The southeast of Dublin city will be a no-go area for motorists on Monday as more than 40,000 women runners take to the streets for the 25th Women's Mini Marathon.
The 10km race, which is the biggest women's event of its kind in the world, starts at Fitzwilliam Square at 3pm and the majority of participants are expected to have crossed the finishing line at St Stephen's Green by 6.30pm.
However, road closures will be in place from early Monday morning. St Stephen's Green south and east will be closed to traffic from 6am to 6.30pm. Nearby Earlsfort Terrace will also be closed at 6am but will reopen at 4.30pm.
From 8am to 4.30pm the southeast inner city streets of Fitzwilliam Street, Fitzwilliam Place, Merrion Square, Merrion Street, Lower Leeson Street and Hatch Street will all be closed.
Shorter restrictions will be in place on St Stephen's Green North and Kildare Street, which will close from 12.30pm to 6.30pm, and on Nutley Lane near the RTÉ studios, which will be closed from 3pm to 4.45pm. Traffic diversions will be in place from the Merrion Gates to Strand Road and from Stillorgan Road to Fosters Avenue.
However traffic is likely to be heavy throughout the city centre for the duration of the race with thousands of spectators expected to attend.
AA Roadwatch has advised participants and spectators to use public transport to get into the city, particularly the Luas Green line which will bring runners as close as possible to the starting point.
Participants in the race, who raise millions of euros for charity each year, are divided into three categories: elite - those who can run 10km in under 43 minutes; those runners who can finish in less than an hour; and joggers/ walkers who, starting last, are placed at the back of the race and hope to finish some time before 6.30pm.
More than €10 million was raised for charities last year bringing the total raised since the race started in 1983 close to €100 million.
Prominent charities including the Irish Cancer Society, as well as smaller local charities, benefit each year.
Major Events
• Cat Laughs Comedy Festival, Kilkenny. Events continue throughout the weekend until Monday.
• Nofitstate Circus, St George's Dock in the IFSC, Dublin. Events run until June 24th.
• The Dublin Docklands Maritime Festival, Liffey Quays. Events continue throughout the weekend until Monday.
• Cork City Marathon, Patrick Street, Cork, Monday, 9am.
• The fourth annual Cobh Maritime Song Festival at the Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh. Events continue throughout the weekend until Monday.
• The Ocean to City Boat Race, starting at Crosshaven today at 12.30pm and finishing at Lapp's Quay, Cork.
