Translink has recorded more than 160,000 additional journeys across its network during the first three days of The Fleadh, prompting extra buses, trains and late-night services ahead of the event’s final days in Belfast.
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins thanked Translink staff during a visit to Laganside bus centre on 5 August 2026. She met bus and train drivers, control-centre staff and others involved in transporting visitors to events across the city.
The Department for Infrastructure said the additional journeys represented an uplift of more than 40% compared with the equivalent period last year. The increase comes as thousands of visitors travel to Belfast for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, with further large crowds expected before the week concludes.
Extra services and Park and Ride options
Translink has deployed additional resources to meet demand, while Department for Infrastructure funding has supported extra late-night bus and train services. Those services are scheduled to operate on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night to help passengers get home safely.
Three dedicated Park and Ride sites are operating on the outskirts of Belfast: the Eikon Exhibition Centre near the M1, Giant’s Park near the M2, and Belfast Harbour near the M3. Frequent shuttle buses are running from those locations directly to the city centre. Other Park and Ride sites remain available for local travel.
Regular bus and train services are operating with increased capacity and frequency. The transport package also includes a city-centre accessible loop bus, additional services and council Park and Ride facilities.
Visitors have also been encouraged to walk, wheel and cycle between venues where possible. The Department said active travel could support healthier, more sustainable and more vibrant communities during the major event.
Travel disruption expected in Belfast
Large crowds and the pedestrianisation of substantial parts of Belfast city centre mean some minor disruption to traffic and travel is inevitable. The Department said traffic-management plans had been developed with the council ahead of The Fleadh.
Ms Kimmins urged visitors to plan ahead and use public transport. Translink staff will continue monitoring demand and using available resources to maintain safe operations during the remaining days of the event.
Translink Group Chief Executive Gerard Carlin described the operation as a major team effort involving employees across the network, partner agencies, volunteers and customers. He said the organisation was anticipating hundreds of thousands of additional passenger journeys across the week.
People travelling into Belfast for the final events have been advised to check the Translink app, website and social-media channels for the latest travel information before setting out.
