Cork City Marathon Tomorrow: Major Road Closures and Traffic Disruption Across Cork City

Drivers across Cork are being urged to plan ahead and allow extra time tomorrow, Sunday 31 May, as the Analog Devices Cork City Marathon brings widespread road closures and traffic restrictions to the city centre and several suburbs throughout the morning and into the afternoon.

An Garda Síochána has confirmed that road closures will begin at 4am, with the race starting at 8.15am on Grand Parade. Grand Parade and the surrounding city centre streets will remain closed until 6pm.

Gardaí have asked residents and visitors not to drive on the marathon course if at all possible. The full 42km course is closed to traffic until the last participant safely passes through each area, within the allowed six-hour course limit, with essential traffic escorted off the course by the Gardaí.

The Full Marathon sets off from Grand Parade at 8.15am, followed by the 10K from South Mall at 8.45am, and the Half Marathon from Monahan Road from 10.15am. All three races finish on Grand Parade.

For travel into and around the city, the general advice from Gardaí is to use the Ring Roads (N25 South and R635 North) and the Link Road (N27), though delays are expected on all routes due to the impact of the closures.

The areas facing the heaviest restrictions are Grand Parade, St Patrick's Street and the surrounding streets, closed from 4am to 6pm. North Main Street will be closed from 7.30am to 3pm, Washington Street from 7.30am to 4pm, and Western Road reduced to one outbound lane from the UCC gates to Victoria Cross from 7.30am to 4pm.

On the east side of the city, Albert Road, Victoria Road, Centre Park Road, Monahan Road and surrounding areas will be affected from 8am to 12.30pm, with Castle Road in Blackrock restricted from 9am to noon.

To the west, Gardaí have described the Ballyphehane and Togher areas as the most complex section of the course for traffic management. These areas, along with The Lough, will be affected from 9am to 2pm, as will Tory Top Park, Magazine Road and Orchard Road. Restrictions on Model Farm Road will run until about 2.30pm, and on Mardyke Walk until about 3pm.

The Jack Lynch Tunnel and the South Ring Road (N40) will stay open all day, but a contra-flow will operate in the southbound bore of the tunnel, so traffic will move more slowly than normal. The tunnel should be fully operational again by 1pm.

The Carrigrohane Road, known locally as the Straight Road, will carry outbound traffic only until 3pm, and is expected to be very slow and seriously backed up towards Victoria Cross between about 10.30am and 12.30pm. Gardaí have asked motorists to avoid it if at all possible.

Those heading to Cork Airport are advised to use the Ring Roads and City Link Roads. Once through the tunnel, the race will not directly affect airport traffic, though journeys may be slower than normal.

For rail passengers, it will not be possible to drive to Kent Railway Station between 8am and 11am, due to the closure of the Lower Glanmire Road to the north and Horgan's Quay to the south of the station.

Parnell Place Bus Station will also be inaccessible by car between 8am and 11am. After that, drivers will be able to reach it, but leaving will be restricted by the closure of St Patrick's Street.

Parking will be available in city centre car parks, and the Black Ash Park and Ride will operate from 6.15am to 5pm, with buses running every 8 to 12 minutes.

City and suburban bus services will be restricted, with some Bus Éireann services operating with diversions. Additional early train services are also expected to run on Sunday morning to bring participants to the start lines. Passengers are advised to check with Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann before travelling

Stewards, identified by high-vis vests with Cork City Marathon on the back, along with the Gardaí, will do their utmost to minimise traffic disruption and keep traffic moving where possible.

A full list of road closures is available on the official Cork City Marathon page on the Cork City Council website.