The crowds in excess of 130,000 who are expected to attend the National Ploughing Championships near Kinnegad from tomorrow could be forgiven for thinking election fever is in the air.
All the political parties, including Sinn Féin, are hitching their wagons to the ploughing because this will be the last opportunity to meet rural people en masse before next year's local government and European elections.
The ploughing at Ballinabrackey is expected to signal the beginning of the rundown to the two elections next June, and the parties will be using it to highlight their policies and get in a bit of serious campaigning.
Even the president of the European Parliament, Mr Pat Cox, is getting in on the act, bringing his special bus to the site for the three-day event, which is being held in Co Meath for the first time.
Upwards of 130,000 people are expected at the 600-acre site, which lies on the border of three counties, Meath, Westmeath and Offaly. Some 200 acres has been set aside for the ploughing competitions, which will see 320 competitors seek national and international honours.
There will be a further 300 acres of car-parking, but the centre of the venue will be a 50-acre field, which will house the tented village, 650 trade stands and 11 shopping and business arcades.
The event, which has grown in the past 15 years to be the largest ploughing championship in the world and one of the largest outdoor events in Europe, has not been held so close to the capital in modern times.
"We are expecting a lot of visitors from Dublin along with our traditional core support," said Ms Anna Marie McHugh, the public relations officer of the National Ploughing Association (NPA).
"We are very pleased with how the teams are working so far this year, and it has been very smooth. Everything is now in place for the event," Ms McHugh said yesterday.
"The weather forecast is pretty good for the week but, even if there is rain, the site is a dry one so there should be no major problems.
"We also think the traffic will flow properly because there is a maze of small roads, and we have the benefit that Insp John Moloney, who was in charge of the traffic arrangements at Birr, is also in charge of traffic this year," she said.
With visitors expected from all over Ireland, the UK and continental Europe, accommodation in the area is being stretched to the limit, with most hotels and guesthouses within 30 miles booked out. However, the NPA has confirmed that members of the public are coming forward with additional bed spaces in their homes.
The event will be formally opened by the President, Mrs McAleese, at noon tomorrow.