Traffic Plan St. Patricks Day Co. Cork

Cork City

Gardaí will have an extensive policing plan in place this Bank Holiday Weekend which will run from 7am on Friday morning, 13th of March 2026 until Wednesday, 18th of March 2025.

To allow for the Cork City St. Patrick's Day Parade, we will have a number of rolling road closures and traffic restrictions in place across the city centre from early morning on Tuesday.

The following road closures will be in place on Tuesday, 17th of March 2025:

From 7am to 4:30pm:

• Copley Street
• Union Quay
• Stable Lane
• Connell Street
• Lapps Quay.

From 10:30am to 4:30pm

• Parnell Bridge Southbound
• Anglesea Street West Lane (filter lane from Union Quay/Parnell Bridge).

From 11:15am to 4:30pm

• Terence McSweeney Quay.

From 11:15am to 5:30pm

• Parnell Bridge
• Parnell Place
• South Mall
• Grand Parade
• St Patrick’s Street
• St Patrick’s Bridge
• Merchants Quay
• Lavitt’s Quay East (Christy Ring Bridge to Saint Patrick’s Bridge)
• Anderson’s Quay westbound (from Brian Boru Bridge to Merchant’s Quay).

There will be lane restrictions on both Clontarf Bridge & Eglinton Street to restrict access onto Terence McSwiney Quay. This will commence at 11am on Tuesday, 17th March.

In addition, the following main streets will be closed from 11am on Tuesday, 17th March:

• Parliament Street
• Parliament Bridge
• Washington Street between South Main Street and Grand Parade
• Parnell Place
• Fr Matthew Quay
• Morrison’s Quay
• Half Moon St
• Academy St
• Drawbridge St
• St Augustine Street
• Paul Street
• Oliver Plunkett Street.

Traffic diversions will be put in place to facilitate these road closures as follows on Tuesday, 17th March:

• South Terrace/George’s Quay – traffic will be diverted via Sullivan’s Quay & Frenche’s Quay to either Greenmount or onto Washington Street and Bachelor’s Quay.
• Lavitt’s Quay – traffic will be diverted across Christy Ring Bridge

There will be no public traffic access to Lapps Quay on Tuesday, 17th March.

Anyone planning to drive into Cork City to attend the parade should be aware that parking will not be permitted along the parade route, and vehicles may be towed if parked incorrectly.

We also advise motorists and commuters to:

• Plan your journey into the city in advance
• Follow all road signage
• Adhere to the instructions of Gardaí and/or parade stewards
• If parking, please park and lock your car in secure place. Do not block access which may make it difficult for emergency services or residents.

Our members will be out on the beat across the long weekend to ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable time.

We advise those heading out to socialise this St. Patrick's Day weekend to:

• Plan the night out - tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back
• Be careful of your personal belongings especially when in crowded areas or busy premises
• Do not under any circumstance drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• If you must walk home only walk in well lit, populated areas and where you can be seen by traffic
• If you have had drinks on a night-out, please be mindful of driving the morning after. Do not drive until you have fully rested and hydrated.

You can read more information by checking out the Cork County Council's website via this QR Code:

The Parade will leave the Car Park of the Co-Op Superstores at 2pm on to Lower Kilmoney Road , led by the Carrigaline Pipe Band and will enter Main Street Carrigaline at Cogan’s Corner and proceed up Main Street, past the Viewing Stand outside the Owenabue Car Park and it will finish outside the Old Pottery, on Main Street.

Main Street, Carrigaline will be closed during the parade and Traffic Barriers will be in place at the Top of Main Street at the Roundabout . Barriers will also stop traffic entering Main Street at Old Waterpark Junction ( By Garda Station) ; on Strand Road ( By the Gaelic Bar) ; At Entrance Barry Collins SuperValu Car Park ; Church Hill Junction with Main Street ( Cogan’s Corner) and at Lower Kilmoney Road ( Junction of Pottery Road and Lower Kilmoney Road)

Main Street / Lower Kilmoney Road Lower ( Parade Route) will close at 1.30pm and will remain

closed until crowds have dispersed off Main Street after the parade has finished and Crowd Barriers

have been removed off Main Street ( Parade Route)

Lower Kilmoney Road Re-Opens and Church Hill Re-Opens at 3 P.M. after the last Group taking

part in the Parade has left Co-op Superstores Car Park around 2.45 pm........ MAIN STREET,

CARRIGALINE WILL REMAIN CLOSED WITH BARRIERS CLOSING OFF MAIN STREET OUTSIDE CORNER

HOUSE BAR ( CORNER OF MAIN STREET + LOWER KILMONEY ROAD)

Main Street will re-open at 5 pm ( Approx.)

During the parade, Church Road ; Ballea Road and Cork Road WILL BE accessible from Heron

Roundabout at the top of Main Street... It is only Main Street that that will NOT be accessible from the Roundabout. Diversion Routes around Carrigaline, bypassing Main Street , will be signposted using Bothar Guidel and Pottery Road / New Bypass Road.

Pipers Funfair will set up earlier in the morning at the Front Owenabue Car Park and they will operate during the day and after the Parade. The Front Owenabue Car Park will be CLOSED from 6am in the morning until 6pm in the Evening.

Macroom

In conjunction with the holding of the annual St. Patricks Day Parade in Macroom Co. Cork on Tuesday 17/03/26 the following traffic restrictions will be put in place between 3.15 P.M. and 5.15 P.M. approx.

• With the exception of emergency vehicles there will be no vehicular access to Macroom Town Centre during the above times.
• Traffic approaching the town of Macroom from the East will not be permitted to proceed beyond the Coachford/Old N22 Junction.
• Traffic approaching the town of Macroom from the West will not be permitted to proceed beyond the Masseytown/New St. Junction.

A signposted diversion route around Macroom town centre on the Coolyhane route will be in place for the duration of the road closures.  

Skibbereen

Skibbereen town will be closed off to Traffic from 2.30pm to 4pm on the 17th March 2026.

This covers North street, Bridge St and Main Street

Ballincollig 

To facilitate the running of the Parade, a significant number of traffic restrictions will be implemented on the day. For the duration of the parade (Start time 3pm) and approximately an hour and half before and afterwards, Main St. Ballincollig will be closed to all vehicular traffic at the following points.

1. East Gate , Ballincollig
2. Castle Park Entrance
3. High St/ Old Fort Rd (By Jam)
4. Station Cross/ Station Rd/ Baker’s Rd
5. Car Park Entrance , Ballincollig Shopping Centre
6. Muskerry Estate Junction.

Gardaí and stewards are in place for the duration of the parade and residents residing within the boundaries of the road closures will be facilitated wherever possible.

Douglas

The following road closures apply to the Douglas St Particks Day Parade from 2 PM for approx. 1 hour

1. Church Road
2. East Douglas Street,
3. Tramway Terrace,
4. Church Street,
5. West Douglas St

Gardaí and volunteers will be at all relevant junctions. The parade consists of local children from Douglas GAA club and will have minimal disruption for approximately 1 hour from 2pm,