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'Tricky' weather for landing helicopters in Louth during Biden visit - Met Éireann

Crowds lined the streets of Carlingford during Mr Biden's trip to the town in 2016 as Vice-President
Crowds lined the streets of Carlingford during Mr Biden's trip to the town in 2016 as Vice-President

Landing helicopters during US President Joe Biden's visit to Co Louth tomorrow will be tricky, as Wednesday will be a "dodgy day", according to Met Éireann.

Meteorologist Siobhán Ryan said a Status Yellow wind warning may be upgraded to orange tomorrow.

Speaking on Today with Philip Boucher-Hayes, Ms Ryan said that the weather in the area will be under close watch and that if it needs to be upgraded, it would happen this afternoon or early this evening so Mr Biden would be warned in advance.

Some details about Mr Biden's visit to the area have been confirmed.

Louth County Council said that Mr Biden’s trip will begin in Carlingford, where he is expected to visit Carlingford Castle.

He will then travel to Dundalk, where a "walkabout" of the town centre is planned in the "mid to late afternoon".

People planning to attend have been advised not to carry bags of any sort, as Louth County Council said there will be "high security" in operation.

The council said that residents and visitors are welcome to attend and celebrate the historic occasion of a US President coming back to visit his ancestral county.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Conor Keelan said that he was delighted Joe Biden is visiting Louth.

"I expect that he will receive a very warm welcome once more in Carlingford and then in Dundalk, where I have no doubt that we will see a great crowd in the town centre tomorrow afternoon to mark the historic visit," he said.

Flowers being planted in Dundalk (Pic: Dundalk Tidy Towns)

Martin McElligott, Dundalk Town Centre Manager said people are working night and day over the last week, and that it will be a great opportunity to show Dundalk off.

Speaking on RTÉ's News At One, he said the team have been putting in 14-hour shifts starting at 10 o'clock at night but they have not complained and are very excited.

Works are underway in Dundalk ahead of Mr Biden's visit

He said they are happy to work to make sure everything goes well.

Despite the uncertainty over the finer details of the visit, Mr McElligott said that over the last number of weeks, they have been painting, planting, cleaning, reclaiming, repainting and replanting.

"It's all hands on deck, really. Ultimately, we have our own work programme, but when moments like this happen, which are momentous really for places like Dundalk, I think everybody just puts their shoulders together and works towards what we have to actually do," he said.

Buildings being power-washed ahead of President Biden's arrival in Dundalk (Pic: Dundalk Tidy Towns)

Mr McElligott said that Dundalk has changed dramatically since Bill Clinton visited "in terms of our relationship with everybody".

He said there has been regeneration and the promoting of business in the town centre in the last ten years, and everybody has been working hard.

"We really never get a chance to stand on a world stage and show everybody how Dundalk has changed.. we're very excited about that opportunity," he added.

During his trip to Co Louth in 2016 Mr Biden also visited the grave of his ancestors

Mr Biden's visit will be primarily in Co Louth tomorrow and gardaí have said local road closures, parking restrictions and diversions will be in place where events are taking place.

A number of road closures in Dundalk will kick in at 6pm tonight ahead of the Presidential visit tomorrow.

Church Street, Clanbrassil Street, Market Square, Crowe Street and Roden place in the town will all be closed from 6pm today until 10pm tomorrow.

The scene in Dundalk on Tuesday

The first barriers have been erected along Clanbrassil Street in Dundalk in preparation for Mr Biden's walkabout.

Gardai are continuing to sweep the area as part of their policing operations.

A number of roads around the County Louth town have also been closed off since 6pm and will remain closed until 10pm tomorrow night.

Motorists may also be affected by diversions which will be in place from 6am until 9am tomorrow morning on the R132.

South bound traffic on the R132 will be diverted onto the Old Golf Link Road, Rock Road and Seafield Road before resuming the journey on the Dublin Road.

North bound traffic on the R132 will be unaffected.

Meanwhile, court sittings at Dundalk District Court tomorrow have been cancelled.

A notice from the Courts Service said that District Court hearings at the courthouse in the centre of town are cancelled tomorrow.

Custody cases will be moved to Drogheda District Court on Thursday while all other cases will take place at a special sitting of Dundalk District Court on Wednesday 19 April.