Gardaí plan to avoid ploughing traffic woes

A MAJOR traffic plan has been drawn up for the National Ploughing Championships in Mogeely on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week.

Up to 150,000 people are expected to attend the event - the largest outdoor agricultural event in Europe - on the 400-acre farm of Dick and Maureen Forrest.

President Mary McAleese officially opens the event.

Gardaí have drawn up the plan with Cork County Council and the National Ploughing Association.

Colour-coded traffic routes will correspond with selected parking areas.

Some 200 acres are provided for parking on the approach to the event site.

200 gardaí and 500 stewards will be on duty. Gardaí warned illegally-parked vehicles will be removed.

Dublin-Cork traffic may experience congestion in Rathcormac, Fermoy and Mitchelstown.

Dublin-Killarney traffic is being urged to travel via Limerick on the N23 while Waterford-Limerick traffic should travel via Cahir on the N24.

Traffic from Cork to Rosslare could also face congestion.