Ploughing championships expected to draw 150,000

GARDAÍ have advised motorists heading to the three-day national ploughing championships, which begins in Tullamore, Co Offaly, tomorrow, todecide on their route beforehand and begin their journey early.

A huge traffic management plan affecting roads in eight counties, coordinated by gardaí headed by Supt Denis Bowe and Inspector Joe Prendergast of Tullamore, will become operational shortly after dawn.

Gardaí from variousdivisions in Offaly, Laois, Tipperary, Westmeath, Kildare, Meath, Longford and Galway will bedeployed to implement the plan, aimed at getting an anticipated 150,000 people to and from the event with minimum delay.

Supt Bowe said theadvice to motorists going to the championships is to plan their route clearly in advance, and to travel as early as possible.

He also urged drivers to observe the instructions of the gardaí and the directions signs which have been be put in place by the Automobile Association.

Patrons will be directed to appropriate car parks by local signage and gardaí. Car parks will be denoted by individual colours. The National Ploughing Association will also have 200 stewards on duty.

The parking of vehicles on all roads adjacent to the site and areas within the site will be prohibited from 6am to 9pm daily. Where parking is allowed, it will be in a manner which will not obstruct traffic.

Parking restrictions will apply in Tullamore, Mountmellick and Portarlington, and tow-away vehicles will be in operation.

President Mary McAleese will officially open the championships at noon tomorrow, and the site will be blessed by Catholic Bishop Jim Moriarty, Kildare and Leighlin, and retired Church of Ireland Bishop Roy Warke.

It is estimated that the rural showpiece, the biggest outdoor agricultural event in Europe with 850 trade stands, will be worth €20 million to the region’s economy. It will cost €3m to stage.

Some 300 competitors will chase 19 national ploughing titles at the event.

Met Éireann is predicting a mixture of sunny spells and scattered showers for the three days of the event. However, it will feel rather cool as a northerly wind persists, with temperatures reaching the mid-teens at best.