Major traffic restrictions in place in Dublin over Easter weekend

Severe traffic restrictions will be in place in Dublin city centre over the Easter weekend to accommodate the centenary commemorations.

Those planning to travel for the events have been urged to use public transport where possible.

Gardaí have asked that motorists living outside the M50 try to leave their cars outside the M50. Those living inside that zone should leave their cars outside the Grand Canal on the south side of the city, or outside the North Circular Road on the north side.

O’Connell Street, at the centre of the weekend’s events to mark the Rising, will be closed from midnight on Friday night until 11pm on Easter Monday, except for access to Princes Street on Saturday and Monday. There will be very limited access to the street during the ceremonies.

A number of private car parks in the city centre will be closed on Easter Sunday and some Dublin Bikes stations will be unavailable from Saturday until next Tuesday.

The National Transport Authority is working with all the providers to put in place a significant network of public transport.

Although the Luas service will be unavailable due to strike action by drivers on Sunday and Monday, all other public transport providers, and some private operators, are putting on extra services.

On Saturday, there will be a ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square. Parnell Square North and Parnell Square East will be closed between 6am and 4pm. There will be a state event in the RDS on Saturday afternoon for the relatives of those who took part in the Rising.

Huge crowds are expected in the city on Sunday for the main events of the weekend – the reading of the Proclamation at the GPO and the parade.

Gardai said those attending should choose the area where they wish to view the parade in advance of travelling.

Road closures in the immediate vicinity of O’Connell Street include Moore Street and Moore Lane, which will be closed between 7am and 7pm.

Westmoreland Street, Dame Street, College Green, Parnell Square East, Frederick Street North, Upper Dorset Street, Bolton Street, King Street, Capel Street, Mary’s Lane, Little Britain Street, Anglesea Row and Little Mary Street are among the roads that will be closed between 3am and 8pm.

Large sections of the city around Leeson Street, Patrick Street and St Stephen’s Green will also be closed to traffic.

Car parks closed to the public on Sunday include Arnotts, Q-Park on Marlborough Street, the Irish Life car park on Abbey Street, Parkrite in the IFSC, and Euro Car Parks at the Convention Centre and Point Village.

On Monday, the city centre plays host to the Reflecting the Rising event between 11am and 6pm.

Cathal Brugha Street will be closed between Marlborough Street and O’Connell Street from midnight on Sunday until 11pm on Monday. Areas around Mary’s Lane will be closed from 6am to 10pm. Smithfield and some surrounding streets are to close between 8am and 8pm.

Merrion Square South, East, Lower Fitzwilliam Street and Upper Mount Street will be closed from 8am to 8pm.

St Stephen’s Green and Earlsfort Terrace will also be closed to traffic for most of the day.

Dublin City Council’s traffic control centre will deal with urgent requirements relating to vehicular access throughout the restricted cordon area.

The urgent access number (01-2222016) will operate from Good Friday to Easter Sunday from 9am to 5pm.

The Livedrive DublinCityFM radio programme (103.2FM) will also broadcast traffic updates from the control centre from 8am to 10am and from 3pm to 5pm on Easter Sunday.

Full details of road closures, transport and events are available at ireland.ie, transportforireland.ie, garda.ie, aaroadwatch.ie and dublincity.ie.