Sun to shine on 200,000 at ploughing in Laois

Flip flops rather than wellingtons could be in order at the National Ploughing Championships in Laois this week with warm sunshine promised for the opening day tomorrow.

"It's going to be warm, sunny and dry," said Met Éireann's John Eagleton. "The ground is very good so underfoot will be excellent. There's a chance of a few showers breaking out later on Tuesday but it's a small risk."

He said there was also a chance of scattered showers on Wednesday and Thursday.

Last-minute preparations were under way at the 700-acre site at Ratheniska, Stradbally, yesterday before the 82nd National Ploughing Championships open their gates to the public at 9am tomorrow. President Michael D Higgins will formally declare the event open at noon. Up to 200,000 people are expected to attend the three-day event.

The championships are being held close to the site of Electric Picnic and organisers hope the experience gained by gardaí in traffic planning over the past 10 years of the music festival will help avoid traffic logjams.

Gardaí have also advised motorists to avoid using their sat-navs to access the site as the devices will conflict with recommended traffic routes that should be followed by motorists approaching from various parts of the country.

The traffic-management plan includes six main access routes and all will be clearly signposted. Traffic from Cork should exit at Junction 4 (Urlingford/Johnstown) on the M8. Traffic from Dublin, Leinster and the North should exit at Junction 15 (Cappakeel) on the M7. Traffic from Limerick, Kerry and the south west should exit at Junction 17 (Togher) on the M7 while traffic from other areas should follow the "ploughing" signs.

Exhibitors

While ploughing competitions are central to the event, more than 1,300 exhibitors will showcase their wares. There will be displays of cattle, sheep, tractors and agricultural machinery as well as fashion and lifestyle shops and food stalls.

There will also be daily cookery demonstrations, welly throwing, tractor building, fashion shows and music from the bandstand. The event always includes a funfair for younger visitors but for the first time this year there will be a specially-built children’s playground.

There will be a strong media presence at the event which will include radio rivals Pat Kenny of Newstalk and RTÉ's Seán O'Rourke both broadcasting from the site. TG4 is involved in another first for the championships – the Irish language quarter "Pobal Na Gaeilge". The Irish language zone will have music sessions, dance, competitions, CD launches and the introduction of a new online bilingual digital news service.