Country cranks up for red hot weekend

Major Garda traffic operations will be in place this weekend as the Fleadh Cheoil gets underway in Co Tipperary, the Red Hot Chili Peppers play Slane and the GAA football semi-finals take place at Dublin's Croke Park tomorrow.

In Slane, Co Meath gardaí have drawn up a major safety and policing plan for the open-air rock concert at Slane Castle.

Slane village was closed to through traffic from last night and will remain closed until 3 a.m. tomorrow.

Non-concert traffic going south on the N2 will be diverted at Ardee to the M1 where it can continue to Dublin, or rejoin the N2 via Duleek/Kilmoon Cross. Traffic going north on the N2 will be diverted at Kilmoon Cross towards Drogheda.

Motorists can access the M1 or the old N1 to avoid the toll bridge.

The route continues along M1 and follows signs for Ardee where it is possible to rejoin the N2.

Disabled people attending the concert should approach from the Navan direction. Buses will not be permitted to approach Slane from the Drogheda road. They should approach on the N2 or N51.

Bus Éireann will run a special coach service from Dublin to Slane.

The coaches will depart Mountjoy Square at regular intervals between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., returning from Slane to the city after the concert.

The Fleadh Cheoil in Clonmel is now the biggest outdoor street music festival of its kind in Europe. The town centre was closed to traffic from 6 p.m. yesterday and will remain closed until 6 a.m. on Monday.

Gardaí have had major traffic diversions in place and say delays should be expected, particularly tomorrow.

Gardaí have also advised that journeys in the vicinity of Croke Park tomorrow should only be made if absolutely necessary. The Kerry versus Laois minor football semi-final gets underway at 1.45 p.m. and a heavy build up of traffic is expected along the N7. Traffic is expected to travel through the city as well as along the M50 to Croke Park.

Later in the afternoon the senior football semi-final between Kerry and Tyrone will take place. Additional traffic can be expected along the N1 and N2. Gardaí said the return journey is expected to be extremely congested.

On the West Link toll bridge southbound motorists with an Eazypass can now use a new dedicated lane which is clearly signposted.

In Cork city, South Main Street has been closed from the junctions of Washington Street and Liberty Street from yesterday morning and will remain closed until 6 a.m. on Monday.

The closure is for main drainage site investigation works. Traffic will be diverted onto Washington Street via Liberty Street and Sheares Street.

As part of the final major traffic diversions to accommodate the Cork main drainage works, parts of Washington Street will be reduced to one lane for the next three months from Monday, for culvert repairs.