More than 40,000 people are expected to attend the National Ploughing Championships which open this morning midway between Carlow town and Tullow in the heart of Irish tillage country.
This year's event is expected to be one of the largest, with preparations completed for the largest outdoor farming event in Europe and the largest ploughing championships in the world.
The National Ploughing Association (NPA) has put great emphasis on the showing of machinery, and has laid aside an exhibition area where machinery sales personnel can give demonstrations.
There has also been a growing tendency at the show to exhibit livestock, a move encouraged by the managing director of the NPA, Ms Anna May McHugh.
The organisers say the elaborate traffic arrangements in place for the event will reduce entry and exit times. These were tested over the weekend and yesterday when trade and other vehicles arrived at the site.
"The traffic plan drawn up by the Garda worked very well... and we think that it will be quite smooth," said Ms Anna Marie McHugh, the NPA's public relations officer.
She said there would be 750 stands ready for exhibition when the event is officially opened at noon today by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
There are 50 acres of trade exhibitions under canvas for the event.
Mr Ahern will be accompanied by the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, on his final ministerial duty before the Cabinet reshuffle.
The President, Mrs McAleese, will visit the 500-acre site on Thursday. All the political parties have taken exhibition space for the duration of the event, which opens at 9 a.m. daily.
There will be 322 ploughing competitors taking part in 21 major events. Defending his national title will be current Irish champion Mr Eamon Tracey, from Carlow.
A new ploughing competition this year will be the Five Nations contest featuring representatives from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic. All eyes will now be on the sky to ensure the weather remains good for the three-day championship.
It is expected to inject some €25 million into the local economy.