National Ploughing Championships 2026: Routes, parking and getting back to your car

National Ploughing Championships 2026 at Screggan, Co Offaly: Routes, parking and a path back to your car

Extensive advance planning ensures that those attending the National Ploughing Championships get to the event and their parking spaces with great ease. Picture: Dan Linehan

Car-pooling, the practice of two or more people travelling in the same vehicle to destinations, is one of the traffic options being urged by the National Ploughing Association for next week’s championships in Screggan.

The NPA has always highlighted the concept of reducing traffic congestion and delays for motorists heading to the three-day event, which is expected to attract more than 275,000 people.

But this year there is a greater focus on car-pooling to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads, ease stress on drivers and help the environment with lower carbon emissions.

Amid current uncertainty over oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz and high fuel prices, the option will also help people to save money.

Gardai will operate a colour-coded traffic management plan to ensure that motorists can safely arrive and depart the venue with minimal delays.

Each colour will match a specific travel direction and lead directly to a designated parking area of the same colour near the event site.

Visitors are urged to study the traffic and parking plan and select their route before leaving home, allowing at least double the normal travel time.

National Ploughing Championships, road maps.

Motorists are also advised to follow the directions of Gardai and NPA stewards, who will control junctions and entrances, and to observe directional signage on the eight designated traffic routes.

Drivers are specifically asked not to use Satellite Navigational Systems as these may not have up to date details of road closures and alternative routes. Passes should also be clearly visible on vehicle windscreens.

Gardai from the Laois/Offaly and Kildare division, who will operate the traffic plan, will be supported by the Force’s aerial, mounted and other specialist units.

A shuttle Bus Eireann service will run from Tullamore and Portarlington Train Stations at times that will suit train arrivals and departures.

Pick up times from Tullamore will operate from 7.00am until 12.30pm and from Portarlington at 6.30am until 12.15pm.

Return runs from the site to Tullamore Train Station will start at 13:30pm up and continue until 19.00pm, and to Portarlington from 13.30pm up until 19.20pm. The drop off and pick up point will be located near the event.

Visitors are urged to take note of the number, colour, or animal signage as they enter/exit the car parks and to bring along snacks and drinks.

People with smartphones are advised to drop a pin when they park or take a picture of the sign to easily locate their car later.

Traffic management, however, will not be confined to the roads. It will also apply to the air space to ensure public safety.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) regularly establishes a Temporary Restricted Area covering aircraft, rockets, and drones at such events.

Only state, emergency, search and rescue, or specifically authorised aircraft cleared by the NPA and the IAA Flight Operations Department may enter the zone.

Drones spotted in the restricted airspace face immediate detection tracking, potential seizure by An Garda Síochána, and prosecution.

Colour-coded car parks for all access routes to the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Co Offaly.

Blue route - Cork / Munster

Traffic travelling northbound on the M8 will exit at Junction 6 (Horse & Jockey) and proceed towards Thurles where Gardai will divert it along the event route onto Templemore and Roscrea along the N62. Birr traffic will join the N52 travelling northbound via Kilcormac and Blueball.

Grey route -South East (Kilkenny)

Traffic travelling from Kilkenny/South East will travel north along the N77 via Durrow and Abbeyleix before arriving at Portlaoise where it will be directed left at Junction 17 through Clonminham and onwards to Fairgreen, Portlaoise, travelling along the N80 to Mountmellick.

At Derryclooney Bridge, Mountmellick traffic will be directed left onto the R422 through Rosenallis to Coolagh Cross where traffic will be directed right onto the R421 (Killurin Road). At Killurin Cross traffic will be directed left towards the event site at Screggan.

Yellow Route -South East (Carlow)

Traffic travelling from Carlow and the south east will travel on the N80 towards Portlaoise. At Bloomfield Roundabout, Portlaoise traffic will be directed right onto Rathbrennan and unction 16 (M7).

Traffic will then turn left to the Heath, left again at the Wheel Inn pub (sign-posted Portarlington) and proceed to Kennells Cross and be turned left and travel towards Mountmellick where all traffic will be directed through the town and then onto Tullamore via Killeigh.

Brown Route - (Limerick, Kerry and Southwest)

Traffic travelling northbound on the M7 will exit at Junction 26 (Nenagh South) and proceed on the N52 towards Borrisokane where it will take the N62 (Signposted Portumna) and after 5km will turn right onto the R438 to Cloghan where it will turn onto the R357.

Purple Route - Dublin

Traffic from Dublin is to use the M4/M6 westbound to Junction 5 on the M6 (Kilbeggan) and then onto the N52 towards Tullamore for 4km, turn right at Durrow onto L2005 (passing GAA Pitch) and travel for 2km, then turn left onto the R420 and travel for 2km to avail of a shuttle service to the site.

Pink Route - Traffic (North}

Traffic travelling from the north will travel via Mullingar and onto the N52 towards Tyrellspass village where it will be turned right on to Kilbeggan Village via R446 (old N6) where it will turn left for Clara onto the R436.

On the approach to Clara traffic will turn left onto the L2009 before joining the R420 Tullamore to Clara Road. Traffic will then turn right at Coolnahiley. 

National Ploughing Championships 2026, map of exhibitor spaces.

Green Route - (West)

Traffic travelling from the west will exit M6 motorway at Junction 6 (Horseleap, Clara) and will be directed towards Moate town. Traffic will then be directed left onto the Ballycumber Road where it will join the R436 (Ballycumber to Clara Road) before turning right towards Rahan Village where it will be directed onto the L2011.

Orange Route - (North)

Traffic travelling westbound along the M7 Motorway will exit at Junction 15 (Cappakeel), turn right over the motorway and onto the R445 (Old Dublin Road).

At New Inn Roundabout it will proceed through Emo Village and onto Kennells Cross where it will turn right and be directed to Garryhinch Cross and onto Cloneygowan Village and follow the R420.