With the Galway Racing Festival soon to get under way Galway gardai have devised a strategic traffic plan to ease traffic congestion, and to direct festival goers to the racecourse as smoothly as possible. Access to the racecourse will be possible through three entrances, there will also be temporary road closures during Race Week. Traffic measure will be in place throughout the week long festival from Monday July 26 to Sunday August 1.
Avenue entrance (blue route )
For N6 traffic (Old Dublin Rd ), and N18 traffic (Limerick, Ennis, and Gort Rd ) the blue route starts at the Carrowmoneash roundabout (Maldron Hotel ) Oranmore. Take the third exit at the roundabout via Carnmore Cross, and follow signs to the Avenue entrance.
Motorway traffic (M6 ) must take Exit 19 (left ) followed by the third exit on the first roundabout, and then the second exit at the next roundabout marked with blue Avenue entrance signs.
At Carnmore Cross turn left at the traffic lights. Traffic from R339 (Monivea Rd ) joins the blue route here ). At the traffic lights at Briarhill turn right, and take a left turn in to the Avenue entrance.
For traffic on the N17 (Tuam/Sligo rd ) anyone wishing to use the Avenue entrance must turn up the hill at Killeen Cross, and join the blue route entrance at the avenue.
There is no access to the Avenue (Blue entrance ) from N6 eastbound (Dublin road ) during road closed times. Access can only be made off the N17 during this time.
Tunnel entrance (red route )
For N6 traffic (Old Dublin Rd ), and N18 ( Limerick / Ennis / Gort rd ) the red route starts at Carrowmoneash Roundabout (Maldron Hotel ) Oranmore. From there take the second exit, and continue along the old N6 to the Martin roundabout (Galway Clinic ). Take the second exit at Martin Roundabout (Galway Clinic ), followed by the first exit at new Coolough Roundabout at the M6.
At the Lynch Roundabout ( Western Motors / Clayton Hotel ) there will be no right turn to the Monivea Road or Avenue entrance. All traffic will be directed to the Tunnel entrance and Galway city direction. Race traffic must remain in the right lane after the Lynch roundabout, while city traffic must remain in the left lane.
M6 motorway traffic should continue along the M6 to the Coolough roundabout (end of motorway ), and get into the right lane, while Galway city traffic should remain in the left lane.
All traffic may take the second exit at the Lynch Roundabout (Western Motors/Clayton Hotel ). All Tunnel entrance red route traffic merges here and proceeds as follows:
Race traffic must cross the N6 to enter Tunnel in the right lane, and city traffic can travel straight to the city in the left lane. There will be no access from the N17 Tuam Road.
Green entrance (green route )
For traffic on the N17 (Tuam/Sligo road ) the green entrance accesses the Race Course via the hill at Two Mile Ditch, near Kenny Motors. There will be no access from N6, M6, N18 or R339 roads
Traffic from the N84 Headford Rd joins the N17 Tuam/Sligo rd and can access the Race Course along the blue route via the hill at Two Mile Ditch near Kenny Motors or alternatively at the green entrance at Two Mile Ditch.
Racecourse access from Galway city and Connemara
Traffic from Galway city and Connemara can access any entrance. To enter via the Tunnel, proceed east along the dual carriageway Bothar na dTreabh on N6, stay in the left lane to access the Tunnel entrance.
The Avenue entrance is not accessible from Bothar na dtreabh eastbound at the times shown below.
Access from Galway city and Connemara to the Avenue entrance will be from the Tuam Road only. From the Font Roundabout (Flemings ) proceed onto the Tuam/Sligo rd (N17 ), and turn right at Killeen Cross.
The green entrance can be accessed from the Tuam Road only. From the Font Roundabout (Flemings ) proceed onto the Tuam/Sligo rd (N17 ), and turn right at Two Mile Ditch.
Temporary road closures
There is no access to the Avenue entrance (Blue route ) via Lynch Roundabout (Western Motors/Clayton Hotel ) during road closed times listed below.
There is no access to the Monivea Road eastbound via Lynch Roundabout (Western Motors/Clayton Hotel ) during road closed times listed below.
Traffic for Monivea and the airport will be directed onto the M6 and can exit at exit 19 (Glenascaul ) and proceed to Carnmore Cross.
All traffic from the city reaching Lynch Roundabout (Western Motors / Clayton Hotel ) will be directed towards the Coolough Roundabout (entrance to M6 ).
All traffic reaching Lynch Roundabout (Western Motors/Clayton Hotel ) will be directed towards the city from all other routes.
Road closure times
Monday 4pm to 6pm
Tuesday 4pm to 6pm
Wednesday 12.30pm to 4.00pm
Thursday 11.30am to 3.30pm
Friday 4pm to 6pm
Times may have to be extended in the event of major traffic delays
