Thousands of people arrived in Co Carlow last night to attend what is expected to be the largest national and world ploughing championship to be held so far, in Tullow.
According to the National Ploughing Association, all registered accommodation has already been booked out and few unregistered beds are available.
"There are people who are staying as far away as Portlaoise and in mid-Kilkenny," a spokesperson last night. "There is very little accommodation left."
This is the week when farming Ireland takes a few days off to play before the winter sets in and is the major social event of the farming calendar.
Local business people estimate that the event, which costs almost €2 million to stage, will inject more than €30 million into the local economy.
There has been in recent years a major influx of farming people from Britain, the Continent and from farther afield attracted to what is now the largest agricultural event of its kind in Europe.
Hundreds of visitors from abroad will be there to support the 28 international teams taking part in the world championships which finish on Saturday, making this a four-day event for the first time in 10 years.
The event has also become a major hustings for the political parties in recent years and there is a greater intensity this year because this is the last large gathering of farm folk before the next general election.
All the political parties have taken stands at the championships and all of the party leaders will be on the grounds over the next four days.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is expected on the site at 11am on Friday, an hour after the expected arrival of the Tánaiste, Michael McDowell.
Minister for Agriculture and Food Mary Coughlan will use the occasion to announce a new policy on milk quotas early today before she officially opens the national ploughing event at noon.
President Mary McAleese will officially open the World Ploughing Championships tomorrow afternoon.
More patrons are expected on the site today than attended the entire Ryder Cup golf event in Straffan, Co Kildare, last week.
Because of the proximity to Dublin and ease of access from the midlands, there is a belief that this could be the largest championships ever held.
However, poor weather is forecast for today and this may deter urban folk from attending. However, because farming is closely linked to weather conditions, it may mean that more farming people will turn out today because if the weather is good, many stay at home to work.
There is an expectation too that Saturday may be see a large turnout of part-time farmers who could not make the event during the working week.
Gardaí say that they are confident that the traffic plan which was put in place for the event which was held in the same venue two years ago, should work smoothly and there should be minimum delays in getting to the site.