Traffic building up at Ireland’s airports ahead of St Patrick’s Day

Ireland’s airports are expecting a busy St Patrick’s Day, with over 50,000 passengers expected at Cork Airport over the Bank Holiday weekend and more than 33,400 anticipated at Shannon Airport, while some 650,000 are scheduled to pass through Dublin Airport over the next eight days.

Horse racing fans attending the Cheltenham Festival and rugby supporters will also swell passenger numbers at the airports before the arrival of hundreds of thousands of St Patrick’s Day revellers from all over the world.

The busiest day at both Cork and Dublin airports will be Friday, with Dublin Airport anticipating welcoming around 105,000 passengers.

Over the coming days, Cork Airport will play host to a feast of traditional Irish music and dance as local and regional music groups take to the specially decorated St Patrick’s Weekend stage to entertain  departing and arriving passengers.

To cater for the increased demand to and from Cork, both Ryanair and Aer Lingus Regional will operate additional services to Birmingham and Bristol respectively.

Cork Airport’s managing director, Niall MacCarthy, said: “Our passenger numbers have grown 20% in the year-to-date, versus the same period last year. The message about the friendliness and ease of Cork Airport is spreading further afield and we are working to make this weekend a friendly, safe, smooth, and welcoming one.

“We have a great asset in our traditional music and dance, which is a unique part of our culture and sometimes can we take that for granted.

“This St Patrick’s weekend, we will be teaming up with our friends in Comhaltas, the John Lonergan Academy of Irish Dancing, soloist Pat Kelleher, Music Generation Laois Harp Ensemble to ensure that our national music and dance are on show to welcome visitors and locals alike home to Ireland.”

While talking about the week ahead at Dublin Airport, daa media relations manager, Graeme McQueen, enthused: “The team at Dublin Airport is ready to facilitate it all over the coming days, from the arrival home of Oscar winner Cillian Murphy, to the arrival of hundreds of thousands of tourists for St Patrick’s Day.

“Cheltenham is always a popular destination for Irish racing fans at this time of year and this year is no different, with flights to airports in southern England set to be very busy over the coming days.”

“The influx of tourists ahead of St Patrick’s Day will pick up pace from Thursday onwards, with around 183,000 people set to fly into Dublin Airport between Thursday and Sunday ahead of St Patrick’s Day itself. Joining them will be around 5,000 Scottish rugby fans coming to Dublin for the final Six Nations rugby match at the Aviva, as well as the many thousands who will avail of the long bank holiday weekend to go on a city break or spring holiday.”

The traffic at Shannon Airport during the St Patrick’s Day period is expected to be 14% higher than the same time a year ago, underscoring the airport’s growing popularity with holiday travellers.

Mary Considine, CEO of The Shannon Airport Group, said: “We are delighted with the expected increase in passenger traffic at our airport over the St Patrick’s Day holiday period.

“Our diverse range of air services at Shannon serve as a vital gateway, connecting tourists to the stunning beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way. This not only supports our region’s tourism industry but also boosts the regional and national economy.”

In the lead up to the national holiday, the airport has been festooned with special St Patrick’s Day themed decorations to get arriving and departing passengers and visitors collecting loved ones into a celebratory mood.

Considine adds: “Our dedicated team stand ready to extend a warm Shannon welcome to all our passengers, ensuring an easy, seamless and comfortable journey through the airport. We would like to extend a Céad Míle Fáilte to everyone this St Patrick’s Day.”