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.