This year’s event, Ireland’s largest farming festival, is expected to attract a crowd of nearly 300,000. Attendees can look forward to a range of attractions, including artisanal food from around the country, advanced agricultural machinery, fashion shows, and much more.

“The Championships not only showcase everything agricultural but also bring together people from all parts of Irish society, rural and urban, for three days of country living,” said Anna May McHugh, National Ploughing Association director, at the event’s launch.

This year’s event will feature the return of local performers, machinery, livestock, and other familiar sights, but with a few new surprises. Here’s what visitors can expect over the three days.

Tickets and Pricing Tickets can be purchased online via the National Ploughing Association’s website, and it’s recommended to either print them or have a screenshot ready for scanning at the gate. If tickets aren’t sold out, they will also be available at the gate.

Tickets are priced at €25 for adults, €20 for senior citizens and secondary school students, while children under 12 accompanied by an adult can enter for free. Campervan sites can also be booked online for €60, which covers a five-night stay.

Weather: Be sure to pack your wellies, as the forecast predicts cloudy skies with light rain for the first two days, but Thursday promises some sunshine.

Event Timings: The arena will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.



The ploughing competitions kick off at 10:30 a.m. and will last for two hours. Live music, dancing, and other entertainment begin at 10 a.m., with fashion shows scheduled at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.

Highlights: The popular food and lifestyle village marquees are back, set to become Ireland’s largest pop-up retail space. Around 30 small businesses from across the country, organized by Local Enterprise Offices, will showcase products ranging from Mexican salsa and chemical-free fertilisers to sensory-friendly clothing and high-end fashion.

Other key attractions include sheep shearing, vintage ploughing, live music, pony games, a fun fair, and a food trail. The “Ireland’s Fittest Farmer” contest will return, with participants being coached by former GAA player and “Ireland’s Fittest Family” coach Davy Fitzgerald. Farmers of all ages will compete, with the event focusing on both mental and physical health.

A new sustainability competition offers farmers a chance to win €10,000 by sharing their efforts to improve farm sustainability. The competition opens on November 1, with Zurich Insurance’s Elaine Walsh explaining that farmers need to describe their current sustainability measures and how they would use the prize money.

Safety Initiatives: To enhance safety, the “Keeping You Safe” project will distribute 40,000 wristbands at the event entrance, where contact details can be recorded in case children become separated from their guardians.

Traffic Routes: A detailed traffic plan has been developed in collaboration with An Garda Síochána. Visitors are advised to follow designated routes:

Blue Route: (Cork, Munster): Traffic on the M8 northbound exits at Junction 4, proceeding via R439 and N77 to Abbeyleix, then onto R425 to the event grounds’ blue car parks.

Brown Routes: (Limerick, Kerry, Southwest): Traffic on the M7 northbound exits at Junction 17, following N77, L6310, R426, and onto the brown car parks.

Green Route: (West, Northwest): Traffic on N80 will proceed through Mountmellick to Kennels Cross, turning onto R419 and then R445 towards Ballydavis, ending at the green car parks.

Yellow Route: (Southeast, Carlow): Traffic from Carlow will take N80 through Stradbally to Timogue Cross, proceeding to the yellow car parks.

Grey Route: (Kilkenny, Southeast): Traffic on N78 will turn onto R430 to The Swan, following R426 towards the grey car parks.

Each parking area will have designated spaces for vehicles displaying a disabled parking permit. With plenty to see and do, the Ploughing promises to be a major event for all attendees, celebrating Irish farming and rural life.