Drivers around Ireland have been advised by gardaí to take note of traffic restrictions which will be implemented this week for the duration of US vice-president Joe Biden's visit to Ireland.
Mr Biden arrives on Tuesday for a five-day visit to the home of his Irish ancestors. The vice-president's trip includes visits to counties Louth and Mayo with his extended family where his ancestors, the Finnegans and the Blewitts, emigrated during the Famine. His visit comes one year after the death of his eldest son Beau in May 2015 to cancer at the age of 46.
The vice-president’s great-great grandfather, Patrick Blewitt was born in Garden Street, Ballina, in the early 1830s and left with members of his family for States in the famine stricken 1840s.
The Garda policing plans for the vice-president's visit include round-the-clock security and traffic management in Phoenix Park where Mr Biden will stay in the US ambassador's residence.The park will be closed to all traffic and pedestrians every night from 11pm until 6.30am during the vice-president's visit.
Mr Biden will visit and attend events at a number of locations around the country. Some local routes will be closed for these events with rolling road closures in some areas. There will also be parking restrictions at these locations.
Gardaí have been liaising with local resident groups, businesses and other stakeholders ahead of the visit and will continue communication with these local groups to ensure minimum disruption.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has called on the Irish people to turn out in large numbers to give Mr Biden the warmest of welcomes when he visits his Irish ‘roots’ this week. Mr Kenny told Midwest Radio that he had asked the vice president to visit Ireland four or five years ago and that he was glad the visit was going ahead.
“To get the second most powerful political person in the United States to Ireland is an important occasion and I do hope the people will give him a very warm welcome when he comes among them,” said Mr Kenny.
Mr Biden is expected to visit the Museum of Country Life and the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Wednesday and will visit an exhibition about the Marriage Equality Referendum by local photographer Alison Laredo. Mr Biden is also expected play a round of golf with the Taoiseach, Mr. Kenny at Castlebar golf course.
Restricted access
In the Phoenix Park, there will be no access to vehicles on Acres Road between the Phoenix Roundabout and the junction with Military road. Vehicles entering the Phoenix Park via the Chapelizod Gate will be directed on the Lowerr Glen Road and Military road with access to St Mary’s Hospital via Chapelizod Gate. There will be restricted access to White’s Road from the Ordnance Survey road and there will no access for vehicles on Furze Road.
Military road will be open to through traffic and there will be no parking on Chesterfield Avenue, Ordnance Survey Road and on the north road road to Ashtown Gate.
Parking restrictions will be in place on Wellington road and a strict tow away policy will be enforced. People visiting the Zoo are asked to only use the official Zoo car park and those visiting the Phoenix Park are advised to use public transport as parking will be greatly reduced.
Updates on road closures will be available via the Garda Twitter account @gardatraffic.
