Motorists 'should expect long delays' over weekend

GARDAÍ ARE asking people travelling to Dublin’s Tall Ships Festival to take public transport due to parking and traffic restrictions over the weekend.

Motorists can expect long delays in the city, especially on the northside, AA Roadwatch has warned.

The event, which runs until Sunday, is expected to attract up to a million visitors to view the 45 tall ships along the Liffey.

More than 20 streets around the north and south docklands have been closed to traffic until Sunday night, including Custom House Quay, North Wall Quay, City Quay and Sir John Rogerson’s Quay.

The Samuel Beckett Bridge will also be closed during the day for the duration of the festival but will open between midnight and 8am.

South city traffic wishing to cross the city at the Beckett bridge will be diverted via Pearse Street and Butt Bridge.

North city traffic wishing to cross the bridge will be diverted via Amiens Street and Talbot Memorial Bridge.

Motorists using the East Link toll bridge during the festival will pay a special reduced rate of €1 but there will be bridge lifts in operation on Sunday as the ships depart.

Gardaí have warned there will be no parking within the festival cordon on both sides of the Liffey. However, there will be parking in the usual city centre car parks, the Garda said.

There will also be restrictions for those using public transport, which is expected to be very busy.

Tara Street Dart station will be closed tomorrow until 10.30pm and on Sunday until 2pm. During the festival passengers will not be allowed to bring their bicycles on the trains.

Iarnród Éireann said a regular Dart service would operate with extra capacity on each day.

From 10.30am each morning, the Luas red line service will not stop at Connolly Station. The closest red line Luas stop to the festival is at George’s Dock or Mayor Square.

There will also be changes to bus routes due to the festival. Several Dublin Bus routes will operate diversions from noon to 10pm until Sunday. These include routes 15a, 15b, 33d, 33x, 142 and 151 as well as the 747 airport route.

There will also be restrictions on boats not associated with the festival. Such craft will only be allowed to access the area west of the East Link bridge, Dublin Port Company has said.

Waterways Ireland has warned canal boat users that there would be limited scope for movement of boats around the Ringsend Basin and Dublin end of the Grand Canal during the festival.

Gardaí have also stressed the “family nature” of the festival and said antisocial behaviour and drinking in public would not be tolerated.

Further information at garda.ie

WHAT'S ON TODAY

Bulmers Live Music Dock

Grand Canal Dock

15.50 - 16.30 The Minutes

16:45 - 17:30 Lost Brothers

17:45 - 18:45 Mark Geary

19:15 - 20:30 Ryan Sheridan

21:00 - 22:30 Ash

North Quays

15:00 - 16:00 The Tall Ships Races Crew Parade

Grand Canal Square

21:00 - 23:00 Floating Cinema – The Life Aquatic

Festival Hub CHQ

17:00 Upcycling workshop with nautical twist

17:00 - 18:00 Mini-comics workshop

Theatre of Food

14:00 - 18:00 Talks, tastings, demonstrations

18:00 - 22:00 Emergence DJ Collective