Heads Up North Belfast! St Patrick's Day Road Closures & Travel Tips

Tuesday, March 17th, is fast approaching, and with it comes the vibrant celebrations of St Patrick's Day! While Belfast city centre will be buzzing with activity, North Belfast residents planning to head into town should be aware of significant road closures and travel disruptions throughout the day.

Early birds attending or travelling near the city centre will encounter diversions for the SPAR Craic 10K, organised by Aisling Events. This popular run kicks off from City Hall at 9am, making its way through the city centre, Falls Road, Stranmillis Embankment, and Ormeau Road before finishing at Ormeau Park. Expect delays and rolling diversions along this route between approximately 8am and 11am.

Later in the day, the festive St Patrick's Day parade will bring more joy and some temporary changes to traffic flow. Starting from City Hall at 1.30pm, the parade follows a circular route through Chichester Street, Victoria Street, High Street, Castle Place, and Donegall Place, returning to City Hall. Rolling diversions will be in effect from 12.30pm to 3:30pm. Areas around Donegall Square West, College Square East, Wellington Place, High Street (inner), Castle Place, Royal Avenue, Donegall Place, Victoria Street, Bridge Street, Chichester Street, and Ann Street will be affected. Additionally, Upper Arthur Street, Skipper Street, and Seymour Street will see partial closures as they lead onto the parade route.

For those heading to the Cathedral Quarter, please note that a St Patrick's Music Festival will lead to road closures between 12.30pm and 6pm on Tuesday, March 17th. These include sections of Donegall Street (between Talbot Street and Academy Street), Exchange Street West (between Talbot Street and Academy Street), Academy Street (at Great Patrick Street), and Curtis Street (at the York Street junction). Donegall Street from the York Street Junction to Academy Street Junction will also be closed.

To ensure a smooth St Patrick's Day, it's highly recommended to plan your journey into and out of the city centre in advance. Leave extra time for travel, whether you're driving or using public transport. Translink will be operating a holiday service on Tuesday, March 17th, and bus routes may be subject to diversions during the parade. Always check bus stop display screens or visit www.translink.co.uk for the most up-to-date information before you travel.

With a little planning, you can navigate the city's celebrations with ease and fully enjoy all the St Patrick's Day fun Belfast has to offer. Have a fantastic and safe St. Patrick's Day!