City-centre traffic to make way for 1,000 Yulefest Medieval Mile runners
TRAFFIC will be temporarily banned from the city-centre this evening to make way for 1,000 hardy runners of all ages and sizes as they pound the pavements during the Yulefest Medieval Mile Run.
Kilkenny County Council has confirmed the following roads will be closed to traffic between 7pm and 8pm: Central Access Scheme, St. Canice’s Place, Dean Street, Vicar Street, Irishtown, Parliament Street, High Street, The Parade, Castle Road and Patrick Street (from The Parade to Ormonde Road). Local access will be facilitated, but only when the race is not passing by.
The council and Yulefest Kilkenny organisers are urging people to come out and support the spectacle tonight, which will be followed by entertainment and a Christmas party atmosphere on the Parade.
Met Éireann has forecast a windy evening ahead, but hopefully the blustery showers will keep at bay as the event gets underway.
At 7.30pm, the streets around the city-centre will be thronged with runners, walkers and hand cyclists as they prepare for the starting gun to fire under the glare of Kilkenny’s magical Christmas lights
Nicola Keeshan, of Kilkenny Recreation & Sports Partnership, said: “This is the perfect active start to Yulefest Kilkenny. People of every level of fitness are capable of finishing a mile run or walk. We are keen for families to come along and take part.”
The run will start at St Francis Bridge and move into Dean Street with a sharp turn at St Canice’s Church to turn back down Dean Street, into Irishtown, Parliament Street, High Street before a big finish on Kilkenny’s Parade Plaza. The Parade will have music, lights and big, big atmosphere.
The cost is €10 for the timed event, which includes a specially designed t-shirt. Children can run for free, but organisers stress all participants must be registered beforehand.
