Thousands of sports fans are traveling to Cork this weekend, as the city hosts the Munster Hurling final on Sunday, and nearby Fota Island’s golf club is the scene for the Murphy’s Irish Open.
AA Roadwatch advises that some diversions are in place on local roads for the duration of the golf competition, which began on Thursday and continues until Sunday. Traffic from Cobh is being diverted at Dog Lodge onto the Barryscourt Castle slip road. This road goes to Barryscourt and onto the N25 to Cork or Waterford.
The road from the N25 to Dog Lodge is open only to those attending the golf tournament. These diversions will be clearly signposted and will operate from 8.30 am until 7 pm each day of the tournament.
Iarnród Éireann are running extra trains to Fota Island from Cork and Cobh for the duration of the Irish Open. Trains will run from 6 am until 11 pm today and tomorrow, and from 6 am until 9.15 pm on Sunday.
A special entrance to the golf course has been completed at Fota Island Railway Station to facilitate those arriving by train.
On Sunday, Iarnród Éireann has extra trains running from Limerick and Thurles to Cork, but warns that many of these trains are already booked up.
Tickets are also on sale for a special train operating for Sunday’s Muster Hurling Final. It will leave Heuston Station, Dublin at 9.20 am and will return from Cork at 6.55 pm. Those who purchase their tickets before 1 pm on Saturday will be eligible for a special day return fare of £27.50 for adults and £14 for children under 16.
Extra trains will also be running from Thurles and Limerick. AA Roadwatch also advises that on the day of the match, all current restrictions and diversions will be lifted from the Lower Glanmire Rd from 10am to 8pm.
Meanwhile, holiday-makers in Majorca have been affectd by a strike by local coach drivers. Passengers are finding themselves stranded at the airport when they arrive because the taxi service is unable to cope with the increased demand.
The strike is due to last three days but despite difficulties in getting to and from the airport flights are said to be generally on schedule.