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WELLIES AT THE ready – the National Ploughing Championships are back.
From today, Screggan in Co Offaly will be transformed into a sprawling celebration of all things rural, from tractor demos and livestock shows to food stalls, fashion, and political tents.
Billed as Europe’s largest outdoor agricultural event, the Ploughing draws crowds of more than 90,000 people each day.
It’s part farming competition, part giant trade fair, and part social gathering, with the added certainty that the weather will keep everyone on their toes.
Áras candidates are also expected to press the flesh at the Ploughing, so there will be plenty of high-profile politicians to keep an eye out for.
Here’s what you need to know if you’re heading along.
Planning on using sat nav to get to the site? Gardaí are saying not to bother.
Instead, they’re urging drivers to stick to the official, colour-coded routes, which have been carefully mapped to reduce congestion and get visitors into the correct car parks.
“With an anticipated in excess of 80,000 persons attending this event each day a Traffic Management and Parking Plan has been put in place,” a garda spokesperson said.
“It is essential that drivers don’t use Sat-Nav and map-typing applications close to the event site as they may not have the up-to-date information on the specific traffic diversions.”
Car parks are open from 7am to 7pm on all three days, with stewards directing cars to the right zones.
Dublin-based visitors should note that the purple route is the only one without an on-site car park. Instead, it offers a park-and-ride shuttle service running throughout the day.
Those not travelling to the Ploughing are being asked to steer clear of the N52 between Tullamore and Birr, and to avoid approach roads to Mucklagh village and Screggan for the duration of the event.
Full details for drivers can be found here.
For rail users, Bus Éireann will operate shuttle services from Tullamore and Portarlington train stations to the event site.
Services will run in the mornings to align with train arrivals and return journeys will begin in the afternoon.
From Tullamore, buses will start at 7am and continue until 12.30pm, with return trips from 2.40pm until 7pm.
From Portarlington, shuttles begin at 6.30am and run until 12.15pm, with return services between 1.30pm and 7.20pm.
Drop-off and pick-up points are located near the main entrance along the N52.
Tickets can be booked online as a combined rail and shuttle package via the Irish Rail website.
The other major factor for anyone heading to Offaly this week is, of course, the weather.
Met Éireann’s forecast suggests you can forget the brown boots this year, as wellies will be a necessity.
Generally mixed & unsettled this week.
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) September 15, 2025
Tomorrow starts off mostly dry & bright, but widespread rain develops later. Becoming drier mid-week but a chance of rain, mostly in the S later this week.
Temps near average at first but trending above average in parts later this week. pic.twitter.com/RGnWyNF6Hn
Today is expected to begin dry and bright but rain will move in from the southwest by afternoon, turning heavy at times.
Conditions are expected to worsen overnight before clearing somewhat tomorrow, when blustery spells and showers are likely.
Thursday is forecast to be wetter overall, though parts of the north may escape with drier, brighter weather.
The unsettled conditions follow a weekend of yellow weather warnings, with Met Éireann cautioning of poor visibility, difficult driving conditions, and possible flooding on roads.
As is tradition at the Ploughing, politicians will be out in force shaking hands, holding babies and dispensing an inordinate amount of flyers and stickers.
All three confirmed presidential candidates – Catherine Connolly, Heather Humphreys and Jim Gavin – are expected to be in attendance in Screggan.
As well as this, An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ireland’s electoral commission, will be on site to help people register to vote and get information on voting ahead of the presidential election.
President Michael D Higgins will formally opening the Ploughing later this morning. He has attended the Ploughing since his inauguration in 2011, and has described the festival as “an outstanding example of the Irish genius” and “the most beloved rendez-vous in Ireland’s rural calendar.”
Beyond the ploughing itself, which will see more than 350 competitors take to the fields, this year’s championships are packed with attractions for farming enthusiasts and casual visitors alike.
The machinery displays are always a major draw, with millions of euros worth of cutting-edge agricultural technology on show, all building towards the hotly contested Machine of the Year award.
Livestock lovers can head to the cattle rings, where more than 100 entries will compete in the Irish Aberdeen Angus Association All-Ireland Finals, alongside a host of other breeds and sheep classes.
Elsewhere, the National Brown Bread Baking Competition will crown Ireland’s best baker, while foodies can graze through the Dome and Hub marquees, the largest retail pop-up in the country. It’s set to be packed with artisan producers, celebrity chef demos and regional specialities.
Across the three days, there will also be fashion shows, sheep shearing, a welly throwing contest, live music and more.
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