National Ploughing Championship: Route, parking and a path back to your car

How to get there safely

A secton of the large on the first day who visited the National Ploughing Championships, Ratheniska, Co Laois in 2022. Picture Dan Linehan

Ensuring that motorists travelling to next week’s national ploughing championship can arrive and depart from the venue in safety and with the minimum delay is a challenging task.

Gardaí, who have prepared a major traffic and parking plan for the event, will deploy members on the ground and on mobile patrols as well as the Force’s aerial, mounted and communication units for the operation.

It will be activated in Laois and on routes across several counties at dawn next Tuesday as thousands of people head for the opening day of the three-day event, regarded as the largest of its kind in Europe.

Ratheniska, which hosted the World Contest as well as the national championships last year, is seen as being an ideal choice of venue because it is centrally located and has a good road network.

Laois/Offaly and Kildare Garda Division is one of the most experienced in the Force for managing traffic flow at large events.

National Ploughing Championships 2023, car parks

It has policed “the ploughing” on five occasions in the past nine years, as well as the Electric Picnic music festival, held in nearby Stradbally since 2004.

As a result, those who intend driving to this year’s championships can be assured that the Garda traffic advice is based on experience and common sense.

All routes leading to the event will be colour coded. Motorists will be directed to corresponding colour-coded car parks.

Drivers are urged to read and study the traffic and parking plan and select their chosen route and car park before leaving home.

They are also advised to follow the directions of gardaí and stewards, who will control junctions and entrances.

National Ploughing Championships 2023, exhibition spaces

On arrival, motorists are urged to follow the directional signage as road closures and alternative routes are often put in place specifically for event purposes at short notice.

Motorists are specifically being asked not to use Satellite Navigational systems as these may not have up to date traffic information and diversions.

Passes should be clearly visible on vehicle windscreens on the approach to traffic points to assist gardaí and stewards in directing them to the proper parks.

A Shuttle Bus Service will also be provided by Bus Eireann from Portlaoise, Portarlington and Athy train stations to Ratheniska village.

This will operate to suit train times. The drop off and pick up point are less than a 10-minute walk from the trade exhibition.

People driving to the event are advised by the National Ploughing Association to factor in at least double the normal journey time due to heavy volumes of traffic expected, or car-pool, where possible.

Those travelling with children should bring drinks and snacks. ‘FBD: Keeping You Safe’ child safety wristbands will be available at every entrance and within the event grounds.

Visitors are also advised to dress for the weather and to wear good footwear suitable for rough terrain.

Attendees should also note on arrival the colour of the over-head flying blimp in their car park and the number/colour/animal sign at the entrance/exit.

If they have a smartphone, they are advised to take a picture of the animal image and the car park number to help them locate their parked vehicles when leaving in the evening.