CORK Airport’s five flights to Cardiff and Bristol are completely booked out this weekend as hundreds of fans flock to the Welsh capitol once again to cheer on Joe Schmidt’s battered but unbowed warriors in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash with Argentina.
Aer Lingus upgraded to a 174-seat aircraft for its Bristol flight this morning to deal with demand as train companies warn supporters that queuing could take up to two hours in Cardiff Central Station.
Ireland squad members Simon Zebo and Conor Murray take a stroll on Cardiff Bay ahead of their weekend game.
©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Arriva Trains Wales, Great Western Railway and CrossCountry have all urged patience from supporters. There will be extra services added to the usual Sunday timetable but queuing cannot be avoided, the rail companies said.
“Use the earliest available train and allow plenty of extra time for journeys. Many trains will be full and all standing room will be used.
Car parks at Cardiff Central Station will be closed or have limited capacity.“After the matches, for customer safety, a queuing system will operate for entry into Cardiff Central Rail Station. Please be aware that waiting times may be up to two hours. This is the safest and most effective way to enable everyone to board the right train in the shortest possible time.”
Paul Dawson of Dawson Travel said the demand was phenomenal.
“People are trying to get over in droves. It was an expensive weekend for the French game but people are determined to follow the Irish team to the very end. Flights were booked in an instant as soon as the final whistle went. It is mayhem but of the good kind.”
Mr Dawson said that he estimated that the Irish crowd would match that of last weekend’s game — but that a semi-final clash in London against Australia or Scotland would be even bigger.
Hotels in Cardiff are at a premium for the weekend. Prices have soared by up to 960% in Cardiff for this weekend’s Rugby World Cup quarter-finals, according to the trivago Hotel Price Index (tHPI) prepared each month by hotel search site trivago.ie. A hotel stay on Saturday, the night before Ireland’s clash with Argentina, will cost an average of €1,664. The average price of a hotel room in the Welsh capital on Sunday is €702, which is 347% higher than the monthly average.
Paul said that fans should look to Bristol and Swansea for alternatives.“Shop around – there are bed and breakfasts there to be found without paying such ridiculous prices for a hotel room. It will mean a train or cab fare on the day of the match but it will be small change compared to the price of a room in Cardiff, which is totally unreasonable.”