Thousands of spectators are expected in Cork today as the Tour de France circus hits town.
After months of planning, the Cork In Gear Committee, which has organised a big programme of entertainment around the Cork city and county stages of the race, is anticipating a financial bonanza for the city.
There will be a street pageant with a Gallic flavour, garden fetes, rooftop parties, and live entertainment at various venues.
Each town and village along the race route has made a special effort of welcome with bunting and floral displays.
The size of the race means traffic restrictions will be in place from early this morning until the cyclists and their entourages depart via Ringaskiddy in Cork Harbour for France, sometime after 4 p.m. today.
Local authorities, Cork gardai and tourism interests here have united in an effort to see that everything runs according to plan during one of the biggest spectacles seen in the region.
Park and ride facilities will be available around the city to ferry people to and from the vantage points along the route. It is expected normal traffic flow will be restored just after 4 p.m. Before the arrival of the first rider at the finish line on the Cork stage at about 2.45 p.m., the "Year of the French" street spectacle will entertain the crowds.
However, gardai in Cork have warned that anyone tempted to breach traffic restrictions will face their cars being towed away.
They have also asked parents not to bring pets with them into the city and to ensure children are kept safely behind the security barriers.
They point out that the motorcade preceding the Tour will be travelling at speeds of up to 60 m.p.h., while the cyclists themselves will be passing spectators at speeds in excess of 30 m.p.h.
Many businesses in Cork have decided to close during the race stage, which will present 40 miles of continuous spectacle as it arrives from Waterford preceded by a publicity motorcade of 350 vehicles and some 650 press cars.
When the first outriders in the publicity caravan arrive in Cork, some riders will still be in Co Waterford.
The tour will enter Youghal, the east Cork seaside town, at about 1.30 p.m. this afternoon, but before then, the Wexford Street Theatre Group, Bui Bolg, will present a street carnival, finishing at the 1798 memorial in the town park.
As the crowds assemble, race news will be broadcast over a loudspeaker system to whet the interest of the onlookers.
Other towns, such as Killeagh and Midleton, are also preparing to organise special events.
The Garda has also asked farmers to keep cattle and other livestock well away from fields close to the Tour route for fear that overflying helicopters might scare the animals and cause them to stampede directly into wheels of the bikes and support vehicles.
"Our advice to the farming community is to move all their animals and bloodstock at least one field back from the race in order to avoid a potential tragic incident. The entourage travelling ahead of the cyclists will be noisy and could frighten sensitive animals. It is best that farmers realise this and take appropriate action," a Garda spokesman said.
Estimates of the financial benefit to Cork from the Tour vary, but some local tourism sources say the international media exposure which accompanies the race could have a massive financial spin-off running into millions of pounds. Locally, pubs and restaurants are expected to do particularly well.
But for some shops and factories, whose staff will find it difficult to turn in for work, there could actually be a loss because of the race. However, overall publicity generated by the spectacle and the television coverage of Cork city and county can only lead to benefits, most of the people involved in organising the reception for the Tour in Cork believe.