Change to route of hugely popular festival parade in Offaly town confirmed

BIRR Vintage Week & Arts Festival has confirmed the route for this year’s Vintage Sunday Parade on Sunday August 4th will be changing.

The new route will now turn left at Emmet Square and proceed across Green Street and finish as normal at the Marian Hall. This means the parade will no longer include Emmet Street.

The change to the route is due to a large increase in costs for the compulsory professionally-delivered traffic management system required for the running of the Parade.

Chair of Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival is Caroline Conway said: “We understand this will be disappointing news, especially for residents of Emmet Street. In recent years, we have been legally required to have a professional traffic management system in place for the Parade. In the past, it was possible to man the diversions needed thanks to our wonderful team of volunteers, but this is no longer possible.

“Due to the huge costs associated with a professional traffic management system, we need to make this change to the route to ensure we can continue to deliver one of the festival highlights every year moving forward. We kindly ask members of the public to line the new route from the Bank of Ireland in Emmet Square, right around onto Green Street and finishing at Memory Lane Antiques.”

The Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival Committee is currently planning the parade which will include favourites like the steam engine, vintage cars, community floats, music, entertainment and lots more. A designated accessible area and accessible parking will also be returning this year. The 56th Annual Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival is taking place from August 2nd-10th. Updated information can be found on the festival social platforms and www.birrvintageweek.com .