Streets to be closed for some events
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AS is to be expected motorists will have to contend with some disruption during the festival with a number of streets closed and parking restrictions in place on others.
The town centre Lower Castle Street, Ashe Street and Denny Street will be closed to traffic to accommodate parades and late night entertainment on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday.
The streets will be closed to traffic from 7pm to 1am on each of these nights. Any cars left on Lower Castle Street after 7pm ahead of Saturday's parade will be towed and deposited in St John's car park.
Traffic will also be barred from the town centre area for the second Rose parade on Sunday afternoon.
That parade will leave the Kingdom greyhound stadium around 2pm and make its way via Rock Street and the Mall to Denny Street and the Ashe Hall traffic will be barred from the town centre from 2pm on Sunday till 1am.
Tuesday's parade, a smaller event after which the winning Rose will be introduced to the crowds from the Denny Street stage, will commence at the top of Ashe Street and travel down Denny Street.
Those planning on attending are encouraged to gather towards the bottom of Denny Street to ensure the Upper Denny Street, Mall and Square areas don't become too congested.
Cars parked on Ashe Street after 11pm on Tuesday night will be towed away.
The issue of crowd safety and security has been well addressed by gardaí and festival organisers.
Almost 80 festival stewards have volunteered their services for the duration of the festival street entertainment. They'll be joined by about 70 volunteers from around the county working with the Civil Defence bringing the total number of stewards to about 150.
A separate stewarding team will be working at the Festival Dome in Fels Point.
Gardaí say they do not expect any major trouble during the festivities but they will be stepping up their presence on the street to the same level as last year.
- SIMON BROUDER
