Traffic advice for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress
For the RDS and Croke Park
RDS DETAILS -
Dates: 10th to 16th June 2012
Main Entrance Open each day from 9.00am.
Event Finish at 7.00pm approximately each evening.
Expected Attendance: 25,000 on 10th June
10 - 15,000 each day from 11th to 16th June
Patrons Travelling to the RDS -
All patrons travelling to the RDS for the event are advised to utilise public transport as much as possible. The Ballsbridge area is serviced by Dublin Bus Routes 4, 5, 7, 7a, 7n, 8, 18, 27x, 45, 47. The DART also stops close the RDS at Sandymount Avenue Station.
Organised parish groups will be facilitated with a drop off point on Merrion Road at the front of the RDS.
Drivers should be aware that illegally or improperly parked vehicles have the potential to cause traffic disruption, obstruction and difficulty to emergency vehicles that may need to access the narrow residential streets that surround the RDS.
Patrons are advised to travel to RDS on the M50 motorway and the N11 from the South and the Dublin Port Tunnel and East Link Bridge from the North. These routes lead directly to the Ballsbridge area. Patrons arriving via the M50 / M11 / M1 motorways are advised to allow time for traffic delays. Dublin Port Tunnel will be open to all vehicles.
Residents -
Patrons are requested to be aware that the RDS is located in a residential area.
Patrons attending at the RDS are requested to respect residents by behaving in an appropriate manner when going to and departing the venue.
Event Traffic Restrictions-
Simmonscourt Road may be closed periodically each day depending on traffic volumes. Traffic disruption will be kept to a minimum.
The following roads will be closed to facilitate the Eucharistic Procession on Wednesday 13th June 2012:-
- Simmonscourt Road will be closed from 6.30pm to 9.30pm
- Anglesea Road will be closed from 7.30pm until 9.30pm
- Merrion Road inbound from Simmonscourt Road to Anglesea Road will be closed from 7.30pm until 9.30pm.
Motorists on the N11 wishing to access Sandymount Avenue or Serpentine Avenue should re-direct via Ailesbury Road and Merrion Road. Motorists wishing to access Donnybrook from Merrion Road inbound should divert via Ailesbury Road. Motorists wishing to access Donnybrook or the N11 from Merrion Road outbound should divert via Ailesbury Road or Nutley Lane as appropriate.
Access will be provided to the Four Seasons Hotel and Bewley’s Hotel where possible but only from the Merrion Road end of Simmonscourt Road.
There are no other road closures associated with this event.
Special Needs Parking -
There are a number of disabled parking spaces in the RDS car park on the Merrion Road but these are very limited.
Bus/Coach Parking -
There is limited parking for coaches in the Simmonscourt Extension of the RDS. Drivers will be advised on the day of any other coach parking areas available
Ticket Sales -
Please refer to www.iec2012.ie for details of ticket sales for this event.
Parking Restrictions -
Parking will not be permitted on Simmonscourt Road for the duration of the event.
During the hours of operation of the Garda Cordon, vehicles, bicycles, skips, bags, bins or any other items which are causing an obstruction or which may become a trip hazard will be relocated or removed.
Superintendent O’Brien stated today at Donnybrook Garda Station that ‘…..a lot of work has gone into the planning for this event. We will endeavour to get people in and out of the area as quickly and easily as possible. I would urge people wishing to attend the event to use public transport if possible. Please abide by instructions and directions from Gardai and Stewards and above all be safe and enjoy the event.’
Please refer to www.iec2012.ie or www.rds.ie for further details of opening times for the event and for approach and arena maps.
Crime -
Patrons are advised to be aware of their own personal safety and security while attending the event. They should ensure the security of personal belongings while on route to and from the stadium i.e. purses/wallets/tickets/ Mobile Phones.
Patrons who arrive by vehicle should also ensure that property is not left exposed in parked vehicles. They should ensure that car windows, sunroofs are correctly closed.
Patrons should also comply with the directions issued by Gardaí and stewards at the event. The directions are issued with a view to making the RDS environs a safer place during the event.
CROKE PARK DETAILS -
Eucharistic Closing Ceremony at Croke Park
The Gardai at Mountjoy are appealing to persons intending to attend the International Eucharistic Closing Ceremony at Croke Park Stadium on the 17th June to be aware of the following information.
Stiles Open 12mid day
Restricted Access – Local Residents & Business Persons issued with Passes
Garda Cordon Points in place at least 3hr prior to Stile Opening Times for the Event.
Main Cordon Points-
Lr. Drumcondra Rd / Clonliffe Rd junction, Fitzroy Ave & Whitworth Place
North Circular Rd / Belvidere Rd
North Circular Rd / Gills Corner, Jones Rd
North Circular Rd / North Great Charles St
Clonliffe Rd / Ballybough (Sackville, Clonliffe Ave, O’Sullivan Ave)
Crowd Management, pre and post event -
When the Event finishes at 5pm a Traffic Plan designed in the interests of crowd management exiting Stadium will be in place for approximately 2 hrs.
• North Circular Rd and Belvidere Rd & North Circular Rd and North Great Charles St will close (pre & post event)
• Ballybough Road will also be closed post event from the Clonliffe House to the junction of North Circular Road/Summerhill to allow patrons to safely egress from the Cusack Stand side of the Stadium
• All inbound Traffic on Fairview may be diverted towards the city away from Ballybough
• All outbound Traffic on Parnell St. will be diverted left and right at Gardiner St away from Summerhill / Ballybough Area
• Avoid the area Surrounding Croke Park unless necessary
Parking -
Utilise all advertised Parking facilities
There is No Parking within the Garda Cordon Area around Croke Park
There is no Special Needs Parking within the Garda Cordon around Croke Park
There is no Coach Parking within the Cordon or in the Streets around Croke Park
Supervised Car Parking is available at -
• Clonliffe College via Drumcondra Rd Lr – 3,100 with 100 Special Needs
• O’Connell’s School off North Circular Road – 400 parking places
Have patience with the Post Traffic Plan, cars will not be released until pedestrian traffic has cleared.
Pay & Display in most areas – read the limitations
Residential Area – do not park where you cause an obstruction
Full Clamping Operation in Place
Do not bring valuables; do not display valuables in vehicles
No umbrellas will be permitted in Croke Park
Private Bus Plan -
Coach drop off point.
(Only where the required information was provided to the Eucharistic Congress Event Management)
A limited stretch of North Circular Road from the junction with Belvidere Road and Richmond Street North (entrance to O’Connell’s Schools) will be reserved as a Coach drop off point. In addition to this a limited area or Belvidere Place will also be utilised as a drop off area. This arrangement is only in place for Coaches that have given the required information to the Eucharistic Congress Event Management Committee. These Coaches will then leave the area for a car park at the North Wall, a facility that has been put in place by the Eucharistic Congress Event Management Committee. The Coaches will be called up to the same area as a pick up point post event in a controlled manner and will depart from the North Circular Road towards Dorset Street.
General Advice to Patrons -
• Use Public Transport to get to / from Event
• There is no dedicated Coach Parking Area Near Croke Park
• Registered Coaches are asked to approach Croke Park via Dorset Street
• Private Coaches (not registered with ECEM) if used should use drop off points outside the City and use Public Transport for the remainder of the journey.
• Arrive Early as there are security checks at cordon points
• Do not bring hand luggage, umbrellas, dress for the weather conditions
• Respect the Area – it is residential
• Illegally Parked Vehicles will dealt with / removed
• Co operate with Gardai and Stewards
• Crowd Management Plan at Jones Rd “No meeting point outside Stadium”