HUNDREDS OF extra gardaí are to be drafted into Waterford at the end of June to help police the Tall Ships festival, when up to 500,000 visitors are expected to descend on the city.
One of the biggest public events to be held in the country this year will see a key access point into Waterford city – Rice Bridge – closed to general traffic for the four days of the festival in a bid to ensure pedestrian safety.
Gardaí confirmed yesterday “very considerable resources” will be deployed to ensure the event – which was last held in Waterford in 2005 – runs safely and is attractive to families.
Parts of the city centre will be cordoned off to traffic during daytime for the festival’s duration, while a number of other roads will be closed, such as the south quays and Rice Bridge over the river Suir.
The latter closure is being made following a review of overhead footage from the 2005 festival.
“There were significant numbers of pedestrians on the bridge at peak times and, based on that, there was a decision made that it would be an area where we had to reduce the risk,” Supt Delaney said.