Hundreds of Travellers from all over Ireland are expected to arrive at a suburb of Cork for the bank holiday weekend, where it is reported that a community get-together will be held.
As many as 150 Traveller caravans are due to arrive in east Cork today, when they will link up with another 50 vans which arrived earlier this week.
The vans arrived in the suburb of Carrigaline from Dublin on Wednesday, the majority parking in a newly built car-park, and the rest moving to a spot in nearby Crosshaven. However, the Travellers were evicted from the car park by gardaí in Carrigaline the next day, after Cork County Council indicated they were parked illegally.
Consequently a convoy of caravans headed out of Carrigaline in the direction of Ringaskiddy, where they set up camp not far from the pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer.
A celebration for the Whit weekend had been planned for some time and they had no intention of causing trouble, said a spokesperson for the Travelling community .
A spokesman for the Traveller visibility group said the Travellers were gathering in such large numbers to celebrate Whit weekend, as it holds important religious significance for the community.
"I met with some families and they are surprised and disappointed at the attitude of hoteliers and publicans in Carrigaline," said Mr Dave McCarthy, of reports that the suburban town had in effect shut up shop when the caravans arrived.
Up to 30 caravans, which were illegally parked at the side of the main Cork road at Ringaskiddy, were moved on by gardaí yesterday.
It is believed that the caravans then headed to the tourist destination of Cobh, with at least another 150 caravans estimated to be on the way for the weekend.
However, yesterday the Travellers said they would pay for the use of a suitable site or field, if one were offered, adding that they had received a much warmer welcome in Bundoran, Co Donegal, where a similar Traveller get-together was held recently.