Tralee/ Limerick Rd, with particular delays expected through Adare. After the N21 merges with the M20 Cork/ Limerick Rd, you can exit at a number of junctions to reach Limerick City Centre to park or use the Shuttle Bus. If you intend on travelling as far as the Gaelic Grounds themselves, you can exit at J1 M7/ M18, and travel westbound towards Galway. You then have two options. You can exit at J2, taking the N69 exit to Listowel/ Limerick (Centre) and then exit onto the Dock Rd and over the Shannon Bridge. After the bridge, you will be taking the first right onto Shelbourne Rd Lower (R464) and then after around 500m, turn left onto the Ennis Rd. Alternatively, exit the N18 at J3 Limerick (West)/ Caherdavin, take the Clonmacken Rd (R527), straight through the R/A and then turn right at the Ennis Rd jct.

The N69 Tralee/ Limerick Rd will also be busier than normal with delays heaviest through Listowel, Glin, Askeaton and further along through Mungret. This route will bring you onto the Dock Rd, at which point you will follow the same route as outlined above.

Road Closures

The following road closures will be in place from 2pm:

• Ennis Rd will be closed at the jcts with Ivan’s Cross and Sarsfield Bridge/ Diversions will be signposted.
• Condell Rd and Lower Shelbourne Rd
• Shelbourne Rd at Hassetts Cross
• Old Cratloe Rd will be closed at the jcts of Mayorstone Drive, Mayorstone Upper and Mayorstone Upper & LIT R/A.

Certain exits off the Coonagh R/A will also be closed from 3pm. Divert onto the Condell Rd for Parking in City Centre.

Shuttle Buses / Park’n’Ride

If parking in the City, you can either walk to the Gaelic Grounds, which will take around 20 minutes, or you can get a Bus Eireann Shuttle Bus from either the Limerick Bus Station (located on Parnell St) or from Henry St (near Dunnes Stores). These will run from approx. 2pm.

A number of venues are also operating Park’n’Ride services, which will obviously carry a small fee.

• Durty Nelly’s, Bunratty – Buses start at 2.30pm
• Kilmurry Lodge Hotel, Dublin Rd – Buses start at 2pm.
• Radisson Blu Hotel, Ennis Rd – Buses start at 2pm.
• Woodlands House Hotel, Adare – Buses start at 3pm.

Parking

There are a number of car parks located around Limerick City, all of which are detailed on our Parking section here, outlining locations, opening hours and prices. The location of car parks in the City Centre can be seen in the map below.

Limerick Institute of Technology, which is located on Cratloe Rd, will be open for parking (at a fee) from approx. 2pm on Saturday. LIT Campus is a 3 – 5 minute walk from the Gaelic Grounds.

Na Piarsaigh GAA, located on Elm Rd which is just off the Ennis Rd, have approx. 50 spaces which are first come, first served.

Coonagh Cross Shopping Centre, located at Coonagh R/A on the Old Ennis Rd (R445), also has a large car park and would then be approx. 20 minute walk to the Gaelic Grounds. Further in on the Ennis Rd, there will also be a certain amount of parking available at the Jetland Shopping Centre, which would be a short walk to the grounds.

Need help planning your journey? Use the AA Routeplanner.