With crowds of up to 85,000 people expected to attend the opening of the Ballinasloe Horse Fair this weekend, traffic diversions will be in place on the N6 from 8am to 8pm this Sunday October 5. This is to ensure the free flow of weekend commuter traffic on the main Galway-Dublin route and to facilitate the movement of traffic locally.
Motorists travelling from Galway to Dublin on Sunday are asked by the Gardai to avoid Ballinasloe and instead divert off the N6 at Killmeen Cross on the Ballinasloe side of Loughrea for Tullamore via Portumna (N65 ). Motorists travelling from Dublin to Galway are asked to bypass Ballinasloe and detour at Athlone on the R362 for Tuam via Mountbellew.
Local vehicles arriving into Ballinasloe from the west and not attending the Fair will be asked to detour at Loughbawn on the N6 for Dublin via Ahascragh. Local vehicles entering Ballinasloe from the Athlone side will be asked to detour at Padraig Pearses Football Grounds, Beagh and re-emerge on the N6 at Loughbawn for Galway.
All lorries and articulated vehicles coming from Dublin must detour at Athlone as they cannot be facilitated at the local Ballinasloe detour due to a low railway bridge.
There are no diversions in place on Saturday October 4 or Monday October 6, although it is envisaged that there will be minor traffic disruptions locally for the duration of the parade from 2.30pm to 4pm this Saturday.
Commuters intending to travel by coach to Dublin or Galway on Sunday and Monday October 5 and 6 should note that the pick up and drop off points for Nestors, Bus Eireann, and City Link operated coaches have been moved to Hayden's Corner for these two days only.
Ballinasloe Gardai are asking all visitors attending the Fair in Ballinasloe over the next two weekends to adhere to all diversions and parking restrictions. They also advise that when parking in a car park not to leave any property visible inside the vehicle. Gardaí would also advise people living in the surrounding area of Ballinasloe to be extra vigilant for any suspicious vehicles in the area, and not to buy any goods or to part with any cash to any traders who might call to their doors.
All traffic diversions will be clearly signposted on the routes affected this Sunday October 5. Further information on the traffic diversions is available on the www.ballinalsoeoctoberfair.com and www.garda.ie
