Dublin’s Phoenix Park will be completely closed for three days to facilitate the visit of U.S. President Joe Biden, causing havoc for commuters. The Ukraine war situation is the reason for the unprecedented closure. Biden will use a helicopter to visit Carlingford, Co Louth, rather than taking a motorcade through south Armagh. He will visit his Irish counterpart and address both Houses of the Oireachtas at Leinster House. Details on Biden’s schedule of events, overnight arrangements, and transportation are still being restricted for security reasons.

Dublin’s Phoenix Park will close completely from Tuesday evening until Thursday to facilitate the visit of US president Joe Biden. The closure will play havoc with commuter traffic and will affect thousands of vehicles and bikes that use the park every day. Dublin Zoo will also be affected. The reason behind the unprecedented move is believed to be the Ukraine war situation. Biden will visit his Irish counterpart, Michael D Higgins, at Áras an Uachtaráin, before addressing both Houses of the Oireachtas at Leinster House. He will later be hosted by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at a banquet at Farmleigh House. Biden will use a helicopter to visit Carlingford, Co Louth, rather than taking a motorcade from Belfast through south Armagh and what was known as Bandit Country during the Troubles. Security concerns related to his visit are so high that Irish journalists who normally work in Leinster House will have to undergo Covid antigen tests at Dublin Castle before being bussed back into the parliamentary campus.