National Ploughing Championships 2024: everything to expect from Ireland’s fittest farmer to local food and fashion

Ireland’s biggest farming festival expects a crowd of nearly 300,000 this year. Visitors can expect artisanal food from all over the country, cutting-edge agricultural machinery, fashion shows and everything in between.

“The Championships not only ­provides a national stage for showcasing all things agricultural, but also brings together people from all sectors of Irish ­society, both rural and urban, to enjoy three days immersed in country living,” ­National Ploughing Association director Anna May McHugh said as she launched the event.

This year, the Ploughing will see the return of local performers, machines, livestock and more from the previous years, but will also introduce a few new surprises – here’s what to expect during three days at the Ploughing.

How do I get tickets?

Tickets are available online on the National Ploughing Association’s website. Tickets for each day can be bought online and scanned at entry – it is advised that all those who visit, print their tickets or present a screenshot.

More tickets will be available at the gate if they are not sold out.

Tickets are priced at €25 for adults, and €20 for senior citizens and secondary school students. Children under the age of 12 accompanied by an adult will be granted free entry. Campervan sites can be pre-booked online for €60 and that covers five nights.

What will the weather be like?

Pack your wellies before your trip to Co Laois because the first two days of the Ploughing are to be cloudy with some light rain. Thursday should see some relief with the chance of sunshine all day.

What time will I need to arrive at?

The arena is open between 9am and 6pm each day.

The ploughing competitions will be begin at 10.30am and they will run for two hours.

If you’re looking for live music and dancing, the entertainment programmes begin at 10am and run throughout the day with fashion shows at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm.

​What to expect

Food and lifestyle village marquees will return after their popularity last year, set to become the largest retail pop-up in the country. Excitement is building around the equipment and livestock that will be on display and for the Machine of the Year competition.

Around 30 small businesses from across Ireland will be present at the event. Run by the Local Enterprise ­Offices, the local enterprise village will offer products from ­entrepreneurs, featuring everything from Mexican salsa and chemical-free fertilisers to high-end fashion and sensory-friendly clothing.

Other attractions include sheep shearing, fashion shows, vintage ploughing, live music, pony games, the fun fair, and food trail.

What’s exciting this year?

The Ireland’s fittest farmer contest will return this year with contestants coached by former GAA player and Ireland’s Fittest Family coach Davy Fitzgerald.

Farmers of all ages will compete for the title. The event will get farmers to talk about their mental and physical health.

What’s new this year?

The event is launching a new competition for farmers to win €10,000 to help improve sustainability on their farm.

It opens on November 1. Head of direct farm sales at Zurich Insurance, Elaine Walsh said: “To enter next month, farmers simply need to tell us what they have done so far on their farm to improve sustainability, and what they would do with the €10,000.”

The Ploughing is also introducing a new feature with children’s safety in mind. The “Keeping You Safe” project will give out 40,000 wristbands at the event entrance which will note down a contact phone number in case the wearer wanders off amid the crowds.​

How do I get there?

The NPA have worked with An Garda Síochána to offer a detailed traffic plan for people coming from all over the country.

Blue Route (Cork, Munster): Traffic travelling northbound on the M8 will exit at Junction 4 and proceed onto R439 where it will travel to Durrow, Co Laois. Then continue forward onto the N77 to Abbeyleix where traffic will turn right onto the R425 to Ballyroan village, continue to Cashel Cross bearing right onto R427 to Money Cross and will proceed to the Blue car parks beside the event grounds.

Purple Route (Dublin, Leinster, North): Traffic travelling southbound on the M7 will exit at Junction 15 Cappakeel, Co Laois and proceed left onto the L3930 and travel to Vicarstown. Then turn right onto R427 and travel towards Stradbally. At Garrans Cross, traffic will turn right for 1.6km and then turn left at Buddocks Cross proceeding onto Abels Corner where it will turn right onto N80 and immediately left onto the R427, and on to the purple car parks.

Brown Routes (Limerick, Kerry, South West): Traffic travelling northbound on the M7 will exit at Junction 17 and proceed left onto N77 towards Portlaoise town. Traffic will be diverted right at Meelick onto the L6310 where it will turn right onto the R426 and onto Sheffield Cross. Then turn right again and proceed onto Money Cross to parking beside the event grounds at the brown car parks.

Green Route (West, North West): Traffic travelling from the west on the N80 will proceed to Mountmellick town. Take a left onto the L20972, continuing on this road to take a right onto the L423. Traffic will join the R422 and travel as far as Kennels Cross, Co Laois. Turn right onto R419 and travel forward to the R445, turning right and proceed towards Ballydavis, Portlaoise.

Continuing through the two roundabouts remaining on the R445 towards Rathbrennan, Portlaoise where traffic will turn left onto the R425 travelling to Bloomfield Cross. At Bloomfield Cross, traffic will turn left onto N80 and proceed to Dysart where it will turn right onto a one-way system along the L6772 leading up to Ratheniska village – park at the green car parks.

Yellow Route (South East, Carlow): Traffic travelling from Carlow and the South East will travel through Simmons Mill Cross Roads on the N80 and continue towards Stradbally town. Traffic will turn left off the N80 at St Joseph’s cemetery and advance to Timogue Cross where it will continue through crossroads to L7835. Proceed to the yellow car parks.

Grey Route (Kilkenny, South East): Traffic travelling along the N78 will turn left at Newtown Cross Roads and continue forward along the R430 to The Swan. Traffic will turn right onto the R426 and continue to Timahoe Village. Continue through the village on the R426 towards Money Cross. At Loughteague Lane, traffic will turn right onto L78354, turn right and into the grey car parks.

Accessibility: Each cark park will have car parking available for cars that display the government-issued disabled parking permit on the front windscreen.