The National Ploughing Championships begin today at Fivealley, near Birr, Co Offaly, and will continue for three days. The largest agricultural event in Europe - and the State's largest outdoor event - features 50 acres of trade stands on which 800 exhibitors will display their wares, 170 acres of competition ploughing plots and 155 acres of free car parking.
The event will cost the national ploughing association more than £1 million to stage and could generate up to £6 million for the local economy.
Accommodation has been booked out in a 30-mile radius of the site where ploughmen from six nations will compete for the various competitions to be held during the championships.
Millions of pounds worth of agricultural machinery will be on display at the site which is now the main venue for demonstrating farm machinery.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, and the Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, will pay visits during the week.
All presidential candidates are due and the men contesting the IFA leadership, Mr Tom Parlon and Mr Michael Slattery, are to begin their campaigns there.
The Garda will employ special traffic arrangements for the event
???iochana with one-way systems from Kinnity village to Rath Cross, from Derrinlough to Fivealley.
These will operate from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will then be reversed from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Munster traffic will be diverted to Thurles, Templemore, Roscrea, to Birr; south Leinster traffic via Portlaoise to the N80, diverting in Mountmellick to the R421 to Rosenallis, Clonaslee, Kinnitty, and to carparks at Rath.
Dublin and north Leinster traffic will take the N6 to Kilbeggan, diverting to the N52 to Tullamore and Kilcormack to car parks at Fivealley.
Connacht and north-west traffic on the N6 will be diverted in Ballinasloe to Shannonbridge and Athlone traffic diverts to the N62, north to Ferbane and Cloghan.
Gardai have warned that there are no alternative detours for motorists not attending the event and they are advised to avoid the N52 between Tullamore and Birr.