People travelling to Knock advised to arrive early

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM The Basilica at Knock Shrine pictured before the Knock Novena last week. Pic: Michael McLaughlin

Crowds will have to be patient ahead of Pontiff’s flying visit

Anton McNulty

AN Garda SíochΡna are encouraging people travelling to Knock Shrine to see Pope Francis to be at the Shrine at 7.30am at the latest to avoid delays and disappointment.
Pope Francis will be in Ireland for the World Meeting of Families 2018 and will visit the Apparition Chapel at the Knock Shrine on the morning of Sunday, August 26, before leaving for Dublin where he will say Mass in The Phoenix Park.
Gardaí and organisers of the Papal visit to Knock have put in place a traffic management plan for the area with an expected 45,000 pilgrims to descend on the east Mayo village.
With Pope Francis due to arrive at Knock Shrine at 9.45am, Supt Tom Calvey of Claremorris Garda Station has advised pilgrims to arrive early.

Shrine open at 5am
“The designated car parks will open at 3am and the Shrine will open at 5am, and we will be encouraging people to arrive early,” Supt Calvey told The Mayo News.
“The Pope is due to arrive at the Shrine at 9.45am and he is due to depart again at 10.45am so there will be no delays. Religious events at the Shrine will commence at 8.30am and my advice would be to be at Knock Shrine for 7.30am at the latest. If people leave it any later they should expect delays. They should give themselves plenty of time to get there to ensure they have an enjoyable experience.”
Unlike the visit of Pope John Paul II to Knock in 1979, when close to 500,000 people came to see the Pontiff, next Sunday’s visit will be an all-ticket event limited to 45,000. All the tickets were snapped up within four hours of becoming available in June with the vast majority of pilgrims indicating they were likely to drive to the event.

4km walk
Supt Calvey said public transport should be used where possible but added he was confident and the traffic management plan in place will ensure that people will walk no more than 4km to the Shrine.
“It was reported in some publications that elderly people will be expected to walk up to 12km but I only see people having to walk a maximum of 4km. The message to the public would be to utilise public transport where possible, but the reality is it is not always available in rural areas. The traffic management plan in place is such that parking will be available to ensure that people will have to walk a maximum of 3km to 4km.
“However that is all weather dependent. If we have torrential rain then obviously some of the fields designated for parking will not be suitable and we won’t be able to get as many cars in them. If that happens people will have to park along the N17, which we don’t want to do. If the weather is in our favour I am confident the traffic management plan will cater for the crowds,” he explained.

Towing
Bus Éireann is operating a free shuttle service from Claremorris Train Station for anyone with a ticket for the event. Supt Calvey said this bus will bring people within 1km of the Shrine, but he warned that any cars parked illegally in Claremorris will be towed away.
Up to 10,000 people are expected to travel on private buses to Knock and diversions will be  in place for traffic coming from the north and south of Knock village. Supt Calvey advised people not to follow their SatNav and instead follow the signs to Knock.
More information on traffic management for pilgrims is available on www.knockshrine.ie and information on public transport is available on www.irishrail.ie and www.buseireann.ie.

Cars
Traffic coming from Sligo and northern counties should be advised that they will be diverted at Charlestown onto the old N5 and back onto the new N5 and travel towards Bohola.
Turn off for the R321 to Kiltimagh and then proceed onto the R323 towards Knock. Turn right at Carrowmore Meadows and follow the signs to the Car Park A.
Traffic from Galway, Limerick and the south will proceed through Claremorris and travel north along the N17 to Knock. Turn right off the N17 onto the R329 at Ballyhowley.
Proceed onto the R329 towards Knock. When approaching Knock follow the signs to Car Park B.
Traffic from Roscommon, East Galway and Leinster will proceed through Ballyhaunis onto Claremorris where they will be travel north along the N17 and follow signs to Car Park B.

Buses
Buses from Sligo, North Mayo, Donegal and Northern Ireland will be diverted at Charlestown onto the N5 and travel to Castlebar before taking the N60 to Claremorris. They will join the N17 and proceed north towards Knock. Parking for buses will be on the hard shoulder on the west side of the N17 facing north.
Buses from Galway and Munster will proceed from Claremorris and travel north along the N17 to Knock. There will be a designated turning point for these buses on the N17 at the  Cloondace junction. Buses will turn and parking will be on the hard shoulder on the east side of the N17 facing south.
Buses traveling from east Galway, Roscommon and Leinster will proceed through Ballyhaunis along the N60 to Claremorris. They will proceed onto the N17 towards Knock. Parking for buses will be on the hard shoulder on the east side of the N17 facing south.