Blue skies and bright start as thousands arrive for Ploughing

The blue sky brightened the mood this morning for the thousands making their way to the Ploughing.

Scores of gardai ringed all entries to the town of Tullamore, directing traffic for the early arrivers.

Before 7am a tail-back was already forming between the Distillery Roundabout and the Charleville Roundabout on the N52 Tullamore town bypass as visitors from the south made their way to Screggan.

Nonetheless vehicles were moving smoothly, proving once again that those who hit the roads before dawn were best placed to find the easiest way into the sprawling site.

Traffic will inevitably build as the morning progresses on what is just day one of the three-day National Ploughing spectacular, billed as the biggest outdoor event of its kind in Europe.

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