Dublin is facing traffic 'bottlenecks' this weekend as over 600,000 people are expected to travel to the capital for various events.
The warning comes from the Taxis for Ireland Coalition, which says the capital's attractiveness for hosting major events is at risk due to a lack of transport options.
Taylor Swift’s 'The Eras' tour runs from Friday through Sunday night at the Aviva Stadium, with 60,000 attendees expected each night.
Other concerts this weekend include performances by Shania Twain, Villagers, The Saw Doctors, and Longitude Festival at Marlay Park.
Shania Twain in concert in New York in 2022. Credit: MediaPunch Inc/Alamy Live NewsAdditionally, there’s a busy weekend of football at Croke Park with four All Ireland Football Championship quarter-finals scheduled.
Tens of thousands are expected to flock to the city centre on Saturday for the Dublin Pride Parade, celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Here's a list of events taking place in Dublin this weekend:
- Taylor Swift's 'The Eras' tour at Aviva Stadium (Friday to Sunday)
- Dublin Pride Parade (50th anniversary celebration) in the city centre (Saturday)
- Longitude Festival at Marlay Park (Friday to Sunday)
- All Ireland Football Championship quarter-finals at Croke Park (Saturday and Sunday)
- Shania Twain concerts at 3Arena (Friday and Saturday)
- Villagers concert at Iveagh Gardens (Saturday)
- The Saw Doctors concert at Leopardstown Racecourse (Sunday)
Brian Fenton of Dublin celebrates at the final whistle during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship. Image: Brendan Moran/SportsfileMobility company Bolt’s head of public policy Aisling Dunne said she’s concerned regarding transport availability this weekend.
“This weekend upcoming we're particularly concerned that there is going to be a real bottleneck in Dublin, in our capital, and that people, both residents and visitors, who are trying to enjoy these different events will be left stranded,” she told Newstalk.
“So, we're calling on the government to explain how we're going to cater for these events and how we're ensuring that we have sufficient supplies so that everyone can get home safely.”
A gay pride march in Dublin, 24-6-2017. Image: Bartosz Luczak / Alamy Stock PhotoLicensed Vintners Association CEO Donal O’Keefe said he's unsure if taxis can cope with the volume of visitors expected this weekend.
“The last thing we want people in Dublin to feel is stranded, waiting late at night for taxis in areas they may be unfamiliar with.
“Taxis provide that extra layer of safety, particularly for visitors attending the city and we want Dublin and Ireland to remain competitive when it comes to hosting large events.”
Main image: Taylor Swift performs at Wembley Stadium in London, 21-06-2024. Image: Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP
