Tens of thousands of people are expected in Castlebar today for two major sporting events.
The West of Ireland Women’s Mini Marathon and the Connacht Senior Football Championship Final will both bring huge crowds to the county town.
An Garda Síochána welcome all participants and supporters to Castlebar for the day but are advising the public that there will be significant travel disruption as a result.
The advice from An Garda Siocahna is to plan your journey and to arrive into Castlebar early, and to follow guidance from Gardaí, event marshals and road signage.
In order to ensure the safety of more than 2,000 participants in the Mini Marathon, and the public generally, there will be temporary ‘rolling’ road closures. The event commences at noon and traffic delays can be expected.
The closures will be:
· The Mall: 9:30am – 4:00pm
· Ellison Street: 9:30am – 3:00pm
· Lower Spencer Street: 10:30am – 12:30pm
· Duke Street, Newport Road to Pound Road, Pound Roasd, Gallows Hill, Newline: Noon – 1:00pm
· Pontoon Rd to Ballinvilla and Ballinavilla Road to Mountgregory: Noon – 2:00pm
· Mountgregory/Turlough Road: Noon – 2:30pm
· Staball Hill/Thomas Street, Bridge Street and Main Street: 12:15pm – 2:30pm
Later today, the Connacht Senior Football Championship will take place, and an attendance of up to 20,000 people is expected.
Large volumes of traffic can be expected in the general Castlebar area throughout the day, particularly in the vicinity of MacHale Park in the build up to the 4:00pm throw-in and immediately afterwards. Turnstiles will open at 2.30pm
The main routes into Castlebar are:
· N5 Dublin road into Moneen Roundabout
· N60 Claremorris Road into Kilkenny Cross
· N84 Ballinrobe Road into Cathal Duffy Roundabout
· N5 Westport road
· R311 Newport Road
Traffic can use the Castlebar Bypass dual carriageway and can exit at various junctions to enter Castlebar.
There may be traffic diversions later today, depending on traffic volumes and Gardaí will be on duty to provide information.
Parking restrictions are already in place in the vicinity of the stadium and on approaches.
