World Ploughing Championships: Up to 200,000 people are expected to attend the 75th National and 2006 World Ploughing Championships at Grangeford, Tullow, Co Carlow, from tomorrow to Saturday.
More than 700 acres have been set aside for the massive gathering of farming folk, retailers, ploughing contestants and supporters of the largest ploughing championships in the world, and one of the largest gatherings of its kind in Europe.
Several miles of steel trackway have been laid down on the site to accommodate pedestrian traffic through the 800 exhibition stands. They range from machinery, livestock and food to health, finance, property, tourism, education and forestry.
All the political parties will have stands at the event mindful that this will be the last opportunity to meet farming people en masse before the next general election.
Minister for Agriculture and Food Mary Coughlan will officially open the national ploughing event tomorrow and President Mary McAleese will formally open the world event on Thursday.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will be on site on Friday and the leader of the Progressive Democrats, Michael McDowell, plans to visit on the same day.
Éamon Ó Cuív, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, will use the occasion to launch a package on rural recreation at the event on Thursday.
The farm organisations have been gearing up for the event and will hold a series of seminars and debates over the four days. They will also indulge in intense lobbying.
Most Government departments will have stands on site as will the European Commission.
Along with the Government departments, semi-State bodies, sporting organisations, hotels and educational institutions will also be represented. The major finance houses will also be there and this year, with stockbroking houses and other financial institutions. The Financial Regulator will have an official stand.
For the first time, visitors to the event will be able to view the JCB Dancing Diggers, a unique show performed only three or four times a year, when a group of the 10-tonne machines dance to classical music, a spectacle not seen here in nearly 30 years.
According to Anna Marie McHugh of the National Ploughing Association, there is a major emphasis this year on alternative energy crops and these and forestry exhibitions feature large at the championships.
Four hundred acres have been set aside for the 327 competitors, some of whom will plough an acre each day in the events.
Traffic plan
The elaborate traffic plan worked out by gardaí for the championships will be signposted by the AA in a radius of 20 miles from the site.
Traffic approaching from Kilkenny will travel north on the N9 to Milford Cross toward the N80 which it will cross and travel via Rathoe to the yellow car park.
Traffic from Bunclody will travel along the N80 diverting right on to the N81 towards Tullow and follow diversions to the brown car park.
Traffic via Abbeyleix will divert right there on to the R430 towards Carlow. There at the Castlecomer Road roundabout it will divert left along the Northern Relief Road towards the green and red car parks.
Traffic from Portlaoise will divert there on to N80 towards Carlow via Stradbally. In Carlow, traffic turns left at Portlaoise Road roundabout on to Northern Relief Road towards Hacketstown Road roundabout. Divert left on to R726 to green car park.
Traffic from Midlands will divert left in Athy on the N78 towards Dublin. Divert right on to R418 to Castledermot and travel as directed to purple car park.
Traffic from Dublin and the northeast will travel along M7 on to N9 and south to Castledermot and be directed to purple car park.
Traffic from Dublin and the North travelling via Blessington will continue on the Blessington N81 through Baltinglass, Rathvilly and Tullow and continue as directed toward blue car park.
Traffic approaching from Wexford via Tullow will travel to the blue car park.
A number of one-way systems will be in operation on minor roads, but these will be clearly signposted with gardaí on duty at all times.
Parking restrictions will be in place in Carlow and Tullow .