How to get to Coombe during papal visit

Midnight Sundance

Hey all,
I know the chances of baby coming on time are slim but let’s just say it’ll be just my luck that my baby will come bang on time which coincides with the papal visit.
I’m already starting to panic a little because I’m seeing a lot of posts on Facebook about a lot of roads around Phoenix park being closed.
My normal way up to the coombe brings me up the N3 , past Phoenix park and in by stoneybatter and onto cork street.
I was thinking ah it’ll be grand we’ll just go up the N4 instead as it’s not much in the difference for us to go that way but only dawning on me that there’s entrances to Phoenix park off the N4 too so that will probably be heavy with traffic too.
Can anyone recommend what would be the best way to get there from Meath without being stuck in labour in heavy traffic??

I do realise that chances of him coming that day is slim but it could happen.
Any help greatly appreciated from a nearly due pregnant lady ðŸ˜

ManAboutCouch

If you're taking the M50, then use the N7 (Red Cow) exit if you want to avoid the N3 and N4.

From Red Cow to The Coombe is pretty simple, just the one turn onto the Long Mile road and then it's a straight run right to the hospital.

Riskymove

Midnight Sundance wrote: »

but only dawning on me that there’s entrances to Phoenix park off the N4 too so that will probably be heavy with traffic too.

I cant think of any entrance to Phoenix Park on N4

However if you really want to be sure you could go as suggested N4 to M50 and then to N7 and go into city from there

thomasj

Im not sure about exact details but I know that the 39s will be going through phibsboro on the Saturday evening and via the finglas qbc on the Sunday .

Stephen15

Well I suppose if the worst comes to the worst you could always call an ambulance.

appledrop

Just call an ambulance if you do go into labour that day. Not worth the hassle trying to figure out where is + isn't open. That's the only way your going to get priority to get to the hospital.

magicbastarder

sure at least the baby name is picked if you do give birth on that day.

Losty Dublin

Riskymove wrote: »

I cant think of any entrance to Phoenix Park on N4

However if you really want to be sure you could go as suggested N4 to M50 and then to N7 and go into city from there

The Chapelizod and Islandbridge gates are on what once was the N4.

Midnight Sundance

Losty Dublin wrote: »

The Chapelizod and Islandbridge gates are on what once was the N4.

Thanks I couldn’t think of their names.

tabbey

Losty Dublin wrote: »

The Chapelizod and Islandbridge gates are on what once was the N4.

And the Chapelizod/Palmerstown and Islandbridge junctions are on what is now the N4.

TheChrisD

Midnight Sundance wrote: »

I’m seeing a lot of posts on Facebook about a lot of roads around Phoenix park being closed.

Bloody hell, that's an understatement :eek:
https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/news-media/tfi-papal-visit-transport-phoenix-park-maps-final.pdf

I mean, that's a bit bloody much to be shutting down for a day, especially two major trunk routes into town. As someone who would normally be along the N3, I'm not impressed; just as I'm sure those normally along the N4 aren't either.

Losty Dublin

tabbey wrote: »

And the Chapelizod/Palmerstown and Islandbridge junctions are on what is now the N4.

The M50 is the designated starting point for the N4 these days, Lord knows why.

tabbey

Losty Dublin wrote: »

The M50 is the designated starting point for the N4 these days, Lord knows why.

Following in the footsteps of the N7 which only starts at Red Cow M50, and M1 which starts at M50 also.

It boils down to NRA / TFI saying to Dublin citizens - we don't care about main roads in your area.

thebiglad

Red line luas terminates at Blackhorse and they expect people to walk to park from there - so not sure how far into the city you'll be allowed to drive, even from N7 direction.

splinter65

Will you be driving yourself OP? I wouldn’t drive if I were in labour or thought I was in labour.
There used to be a rumour that your insurance didn’t cover you for so many days/weeks around your due date, I don’t know how true that is.
Don’t drive OP. Organise somehow for a driver or ring an ambulance . Take care of yourself.

Wishbone Ash

The Gardai also occasionally provide escorts to hospitals in emergency situations.

veryangryman

tabbey wrote: »

Following in the footsteps of the N7 which only starts at Red Cow M50, and M1 which starts at M50 also.

It boils down to NRA / TFI saying to Dublin citizens - we don't care about main roads in your area.

They say the same to any town or city bypassed. These are national roads. Once they hit the inner of a bypass you are in a local network...i.e you are clearly going somewhere in dublin city if you go inside the M50.

Signposts are there for city centre, various suburbs as you enter the local network.

Personally i think the systen is good. County councils need to get off their holes and invest in the local road network though.

markpb

Losty Dublin wrote: »

The M50 is the designated starting point for the N4 these days, Lord knows why.

National roads are maintained by TII. Local roads are maintained by the local authority. The parts of the national roads inside the M50 are generally much more local than national so it made sense to rename them and let the local councils decide how they are operated.

mirrorwall14

I’d ring ambulance or guards and ask for an escort in tbh

mumo3

I would head to Clondalkin and head down the longmile road into crumlin

Mrs OBumble

Ask the hospital what the plan is for their clients.

They'll have far better advice than randomers on the interwebz.

Midnight Sundance

Thank you for al the replies and advice. I’ll defo not be driving myself up the coombe but the other half isn’t too used to Dublin and I usually direct him the ways I know. Just wanted to have a plan B in my head in case this little man decides to make an appearance that day.
I think I’ll contact the hospital and see what they say. Fingers crossed he is like the majority of babies who don’t come on due date

appledrop

Check in with hospital but if me I'd definitely call an ambulance. I had a very quick labour on 1st baby which I know is unusual but at least if in an ambulance you have the paramedics on hand. It's just not worth the stress in my opinion.