200,000 to descend on ploughing championship
Monday, September 24, 2012
It will last three days, attract close to 200,000 visitors, and cater for 60,000 vehicles on a 725-acre site at Heathpark, New Ross, Co Wexford — welcome to the National Ploughing Championships.
A huge Garda operation will be put in place across the South-east of Ireland from dawn tomorrow as part of a detailed traffic management plan for the 81st championships. About 200 gardaí, including members of the aerial and mounted units, and about 500 voluntary stewards will be deployed, with visitors urged to follow the sign-posted routes.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny will visit the event on Thursday, while the North’s deputy first minister Martin McGuinness will also attend. Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney and his counterpart in the North Michelle O’Neill will also pay a visit.
The championships, organised by the National Ploughing Association, are expected to be worth €36m to the economy.
More than 340 competitors will vie for honours at the event, the biggest outdoor rural showcase in Europe, and 1,300 trade stands have been erected on the site, which will be serviced by 20km of steel track made up of 8,000 panels.
One-way systems approaching parking areas will operate daily from 6am. At about 3pm, the system will alternate to facilitate egress.
Bus Éireann is running a shuttle service from Wexford and Waterford train stations.
* For Garda traffic plan details see garda.ie