Thousands of people are expected to descend on Co. Offaly this week for the National Ploughing Championships.

The three-day event will return to Screggan, Tullamore on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (September 15-17).

Over 350 competitors will take part in 34 ploughing classes during the championships.

Adding an international dimension this year will be the Five Nations Ploughing Competition taking place over two days.

Away from the ploughing fields, there will be a large range of attractions for visitors including machinery; trade stands; livestock; fashion shows; food and live music.

If you are travelling to Screggan, be sure to call into the Agriland tent which will be located in the centre of the site at Block 4, Row 10, Stand 184.

Ploughing

As the event will attract tens of thousands of people over the three days, An Garda Síochána has published a traffic management plan.

Visitors are encouraged to use public transport to access the site, if possible.

Bus Éireann are running a shuttle bus service from Tullamore and Portarlington train stations, for a fee. The times of this service will operate to suit train schedules.

Motorists are advised to expect delays and plan for at least double the normal travel time due to traffic. If you can, try to carpool to help reduce traffic congestion.

Gardaí are again urging drivers to follow the directional signage to the venue and not to use satnav or similar devices close to the event site.

When you arrive on site take note of the number, colour, or animal sign as you enter/exit the car park.

If you have a smartphone, drop a pin when you park up, or take a picture of the sign to easily locate your car later.

Traffic plan

The traffic management plan includes eight colour coded routes which depend on where you are travelling from in the country.

The blue route will cater for traffic coming from Cork and Munster:

Traffic travelling northbound on the M8 will exit at Junction 6 (Horse & Jockey) and proceed towards Thurles where gardaí will divert traffic along the event route onto Templemore and Roscrea along the N62.
At Birr, traffic will join the N52 travelling northbound via Kilcormac and Blueball and onto the event site at Screggan, Tullamore.
Drivers on this route will park in the designated blue car parks.

The grey route is for traffic coming from the south east (Kilkenny):

Traffic travelling from Kilkenny/South East will travel North along the N77 via Durrow and Abbeyleix before arriving at Portlaoise where traffic will be directed left at Junction 17 through Clonminham and onwards to Fairgreen Portlaoise, travelling along the N80 to Mountmellick.
At Derryclooney Bridge, Mountmellick traffic will be directed left and onto the R422 through Rosenallis and Clonaslee. At Coolagh Cross traffic will be directed right onto the R421 (Killurin Road).
At Killurin Cross traffic will be directed left towards the event site and the designated grey car parks.

The yellow route is for traffic travelling from the south-east (Carlow):

Traffic travelling from Carlow and the south-east will travel on the N80 towards Portlaoise.
At Bloomfield Roundabout, Portlaoise traffic will be directed right onto Rathbrennan and onto Junction 16 (M7). Traffic will then turn left to the Heath and left again at the Wheel Inn pub (sign-posted Portarlington).
Traffic will proceed to Kennells Cross and be turned left and travel towards Mountmellick town. All traffic will be directed through Mountmellick town and onto Tullamore via Killeigh.

Patrons on this route will park in the designated yellow car parks.

The brown route is designated for traffic from Limerick, Kerry and the south-west:

Traffic travelling northbound on the M7 will exit at Junction 26 (Nenagh South) and will proceed on the N52 towards Borrisokane.
In Borrisokane, traffic will take the N62 (Signposted Portumna) and after 5km traffic will turn right onto the R438 to Cloghan.
In Cloghan, traffic will turn onto the R357 before being directed to the brown car parks beside the event grounds.

The purple route is for people travelling from Dublin:

Traffic from Dublin to use the M4/M6 westbound to Junction 5 on the M6 (Kilbeggan) and then onto the N52 towards Tullamore for 4km, where at Durrow turn right onto L2005 (passing GAA Pitch) and travel for 2km, then turn left onto the R420 and travel for 2km to avail of a shuttle service to the site.
Patrons on this route will park in the designated purple car park.

The pink route is to be used for traffic coming from the North:

Traffic travelling from the North will travel via Mullingar and onto the N52 towards Tyrellspass.
Traffic will be turned right into Tyrellspass Village and on to Kilbeggan Village via R446 (old N6).
Once through Kilbeggan Village turn left for Clara onto the R436. On the approach to Clara traffic will turn left onto the L2009 before joining the R420 Tullamore to Clara Road.
Traffic will then turn right at Coolnahiley and be directed to the designated pink car parks.

The green route is for traffic coming from the west:

Traffic travelling from the west will exit M6 motorway at Junction 6 (Horseleap, Clara) and will be directed towards Moate town. Traffic will then be directed left onto the Ballycumber Road.
At Ballycumber traffic will join the R436 (Ballycumber to Clara Road) before turning right on towards Rahan Village.
At Rahan Village traffic will be directed onto the L2011 towards the event site and the designated green car parks.

The orange route will be used for traffic from the north:

Traffic travelling Westbound along the M7 Motorway will exit at Junction 15 (Cappakeel), turning right over the Motorway and onto the R445 (Old Dublin Road).
At New Inn Roundabout traffic will proceed through Emo Village and onto Kennells Cross where it will turn right and be directed to Garryhinch Cross and onto Cloneygowan Village.
Traffic will then follow the R420 to the event site and the designated orange car parks.

Gardaí advised visitors to the National Ploughing Championships to dress for the weather and to wear suitable footwear.