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everlong tailbacks
How to get to Slane (and back again) without tearing your hair out
Expect tailbacks if you’re heading to the Foo Fighters gig tonight. Or as the promoters put it “TRAFFIC DELAYS ARE INEVITABLE”.
DAVE GROHL AND his Foo Fighters headline Slane tonight – in what’s traditionally the biggest night in the Irish rock (and/or roll) calendar.
Inevitably, there will be tailbacks – as tens of thousands of fans attempt to cram their way through a road network that, well, just wasn’t built with this sort of thing in mind.
In fact, who-ever wrote the website copy for the gigs thought that fact important enough to deserve capital letters, telling us
“TRAFFIC DELAYS ARE INEVITABLE”
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
What time to gates open?
Gates don’t open until 2pm – and organisers say queueing won’t be allowed before then.
Can I park?
Yes, there are various designated car parks on the day – and they’ll be signposted.
There’s no pre-booked parking though. Local land-owners operate the parking sites – and when they’re full, they’re full.
You’ll have to pay for parking, it should be noted.
Again with the caps, the Slane website advises: ‘PROMOTER STRONGLY ADVISES USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT’.
Fine, how do I get there anyway?
- From Dublin and the South take M50 to the M1 and exit at Slane exit. Follow signs for concert.
- From Drogheda take N51 to Slane & follow signs for concert.
- From Northern Ireland and Ulster Counties take M1 and exit at Dunleer / Collon exit. Follow signs for concert.
- From Navan & the West take N51 to Slane. Follow signs for concert.
What about public transport?
As the venue is 40 minutes from Dublin (on a good day, mind) the capital will be the main transport hub for the day.
Dublin Bus are running a return bus service for €30 – heading out between midday and 5pm, and returning straight after the concert.
Transport tickets are also available from Ticketmaster. Private buses to and from Dublin can be arranged here, regional ones here – and Belfast public bus services can be accessed here.
Once more (with feeling) from the promoters:
PLEASE NOTE: AS TRAFFIC DELAYS ARE INEVITABLE IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME WHEN TRAVELLING TO AND FROM THE VENUE, PLEASE USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT OR CAR POOL
Whatever about getting there – in our (extensive) experience, if you want to get back from Slane without spending hours standing by roadsides or sitting in traffic, you’ll have to leave before the last song.
But sure the traffic jams are half the fun, aren’t they?
The sing-songs.
The craic.
No?
Nevermind.
Here’s a spine-tingling version of Everlong to keep you entertained. For 6 minutes and 14 seconds anyway…
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