Killarney set for huge influx of tourists this weekend

The barrels are being rolled in and beds are being snapped up as Killarney prepares for an influx of more than 50,000 people at the weekend.

A major Garda operation is being mounted in the Kerry town, to ensure traffic management during three, crowd-pulling, events: The Fourth of July Festival, the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle and the Cork v Kerry Munster GAA football final.

Pubs, restaurants and accommodation providers are preparing for a multi-million euro bonanza, with the match alone expected to draw a 35,000-attendance.

Sergeant Dermot O’Connell yesterday said gardaí were gearing up for an “exceptionally busy” time.

As the double-header at Fitzgerald Stadium starts at noon on Sunday, with the minor final between Kerry and Tipperary, the sergeant appealed to fans to come early. The big match throws in at 2pm.

“We’re requesting people to arrive early to facilitate parking and traffic flow. The bypass road and a number of fields off the bypass are being used for parking, all within a short walking distance of the stadium,” he said, warning of traffic restrictions around the stadium.

Around 100 gardaí and a host of volunteer stewards will be on duty for the match.

Family Fun in Killarney tomorrow with Pedal In The Park. Let the little ones do their own @RingOKerryCycle #ROKcycle http://t.co/f9TC51tf9Q

— DestinationKillarney (@DKillarney) July 2, 2015

Meanwhile, the highlight of the Fourth of July Festival, to mark America’s Independence Day, will be a colourful parade with plenty of US-style razzmatazz, starting this evening at 8.30pm.

Parts of the town and some business premises are festooned with the stars and stripes and other American symbols. Several thousand people will watch the parade.

There will be parking restrictions in the town centre this evening for the parade and also for registration for the Ring of Kerry Cycle.

Tomorrow, upwards of 12,000 cyclists will take part in the 180km cycle, with a phased start from Killarney between 6am and 8.30am. Road closures are due from from 6am to 9am and again from 11.30am to 8pm to facilitate returning cyclists. The garda helicopter will assist with traffic management.

Paudie O’Callaghan, of the Fáilte Hotel, said the Munster final marked the busiest weekend of the year in Killarney, as Cork people always arrived in huge numbers.