A huge logistical operation has swung into place to manage the peak crowds of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
A memorable weekend is in store in Ennis, which is set to welcome tens of thousands of visitors over each of the coming days.
Traffic is already heavy in parts of the town, with Gardaí out in force to manage the situation.
Clare FM’s Gavin Grace reports:
Attendances are up, and the craic is mighty in Ennis as the Fleadh continues.
And while crowds converge for the event of the year, frontline agencies, organisers and hundreds of volunteers will be working away to ensure it runs as smoothly as is possible.
Crowds have been up this year, perhaps by as much as 50%, and today the Garda Traffic management plan has been ramped up to deal with the influx.
Signage is in place to direct motorists, and Sergeant John Staunton of the Clare Garda Traffic Corp is urging them to park in designated car parks and then walk into the town centre.
Proceedings are being monitored on a 24/7 basis from a control room that has been erected at Áras Chontae an Chláir.
There, agencies including the Council, the Gardaí and also the Fire Service, security and civil defence teams are watching CCTV feeds and liaising with their team members on the ground.
Noel Carmody of the civil defence in Clare has outlined the scale of their involvement.
Pedestrian access will be curtailed in certain areas if and when this is required, due to the volume of people.
Meetings for the 2017 Fleadh began just four days after last year’s event concluded, and Event Controllor Adrian Jackson is optimistic that they are ready to handle whatever the weekend might throw at them.
