Memorable week in store as National Ploughing Championships gets underway in Offaly

The 95th edition of the National Ploughing Championships has commenced in Offaly. Crowds of 250,000 people are expected to converge upon the Screggan site over the duration of Europe’s largest outdoor event which runs from September 15-17.

Attendees from all over the country and beyond will have the opportunity to experience everything the championships offer, from ploughing competitions to trade exhibitions, politics, business, food and entertainment.

180 acres of the site will be dedicated to the various ploughing competitions as more than 350 competitors will compete in both old and new methods of ploughing across 34 unique classes.

There will also be an international aspect with the Five Nations Ploughing Competition taking place across two days. This will feature competitors from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.

Apart from the ploughing itself, there will be a host of other activities including sheep shearing demonstrations, brown bread baking competitions and tug-of-war contests.

The 2026 edition will also see a significant increase in the number and range of machinery exhibitors with tractors and combine harvesters set to be a big attraction at the event.

President Catherine Connolly officially opened the Ploughing Championships at 12 noon at the Grandstand close to the NPA headquarters at the Screggan site with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Fine Gael Leader and Tánaiste Simon Harris also in attendance.

Met Éireann is predicting the week will be largely dry during the championships. Their latest forecast prior to the event stated: “Current indications show showers and sunny spells on Tuesday with a drier day on Wednesday.”

Traffic ran relatively smoothly on Tuesday morning as huge crowds flocked to the Faithful County for the showpiece livestock event.

An Garda Síochána has a significant policing operation in place for the event with road users advised to avoid using Sat Navs and other similar devices for direction and to follow the signage on display in the surrounding areas instead.

Gardaí have also encouraged those who aren’t attending the championships to avoid the N52 between Tullamore and Birr over the course of the three days if possible to avoid any possible congestion and delays.

Offaly is all set to play host to yet another memorable edition of the National Ploughing Championships as one of the biggest weeks in Ireland’s farming and livestock calendar gets underway.