Buses to be shipped in from overseas for Ryder Cup 2027 in Limerick

HUNDREDS of buses will need to be shipped into Ireland from overseas to service spectators attending next year's Ryder Cup in Adare Manor.

That's according to Trevor McKechnie, a council engineer involved in transportation for the huge tournament, which will draw 65,000 people to Adare Manor daily next September.

He made the comments as councillors approved plans for park-and-ride facilities around Limerick to serve customers arriving at dawn for the Europe v USA event.

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“The general feeling is there isn’t enough bus stock in the country to service the event. So the National Transport Authority (NTA) will be running a tender for the provision of buses which are likely to come from the UK and abroad,” he said.

Almost 25,000 drivers arriving in Limerick between 3am and 6am are expected to use local park-and-ride facilities.

Four separate facilities will allow drivers to park their cars, before being shuttled by bus to the tournament.

Two of the park-and-rides will be located in Croagh, on the northside and southside of the village’s roundabout on the N21.

These will be able to cater for 11,945 vehicles. In Patrickswell, approval has been given by councillors for a field opposite Limerick Racecourse to be used as parking for 3,980 vehicles.

Separately, Limerick Racecourse’s existing car park is expected to be used as a park-and-ride, with 4,000 spots.

Permission is not needed for this, given it’s already in place.

On the other side of the city, land near the Mackey Roundabout in Annacotty is earmarked for 4,460 cars.

And, councillors were told, additional sites may also be identified ahead of tee-off in September 2027.

Mr McKechnie predicted based on previous Ryder Cup tournaments in Europe, spectators will want to be in Adare Manor by 7am.

This, he said means cars will be arrive between 3am and 6am.