Overnight rain did not impact unduly on the attendance at the second day of the National Ploughing Championships here in Athy, Co Kildare which again drew thousands to the site close to the town.
By late afternoon the 6km of steel trackway had dried out in blazing sunshine and up on the ploughing plots the European competition began in near perfect conditions.
Anna Marie Mc Hugh, the National Assocation's press officer, said ground which is too dry presents major difficulties to ploughmen and women and the overnight rain suited them.
By noon, all the busparks were full and many of the carparks with the attendance well in line with the expectation that at least 180,000 will have come here by the close of the championships tomorrow evening.
An early visitor to the site today was the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith, who confirmed farmers will receive €600 million from the EU on October 18th. This is half of their expected Single Farm Payment.
He said the commission had been persuaded by the argument put forward by him farmers here needed early payment of the direct aid because of bad weather, poor market prices and rising input costs. The remaining money will be paid by Christmas.
Also on site was Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore. He said his party would be running candidates in every constituency in the next general election, which he said could not come early enough for the people of Ireland.
The championships continue tomorrow.