Issue Date: 01/07/2026
The College of Commissioners, represented by members from 27 European Union countries, will be meeting in Cork, Ireland on Thursday 2nd July 2026 and Friday 3rd July 2026.
In general, traffic restrictions for the visit will be kept to the minimum required and it is intended that any impact on the public will be localised and minimal.
EU Presidency events will be concentrated in the University College Cork campus, Cork City Hall, Tyndall National Institute and Hayfield Manor Hotel.
The members of the College will arrive and depart at Cork Airport. Normal operations will continue at Cork Airport at all times, however travelling members of the public should allow additional time to arrive at the airport due to possible temporary traffic restrictions, particularly during the afternoon of Thursday 2nd July 2026 and the afternoon of Friday 3rd July 2026.
The following traffic measures should take place in Cork city:
• The Gaol Walk between College Road & Western Road will be closed from the afternoon of 1st July until the afternoon of 3rd July 2026.
Members of the public living, working, and travelling between University College Cork and the city centre can expect localised road closures to facilitate events and temporary rolling road closures by Garda Motorcycle escorts on the afternoon/ evening of Thursday 2nd July 2026 and in the morning/ early afternoon of Friday 3rd 2026.
Members of the public are asked to comply with Gardaí on duty in the event of encountering any escort rolling road closure.
General Information and Advice:
An Garda Síochána is working to ensure that the nature and scale of the policing and security operation for the Presidency of the Council of the European Union is proportionate to protect everyone’s safety.
Our objective is to continue to share as much information with the public where necessary as soon as we are in a position to do so. We ask members of the public to heed the advice and instructions of Gardaí, and we thank them for their co-operation.
An Garda Síochána continues to engage with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and public transport providers to minimise disruption to the public transport network.
Operational plans are subject to change for security and operational reasons.
Real-time updates will be provided, where appropriate, by the Garda Press Office via press release to media and An Garda Síochána's official social media accounts:
• X @gardatraffic and @gardainfo
• Facebook An Garda Síochána
• Instagram @gardainsta
• Website www.garda.ie
Members of the public travelling in the affected areas of Cork city on Thursday and Friday are asked to plan their journeys during this period allowing enough time for possible traffic disruptions and to expect some localised delays.
An Garda Síochána has and continues to liaise with business and local residents in the key locations and will continue to communicate directly with them during the visit.
Drone Restrictions
UAS Geographical Zones and/ or TRA (Temporary Restricted Airspace) flight restriction notifications will be in place at venues hosting EU Presidency events. This includes restrictions on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) i.e. drones.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) issues these restrictions, some of which can be issued at short notice for operational reasons. UAS (drone) pilots should check the IAA website for restrictions on flying drones in UAS Geographical Zones and TRAs immediately before operating a UAS.
UAS detection systems will be in place to identify the location of drones that are flying in restricted areas as well as the drone pilot. Breaches of TRAs and Geographical Zones are subject to investigation by An Garda Síochána and the IAA.
A list of TRA notices is published on the IAA website.
Details of UAS Geographical Zones are also published on an interactive map on the IAA website.
Note to Editor:
An Garda Síochána’s role in the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union relates to matters of policing, security and traffic management only. Further details can be found on the Garda website.
See a list of Frequently Asked Questions here.
For further information on the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and associated events, visit Programme of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
