Motorists Warned To Expect Major Delays For Tullamore Show

Around 80,000 people are set to attend the show this weekend.

People are being warned to expect significant delays ahead of this year's Tullamore Show.

Up to 80,000 people are expected to descend on the Butterfield Estate on Sunday.

For those heading to this year's Show, free parking is available adjacent to the show grounds, with motorists being directed along four dedicated routes to four separate car parks.

Gardai wish to advise motorists that delays in the area can be expected all day and that Diversions will be in place.

Free car parking is provided adjacent to the show grounds and motorists will be directed along 4 dedicated routes to each of 4 car parks as follows:

Traffic coming from the North on the N52 will be diverted via the Tullamore By-Pass to the Birr Road bringing attendees to the Green Car Park.

Traffic coming from the West on the M6 will be brought off the motorway at the Clara junction and parked at the Yellow Car Park.

People driving in from the South on the N80 are going to the Blue Car Park and will be diverted at Killiegh Village.

Motorists coming from the South on N52 from Birr get diverted at Blueball to the Red Car Park.

Superindendent at Tullamore Garda Station Tony Tighe is asking people to be concsious the vast numbers heading into and out of Offaly this weekend.

No Parking will be permitted on the Diversion Routes or Roads in the precinct of the Showgrounds.

Exhibitors are requested to follow Exhibitors Signs and to arrive before 9.30am in order to avoid delays.

And everyone heading to the Show is being asked to forget about google maps and stick to the signs.

People Attending the Show Free car parking is provided adjacent to the show grounds and motorists will be directed along 4 dedicated routes to each of 4 car parks as follows:

NORTH/NORTH EAST TRAFFIC - (Kilbeggan, N.52, N.80 etc.) Will be diverted via the Tullamore By-Pass to the Birr Road and access the Green Car Park adjacent to the Showgrounds.

WEST/NORTH WEST TRAFFIC – (From Athlone M6 direction) Will be diverted off the M6 after Athlone and via Clara, Coolnahiley and Rahan where they will be accommodated at the Yellow Car Park adjacent to the showgrounds.

SOUTH/SOUTH EAST TRAFFIC - (Portlaoise, Mountmellick, N.80 Direction) Will be diverted at Killeigh Village towards the Showgrounds, where they will be accommodated at the Blue car park.

SOUTH/SOUTH WEST TRAFFIC - (From Birr N.52 Direction) Will be diverted left at Blueball to the Red car park adjacent to the Showgrounds. A periodic reversible one-way traffic system will operate around the Showgrounds at peak times in the morning and the evening. This will result in delays.

Motorists and local Residents etc., are asked to co-operate with the Gardai and Show Stewards and to follow all information signs which are there for their benefit. No Parking will be permitted on the Diversion Routes or Roads in the precinct of the Showgrounds.  These will be ‘Tow Away Areas’ Patrons attending the show are asked to disregard Sat-Nav/Google Maps and to follow Road Signs for Show Parking.

EXHIBITORS: Exhibitors are requested to follow Exhibitors Signs and to arrive before 9.30am in order to avoid delays.  Please display Exhibitor Badges clearly.  After 9.30am the Exhibitor Route will close and Exhibitors will have to use regular car parking facilities. All exhibitors, with the exception of livestock, will be directed to the main site entrance situated on the Blueball/Rahan Road. Livestock, including horses, will gain access to the site via the closed section of the N52.  Please follow signs for Livestock.

DISABLED CAR PARK: A disabled car park is provided on the event site by organisers. Show committee will issue PWD Passes to patrons who wish to use this parking facility. All vehicles displaying PWD Pass will be directed onto the event site. All persons wishing to avail of Disabled parking and issued with relevant PWD Pass should follow signage for Livestock and enter at Gate 3 on the Greatwood Road. After 12pm please use the Blueball Entrance for Disabled Parking.

FOR MOTORISTS NOT ATTENDING THE SHOW Please note that a section of the N52 from Mucklagh to Blueball will be closed to non-show traffic from approximately 7am to 8pm on the day of the Show. The following alternative routes are available to passing motorists, not attending the show and in order to avoid delays those motorists are asked to use the Signed Diversions. Traffic travelling towards Tullamore from a South or Southwest direction can divert 2 km from Birr at Kennedy’s Cross for Athlone, Tullamore, Kilbeggan or Mullingar and at Kilcormac for Mountmellick, Portlaoise or Portarlington.

Traffic travelling towards Tullamore from a North or Eastern direction can divert at Kilbeggan via Clara, Ferbane and Cloghan for Birr. Traffic travelling through Tullamore from a South or Southeast direction can divert at Portlaoise via Portarlington and Rochfortbridge to the M6 motorway. Delays on the day are unavoidable and passing motorists are asked to be patient and use the signed diversion routes where possible.