Issue Date: 11/03/2026
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer will visit Ireland on Thursday 12th and Friday 13th March 2026. The Prime Minister 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 road closures, particularly during late afternoon of Thursday 12th March and early afternoon on Friday 13th March 2026.
The visit will be concentrated in Cork city throughout both days.
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. The following traffic measures should take place in Cork city centre:
- Lapp’s Quay will be closed on Thursday 12th March 2026 between 4pm and 10pm.
- Connell Street will be closed on Thursday 12th March 2026 between 4pm and 10pm.
- Terence MacSwiney Quay will be closed on Thursday 12th March 2026 between 4pm and 10pm.
The public can also expect localised road closures to facilitate events and temporary rolling road closures to facilitate security escorts over the course of the evening of Thursday 12th March 2026 and morning of Friday 13th March 2026. General Information and Advice:
An Garda Síochána is working to ensure that the nature and scale of our policing and security operation continues to be proportionate to the need 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 would ask members of the public to heed the advice and instructions of Gardaí and we thank them for their continuing co-operation.
Members of the public travelling in the affected areas of Cork city (Cork Airport/ city centre/ Fota Island) on Thursday evening and Friday morning 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, where required.
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 and if required by the Garda Press Office via
- Press releases
- Garda website www.garda.ie
- Garda social media channels
