Thousands of people are expected to attend this year's Ploughing Championships in Laois this Tuesday: it's one of the biggest gatherings of the year for country people.
However Organisers have urged eventgoers to forget being stylish and to wear wellies and raincoats instead as a wet week is expected.
2023 Ploughing Championships updates from Social Media
People have already taken to social media to share the mud paths and poor walking conditions that have developed at the event this year because of the wet weather conditions.
The majority of paths throughout the event in Ratheniska have turned into mush and mud, making anyway who opted not to wear wellies today surely regretful of their choices.
X user with the handle 'AmyMolloyIndo' shared a realistic insight as to what it would be like if you showed up to the Ploughing today.
Check out the video here.
More people have gone on to Twitter to share their experience on day one of the National Ploughing Championships. The ground has completely turned to mush and mud in some parts, with people now struggling even trying to get into the Ploughing.
Twitter user Eddie Punch took to the platform to share his experience on day one of the event, tweeting,
Getting stuck on the way out of ploughing is one thing; getting stuck on the way in first day is another
Via @EddiePunch on X
Getting stuck on the way out of ploughing is one thing; getting stuck on the way in first day is another #ploughing
Source: https://x.com/EddiePunch/status/1704073590725828713?s=20
When is the 2023 Ploughing Championship?
The 2023 Ploughing Championship is to get underway this Tuesday, September 19th and last three days before coming to a close on Thursday, September 21st.
Where is the National Ploughing being held?
This year's championships will be held in Ratheniska, Co.Laois, not far from the site of the Electric Picnic.
Ploughing Championships: Weather Forecast for Ratheniska.
Mud, Mud And More Mud...
People making the journey to Ratheniska in Laois this week should expect to have their wellies and ponchos at the ready.
There is an 80% chance of rain on the opening day of the National Ploughing Championships, which is sure to set the tone for the week as a wet mucky event.
Met Éireann - Weather Warning
Met Éireann has issued a status yellow rain and wind warning for the majority of the country.
A yellow status rain warning has been issued by Met Éireann for Donegal, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and all of Connacht.
It was one of five weather warnings issued by Met Eireann for this week, with wind warnings also being issued by the forecaster.
The warning comes into effect at midnight on Tuesday and will be in place until 6am on Wednesday.
Laois has not been issued the warning, but ploughing attendees should be expecting some of that rain and wind to travel into Laois over the coming days.
| Day | Weather | Highs | Lows |
| Tuesday 19/9 | 🌧️ | 19°C | 11°C |
| Wednesday 20/9 | 🌥️ | 16°C | 9°C |
| Thursday 21/9 | 🌥️ | 15°C | 7°C |
Tuesday
According to Met Eireann, Tuesday will be a windy and damp day with fresh to strong and gusty southwesterly winds. Outbreaks of rain and drizzle will continue through the day, most persistent in the west and north with occasional heavy falls possible. Misty in places too. Highest temperatures of 16 to 20 degrees.
A wet and windy night on Tuesday night with more persistent heavy rain spreading from the west. Strong and gusty southwesterly winds will ease slightly towards morning. Lowest temperatures of 11 to 15 degrees.
Wednesday
That rain will clear to the east on Wednesday morning but it will be followed from the west by sunny spells and frequent showers, some of which will turn heavy. Highest temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees in moderate westerly winds.
Showers will become more confined to Atlantic coastal counties overnight on Wednesday, with largely dry weather and clear spells developing elsewhere. Some mist and fog patches will form also in light southwest winds. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees.
Thursday
Thursday will see a mix of sunny spells and widespread showers, some of which will be heavy and prolonged. Highest temperatures of 13 to 16 degrees in light to moderate northwesterly winds.
Here is a detailed weather report by YR.no for the coming week for Co.Laois
The 2023 National Ploughing Championships - What To Expect
This year's championship will see over 200 acres of fields being used to hold ploughing competitions over the coming three days.
Furthermore, there will be over 320 competitors involved in this year's event.
Directions - How to get to the Ploughing
Gardaí have revealed multiple routes to get to this year's championships. Gardaí have revealed a colour-coded routes list and have advised motorists travelling to the event to use this system to avoid traffic jams and long wait times to enter the ploughing.
Blue route (traffic from Cork/Munster)
In Abbeyleix traffic will turn right onto the R425 to Ballyroan village, continue forward to Cashel Cross bearing right onto R427 to Money Cross and will proceed to parking beside the event grounds.
- Parking: Patrons travelling this route will park in the designated BLUE car parks on the left and right hand side of the R427 just beside the event grounds at Ratheniska.
Purple route (traffic from Dublin/ Leinster/ North)
Traffic travelling southbound on the M7 will exit at Junction 15 Cappakeel, Co. Laois and proceed left onto the L3930 where it will travel to Vicarstown. In Vicarstown, it will turn right onto R427 and travel towards Stradbally Co. Laois.
At Garrans Cross, traffic will turn right for approximately 1.6km and then turn left at Buddocks Cross proceeding onto Abels Corner, Stradbally where it will turn right onto N80 and immediately left onto the R427.
- Parking: Attendees travelling this route will park in the designated PURPLE Car Parks on the left and right hand side of the R427 just beside the event grounds at Ratheniska.
Brown route (traffic from Limerick/ Kerry/ South West)
Traffic travelling northbound on the M7 will exit at Junction 17 Togher, Portlaoise 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.
At Sheffield Junction, traffic will turn right again and proceed onto Money Cross to parking beside the event grounds.
Traffic travelling northbound on the R445 (old N7) will be diverted back onto the M7 Motorway at Junction 18 where it will proceed to parking with the rest of Limerick/ Kerry/ South West traffic.
- Parking: Patrons travelling this route will park in the designated BROWN Car Parks on the left hand side of the R427 just beside the event grounds at Ratheniska.
Green route (traffic from the West/ North West)
Traffic travelling from the west on the N80 will proceed to Mountmellick town. Approaching the town Traffic will 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, Emo, Co. Laois.
At Kennels Cross, traffic will turn right onto R419 and travel forward to the R445 (Old Dublin Rd), turning right and proceed towards Ballydavis, Portlaoise continuing through two roundabouts (1st and 3rd exits respectively) remaining on the R445 towards Rathbrennan, Portlaoise where traffic will turn left onto the R425 travelling forward 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 as far as Ratheniska village. Traffic will proceed to parking beside the event grounds.
- Parking: Patrons travelling this route will park in the designated GREEN Car Parks near the Church at Ratheniska Village near event grounds.
Yellow route (traffic from South East/ Carlow)
Traffic travelling from Carlow and South East will travel through Simmons Mill Cross roads on the N80 and continue forward towards Stradbally town via the Windy Gap.
At Court Square, Stradbally, traffic will turn left onto the L3837 (Timahoe Rd) and go to Timogue Cross Roads where it will turn right onto L7835 (One-way system).
Traffic will proceed to parking beside the event grounds.
- Parking: Patrons travelling this route will park in the designated YELLOW Car Parks on the left hand side of the L7835 beside the event grounds at Ratheniska.
Grey route (traffic from South East [Kilkenny])
Traffic travelling from Kilkenny/South East along the N78 will turn left at Newtown Cross Roads and continue forward along the R430 to The Swan. Just outside The Swan Village, traffic will turn right onto the R426 and continue to Timahoe Village.
In Timahoe Traffic will continue through the village on the R426 towards Money Cross. At Loughteague Lane, traffic will turn right onto L78354.
- Parking: Traffic will proceed to parking by turning right off the L7837 into the GREY Car Park beside the event. Vehicle passes should be clearly visible on approach to Traffic Points to assist Gardai in ensuring you are directed appropriately and in an efficient manner.
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