Car parks have been set up around the town for visitors to the fleadh.

FLEADH CHEOIL – what you need to know on parking and taxi ranks

Published: Sun 31 Jul 2022, 8:30 AM

Parking for staff and residents affected by street closures will be at Columb Barracks. Car parking for existing permit holders is available on a first come, first served basis at Lift Hire Ireland (N91 K4XY) from 7am to 7pm.

There is a car park at the Lift Hire Ireland premises opposite the fire station in Mullingar.

In addition, there will be additional fleadh car parks and shuttle buses for people attending the fleadh over the week.

All affected streets will be open from 4am to 10am daily for deliveries, bin collections and street cleaning. Cars left on the streets of affected road closure areas will be towed outside of those times.

Bishopsgate Street will be open to residents only from Sunday July 31 to Thursday August 4 from midnight to 3pm daily, and from Friday August 5 to Sunday August 7 from 4am to 10am daily. Sunday’s Well Road will be open as normal.

Parking will still be available for shopping purposes at Harbour Place Shopping Centre, Aldi, Lidl, Penneys underground (all privately operated, and limited parking) Buckley’s SuperValu.

Additional car parks are allocated at Lift Hire Ireland and Columb Barracks for local staff and residents.

Other car parks have been created for people attending the fleadh.

The blue car park is at the IDA Business Park, Clonmore; the yellow car park is at the National Science Park (former tobacco factory) on the Dublin Road; the red car park is between the Joe Dolan Bridge and the recycling centre; the pink car park is at the roundabout near the Texaco garage on the Castlepollard Road.

Disabled parking and shuttle buses

Disabled car parking spaces are available at Columb Barracks, Buckley’s SuperValu, as normal at other shopping centre car parks and at additional car parks being used for the fleadh.

Blue Badge holders will be able to access cathedral ticketed events with their Blue Badge Pass and a Ticket for that night. Residents with a permit (which needs to be applied for through the letter sent in mailbox) who are Blue Badge holders will have access to Bishopsgate Street.

Shuttle buses are being arranged from additional car parks and from the campsite.

These can be accessed by locals and residents as well as those attending the fleadh. There will be morning, afternoon, and evening services from Monday August 1 to Thursday August 4 and will be more regular services from Friday August 5 to Sunday August 7. Full details on shuttle buses will be made available in due course.

All affected streets will be open from 4am to 10am daily for deliveries, bin collections and street cleaning. Cars left on the streets of affected road closure areas will be towed.

Taxi ranks, bus services, rail services

Taxi ranks will be at Market Point, Harbour Place, Buckley’s SuperValu and Mullingar Greyhound Stadium.

Rail services will run as normal from Mullingar Train Station – however, there is no parking, as advised by Iarnród Éireann, at that location; alternative parking is available next to Mullingar Fire Station.

There are some changes to Bus Éireann stops and pick-up points.

Crowd control measures

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is a huge family event. An event controller and an event control room are in place, ongoing monitoring of crowd levels through on the ground and CCTV systems available in the control room.

A pedestrian management plan is in place with street capacities calculated, and measures in place to restrict pedestrian access if required through barrier systems manned by professional event security.

Additional garda presence

There will be a significant increase in garda presence for the Fleadh Cheoil.

Bin collections and plastic glass collections

Contractors are being appointed in addition to Westmeath County Council staff for street and event waste collections. Normal waste operators are being asked to collect waste from 4am to 10am in line with road closures.

Plastic and glass collection from licensed premises will be communicated through the Vintners Association. Contractors for that collection are also being appointed in addition to Westmeath County Council staff while being sensitive to ‘green’ initiatives.

Special circumstances

If there is a funeral during the course of the week, the Fleadh Executive Committee will engage with the local clergy and make appropriate arrangements.

Bikes and mobility scooters

There is no restriction on bikes in the earlier part of the week, but as pedestrian levels increase, such access will be managed on a risk-assessed basis, and if needed bikes and mobility scooters can be restricted in pedestrianised zones. All motorised vehicles are prohibited, with the exception of mobility scooters and emergency/ authorised event vehicles.

Parking zones for bikes will be confirmed at a later date.

Street cleaning measures

Mullingar Tidy Towns, additional contractors and volunteers and Westmeath County Council staff will ensure the cleanliness of Mullingar on a daily basis.

Contacts

If you have a question and don’t see your answer, email Aisling Coleman, Fleadh Executive Committee, at aisling.coleman@mullingarchamber.ie, or if the query is in relation to road closure, permit or parking questions, email mkmd@westmeathcoco.ie.