People asked for their views on closing city centre roads for fleadh

People in Belfast have three weeks to have their say on plans to close city centre roads for a week to accommodate the All-Ireland Fleadh.

A wide area from the front of City Hall, past Castlecourt Shopping Centre to the Ulster University campus on York Street is set to become a car-free zone from 2-9 August.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is the world's largest festival of Irish music and dance and has been hailed as the "biggest event ever planned in Belfast".

The road closures are said to be for safety reasons, with Belfast City Council saying it expects about 800,000 visitors to the city during the first week in August.

The fleadh will be held in Belfast for the first time in the summer.

It will also be held in the city in 2027.

A smaller area beside City Hall, including the busy Wellington Place thoroughfare, is facing a shorter period of closure.

There may also be limited closures in the days before and after the fleadh, as heavy equipment is moved.

Councillor Natasha Brennan, who is involved in organising the event, told BBC News NI the closures were about safety, it's about accessibility and organising a great event.

Tattoo artist, James Conway, is based on North Street which is one of the roads due to close for a week.

"I think it's a very good idea because there's expected to be a lot of people, so make some room to let them wander around with less traffic in the way. It's a good idea to try it out," he said.

Some believe there should be more permanent pedestrianisation in Belfast.

Councillor Donal Lyons, from the Social Democratic and Labour Party, said: "If you look at any city on the island of Ireland or across the water, you will see that the busiest streets are usually the ones that are pedestrianised."

The public consultation on road closures for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann began this week and ends on 6 April.

People have been urged to take part by Brennan, who is a Sinn Féin councillor and chair of the strategic policy and resources committee.

"Obviously when you're looking at closing any road, there's an impact for people that use that, depending on where they need to go and why they need to go there," she said.

"But this is the biggest event that our city has ever seen, it's the biggest event that we've ever planned and it's about how we maximise that potential.

"There'll be events from Ulster University to the Waterfront Hall, there'll be food markets throughout the city, loads of things for people to enjoy.

"We want to make sure that it goes out into our local communities right across the city as well."

A number of information events for the retail and hospitality industry have been organised to discuss the fleadh.

The next one is on 23 March at City Hall at 12:00 GMT.

With the proposed road closures not yet confirmed, it is too early to know the impact on bus routes and stops.

Translink said it is are working closely with the council and a final plan will be announced in the coming weeks.

Several temporary campsites are planned including at Ormeau Park and Falls Park.

Motorhomes and caravans are expected to be accommodated at a site in the Titanic Quarter.

The peak period for visitors to the fleadh is expected to be from 6-9 August.

In 2013, Londonderry hosted the event, attracting an estimated 400,000 people and 20,000 performers.