Belfast city centre will be pedestrianised from 2 to 9 August as the city hosts Comhaltas Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann for the first time. The eight-day festival is expected to draw 800,000 visitors, and organisers have urged anyone travelling to the area to avoid private cars and instead walk, cycle or use public transport.

Translink has said all Metro, Ulsterbus and Glider services will keep normal timetables, though some city-centre bus stops will move. NI Railways will add extra capacity, and passengers are advised to check revised schedules. Three Park and Ride sites will operate at the Eikon Exhibition Centre (accessed from the M1), Giant’s Park (M2) and Belfast Harbour (M3). Parking costs £10 per day, with pre-booking from 6 July on the Fleadh website. Free shuttle buses will link the sites to Grand Central Station and Laganside Bus Centre. Blue badge holders can secure dedicated spaces when they book.

City-centre businesses will receive deliveries only between 4am and 8am, co-ordinated through a 24-hour accreditation hub run by the council. A coach facility will be set up on Linenhall Street, and designated taxi pick-up and drop-off points will operate around the event zone. Two car parks for blue badge holders will also be provided separately from the Park and Ride.

PSNI Superintendent Gavin Kirkpatrick said uniformed and plain-clothed officers would patrol transport hubs and event spaces to reassure the public and deter crime. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins stated that the Department’s Traffic Information and Control Centre would monitor conditions in real time to manage any disruption. Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald said the festival would bring wide-ranging economic, cultural and tourism benefits to the region.

Further travel details are available at fleadhcheoil.ie/travel, translink.co.uk/fleadh and belfastcity.gov.uk/fleadh.