As security is stepped up for the Queens visit to Dublin tomorrow 17/5/2011, estimates for security and loss of business is expected to exceed over 50 Million Euro to the Irish economy. Up to 20,000 Gardai, army and special branch will be on full alert as there is a serious threat to public safety from dissident republicans in Dublin. The tight security measures mean that many millions of euro will be lost in trade as shops are cut off from consumers in important shopping locations such as Stepehsn Green and O'Connell Street.
Gardaí have announced road closures and traffic restrictions as part of the security operation for the visit of the Queen Elizabeth to Cork and Tipperary next week.
While the visit to both counties does not take place until next Friday, some of the security related traffic restrictions are being put in place from Monday.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said today he hoped members of the public would not be inconvenienced by the traffic and parking restrictions planned for both the visit of the Queen and US president Barack Obama.
However, the Garda had a duty to put in place an adequate security operation for both visits. He said all of the restrictions were being publicised well in advance of the visits.
"I hope people will understand that this is necessary, but also on the understanding that this is a brilliant opportunity to present Ireland as the kind of people we are,” said Mr Kenny. "I know the Irish people have been very understanding on occasions in the past when president Reagan and president Clinton were here."
In Co Tipperary, where the Queen will visit the Rock of Cashel, traffic flow restrictions on the M8 are being put in place from next Monday until next Friday.
Both carriageways will be reduced to one lane. Vehicles must reduce their speed below 100kmph on a 10km stretch from just north of junction 7 to just south of junction 8.
Next Thursday evening, the only access to Cashel will be from junction 9 of the M8, as all other exits will be closed.
Between 6pm next Thursday and noon the following day, gardai will place a cordon around Cashel, effectively sealing off the town.
Only those with valid passes, such as local residents and business owners, will be allowed through the 7km outer cordon around the town. There will be no access via a shorter inner cordon.
Cordons will also be placed from Thursday evening until noon on Friday around Fethard and Killenaule, although gardai have said business will continue as normal in those places.
On Friday afternoon the Queen moves on to Cork, where major traffic restrictions will be put in place in a bid by gardai to shore up security.
From 10am many streets in the city centre will be closed but other routes around the city will remain open for motorists.
The city centre areas to be closed from 10am next Friday include: South Link Road inbound, Station Rd, Anglesea St, South Mall, Grand Parade, Patrick St, Academy St, Washington St, Sheares St and Dyke Parade.
No parking will be allowed in those areas from 6pm on Thursday.
Many of the streets in Cork city centre will see crowd control barriers erected and while pedestrians will be able to move about unimpeded they will only be permitted to cross roads at designated crossing points.
However, there will be no pedestrian access on some city centre streets next Friday between noon and 4pm.
These include: Princess St Upper; junction of Oliver Plunkett St and Patrick St; St Augustine St to Tuckey St; junction of Tuckey St and Grand Parade to Electric Bar South Mall; Washington St; junction of Grand Parade to South Main St.
During the four days of the Queen’s visit, between May 17th and 20th, the N7, N4 and M50 will be completely closed at times. Dublin Zoo will be closed on May 17th and 23rd.
