Traffic plan announced for Tullamore Show
Over 60,000 visitors and approximately 20,000 vehicles will descend on the grounds at Butterfield Estate, Blueball, Tullamore this Sunday for the annual Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show.
The showgrounds is located on the outskirts of Tullamore along the N52 – Tullamore to Birr Road, approximately seven kilometres from Tullamore town centre.
Gardaí have advised motorists that delays in the area can be expected all day and that signed diversions will be in place. Patrons attending the show are asked to disregard sat-nav/Google maps and to follow road signs for show parking.
For people attending the show, there is free car parking adjacent to the showgrounds and motorists will be directed along four dedicated routes to each of four car parks as follows: North/North East Traffic (Kilbeggan, N52, N80 etc) - will be diverted via the Tullamore bypass 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, N80 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 N52 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 cooperate with the Gardaí 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’.
Exhibitors are requested to follow exhibitors signs and to arrive onsite 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.
A disabled car park is provided on the event site by organisers. The Tullamore Show committee will issue PWD Passes to patrons who wish to use this parking facility. These passes need to be applied for directly from the Tullamore Show committee. All vehicles displaying such PWD Pass will be directed onto the event site.
All those wishing to avail of disabled parking and issued with relevant PWD Pass should follow signage for Livestock Entrance on the Greatwood Road. After 1pm 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.
1. 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.
2. Traffic travelling towards Tullamore from a North or Eastern direction can divert at Kilbeggan via Clara, Ferbane and Cloghan for Birr.
3. 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.