Cork Airport Gears Up For Busy St. Patrick's Weekend With 53,000 Passengers Expected

Cork Airport is preparing for one of its busiest weekends of the year, with over 53,000 passengers expected to pass through the terminal over the St. Patrick's Bank Holiday weekend, on a par with last year's record St. Patrick's weekend traffic.

Friday, 13 March is forecast to be the busiest day for arrivals, as visitors fly in from the UK, Europe, and further afield to join the celebrations across Cork and the wider south of Ireland. The centrepiece of the weekend will be the St. Patrick's Day parade in Cork city on Tuesday, 17 March, stepping off at 13:00 with more than 3,000 participants.

The Cheltenham Racing Festival is also contributing to the surge in passenger numbers, with thousands of punters flying to Bristol, Birmingham, and London throughout the week. Ryanair has added extra services to Birmingham to meet the demand, while Aer Lingus Regional's daily Bristol route provides another option for racing fans.

Adding to the good news for Cork connectivity, Air France has resumed its daily service to Paris Charles de Gaulle ahead of the summer season. The service will increase to 10 flights per week during July and August, offering onward connections to more than 200 destinations worldwide.

To mark the national holiday, Cork Airport will host daily live performances of traditional Irish music, song, and dance in the Arrivals area from Thursday, 12 March through to St. Patrick's Day itself. The performance schedule is as follows:

• Thursday, 12 March: Gaelscoil Uí Riada (13:45)
• Friday, 13 March: Bermuda County Council [sic] (14:30)
• Saturday, 14 March: Comhaltas na Dúglaise (10:45); Pat Kelleher (14:00)
• Sunday, 15 March: John Lonergan School of Irish Dance (13:45); Le Chéile (19:15)
• Monday, 16 March: Carrigaline Men's Shed (13:30); Arundó (20:15)
• Tuesday, 17 March (St. Patrick's Day): Arundó (15:00)

Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director at Cork Airport, said:

"We in Ireland are blessed to have a national day which is known the world over and a branding which resonates in every country without prompt. St Patrick's week starts the tourist season and we in Cork Airport have a feast of traditional music and song to celebrate our national culture and to welcome visitors and locals together to Cork. This year, passengers may notice substantial building activity in the terminal as we expand our facility for future growth. However, working with our construction partners, PJ Hegarty, the works have been cordoned off so that the same 'céad míle fáilte' is extended and the quality of your journey is as pleasant and friendly as ever."

With Friday and Saturday expected to be the busiest days for departures, Cork Airport is advising all passengers to arrive at least 90 minutes before their scheduled departure time.

Cork Airport is part of the daa Group and is the second largest airport in the Republic of Ireland. It is currently progressing a €200 million capital development programme to support growth beyond five million passengers per annum in the coming years.