The final preparations for the National Ploughing Championships in Grangeford, Tullow, Co Carlow, have been put in place for the estimated 150,000 people who are expected to attend. The championships start tomorrow and will continue until Thursday.
The scale of the event, which requires 5.5 km of steel trackway to supplement the farm roads already in position on the 500 acre site at Grangeford, is enormous.
Electricians have laid 20 km of electric cable to service 200 power points and wells have been sunk to provide a 75,000 gallon water supply to the 700 trade stands.
To regard the ploughing championships as a totally outdoor occasion is to overlook the rapidly increasing number of indoor trade stands which will be in operation over the coming days.
It is estimated that the huge tented village will cover no less than 200,000 square feet and house over 200 exhibitors.
A major traffic plan has been drawn up by the Garda to facilitate people travelling to the championships site, which is located midway between Tullow and Carlow.
The main points of the plan are as follows:
Route A: from the south and south-east via Kilkenny.
Travel north on the N9 to Milford Cross. At Milford Cross divert right via Hayes Cross and Ballybar Cross towards the N80. Divert left on N80 and travel north towards Carlow town to Walls Forge. Divert right onto R725 to car-parks numbers 3 and 4.
Route B: from the south-east via Wexford, Enniscorthy, Bunclody.
Take the N80 through Ballon village to Kilnock junction (2 miles north of Ballon village).Divert right onto a minor road through Rathoe village to car-parks numbers 5 and 6.
Route C: approaching from the south and mid-west via Abbeyleix.
Approach along the N8 via Abbeyleix - divert right in Abbeyleix to the R430 towards Carlow. In Carlow at Castlecomer roundabout divert left along the Northern Relief Road towards Hacketstown roundabout. Divert left onto R726 for 4 miles to car-parks numbers 1 and 2.
Route D: from the west, north-west, midlands via Portlaoise.
Divert at Portlaoise onto N80 towards Carlow via Stradbally. In Carlow at Portlaoise roundabout divert left onto the Northern Relief Road towards Hacketstown roundabout. Divert left onto R726 for 4 miles to car-parks numbers 1 and 2.
Route E: from the midlands via Edenderry, Monasterevin, Athy.
Divert left in Athy onto the N78 towards Dublin. Divert right onto R418 to Castledermot. At the bottom of Main Street, Castledermot divert left and continue on the R418 to Killerig Cross. Divert right at Killerig Cross onto R726 to car-park number 8.
Route F: from Dublin and the north-east.
Travel along the M7 and divert onto the M9 just after Naas. Travel south towards Castledermot. In Castledermot village divert left onto R418 to Killerig Cross. Divert right at Killerig Cross onto the R726 to car-park number 8.
Route G: from Dublin and north-east via Blessington.
Using the N81 travel through Baltinglass. At Bough Cross continue along R726 to Straboe Cross. From Straboe Cross go along minor road to R418 and follow sign posts to car-park number 9.
Route H: from east Wicklow and north Wexford via Tullow.
Travel through Tullow town along the R725 to car-park number 7.