Issue Date: 30/06/2026
Ireland is hosting the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, beginning on 1st July 2026 until 31st December 2026. Over 250 events will take place across the country throughout the six-month period as part of the Programme of the Irish Presidency.
An Garda Síochána will implement traffic management plans and the appropriate policing and security measures to facilitate these events.
In general, traffic restrictions will be kept to the minimum required and it is intended that any impact on the public will be localised. The public can also expect temporary rolling road closures to facilitate security escorts.
Dublin Castle
The Irish Presidency is primarily concentrated in Dublin Castle. A policing and security operation is currently in place at Dublin Castle and will remain in place for the duration of the Presidency.
The following roads are currently closed to both traffic and pedestrians as part of this operation and will remain closed until 31st December 2026:
• Castle Street
• Ship Street Little
• Ship Street Great
Local access is facilitated.
Opening Ceremony – Wednesday, 1st July 2026
An event to mark the beginning of the Irish Presidency will take place on the afternoon of Wednesday 1st July 2026 in Dublin Castle
Temporary rolling road closures by Garda motorcycle escorts can be expected to take place, for security reasons, between the hours of 12pm (midday) and 5pm to and from Dublin Castle.
Members of the public are asked to comply with Gardaí on duty in the event of encountering any escort rolling road closure.
In addition to the highlighted road closures, temporary localised traffic restrictions may be put in place in the vicinity of Dublin Castle for operational reasons.
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
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.
