Remember your ticket – or you’ll face a marathon walk!
PILGRIMS are being warned not to attend events in Knock, Croke Park and the Phoenix Park this weekend if they don’t have a ticket to see the Pope.
AA Roadwatch has advised people to only use public transport if they are travelling to see the Pontiff, saying they face walking half the distance of the Women’s Mini Marathon. ‘No matter how you plan on getting to the Phoenix Park, you are advised to be prepared for a long walk,’ said Arwen Foley, AA Roadwatch editor.
While Dublin Bus will have seven dedicated transport hubs in the city on Sunday, a long walk will still be required, as the furthest hub is located 4.4km from the park.
‘That’s almost half the distance of the Women’s Mini Marathon, both on the way there and on the way back,’ Ms Foley said.
Those attending the Mass in the Phoenix Park will be able to avail of free public transport in the Greater Dublin Area on Sunday by presenting their ticket. However, those travelling from outside of Dublin are being warned to pre-book travel tickets as many public transport services are fully booked.
The majority of road closures in Dublin will be in place on Sunday, and will mainly affect the centre and west of the city. These restrictions will also apply to taxis and cyclists. AA Roadwatch is advising people travelling between the north and south of the city to use the M50, or the Port Tunnel and Tom Clarke/East Link Bridge, as these routes will remain open.
It added that the M1 will also be unaffected by traffic restrictions, so accessing Dublin Airport will not be a problem.
Luas Red Line services will be suspended between Blackhorse and Smithfield from 7am until 10pm on Sunday. There will also be a number of road closures in the west of the country. The centre of Knock village will be closed from 6pm on Saturday, while the N17 between Charlestown and Claremorris will be closed from midnight on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Met Éireann forecaster Matthew Martin told the Irish Daily Mail there will be ‘showery weather’ over the weekend in the west, but that Dublin should mostly remain dry.