Over 200,000 people are expected to attend this year’s National Ploughing Championships so planning your route to avoid unnecessary delays is important.
Patrons are advised to plan their route in advance making reference to Garda traffic management plans as seen below and most importantly leave plenty of time to make your journeys.
BLUE ROUTE
Traffic from Cork / Munster
Traffic travelling northbound on the M8 will exit at Junction 4 (Johnstown, Urlingford) and proceed onto R439 (old N8) where it will travel to Durrow Co. Laois. From Durrow traffic will continue forward onto the N77 (old N8) to Abbeyleix.
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 of R427 just beside the event grounds in Rathineska.
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 to Stradbally Co. Laois. In Stradbally traffic will turn right on the N80 for approx. 400 meters and will then turn left at Abels Corner onto the R427. Traffic will proceed to parking beside the event grounds.
Parking: Patrons travelling this route will park in the designated Purple car-parks on the right of the R427 just beside the event grounds in Rathineska.
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 the Limerick/ Kerry/ South West traffic.
Parking: Patrons travelling this route will park in the designated brown car-parks on the left side of the R426 at Money Cross beside the event grounds in Rathineska.
GREEN ROUTE
Traffic from the West
Traffic travelling from the west on the N80 will proceed straight through Mountmellick town onto the R422 as far as Kennels Cross, Emo, Co. Laois.
At Kennells Cross traffic will turn right onto R419 and travel forward to the R445 (Old Dublin Rd), turning right and proceed towards Portlaoise. In Kilminchy, Portlaoise traffic will turn left for approx 200 meters and then turn right at Rathbrennan 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 L7720 as far as Rathineska 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 in Rathineska Village beside the 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 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 side of the L7835 beside the event grounds in Rathineska.
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 TimahoeVillage. In Timahoe traffic will be diverted to two routes depending on the volumes:
1.Traffic will be diverted onto the L3838 (Stradbally Rd) towards Timogue Cross and left onto the L7835 where it will merge with the Yellow route (South East Carlow Traffic). Traffic will proceed to parking as set out in 1.5(Yellow Route) parking in previous page.
2.Traffic will continue through Timahoe village on the R426 towards Money Cross. At Loughteague Lane traffic will turn right onto L78354. Traffic will proceed to parking by turning right off the L7837 and proceeding as close to Blue Car Park and Yellow Car Park as possible.
Parking: Patrons travelling this route will park in the designated Yellow Car Park on the left of the L7835 and/or the designated Grey Car Park which is off the Right side of the L78354 close to the Blue Car Park.
*ALL RELEVANT JUNCTION AND CAR-PARK ENTRANCES/EXITS WILL HAVE APPROPRIATE SIGNAGE AND WILL BE CONTROLLED BY GARDA PERSONNEL
EXHIBITOR PARKING
Exhibitors displaying a field pass will be directed to the exhibition arena up to 8am.
BLUE ROUTE: Exhibitors on this route will park on the left hand side of the R427 just before they reach the Blue Car Park. This exhibitor’s park is adjacent to the event site.
PURPLE ROUTE: Exhibitors on this route will park on the left hand side of the R427 after being directed past the entrance to the Purple car park. These grounds are adjacent to the event site.
BROWN ROUTE: Exhibitors on this route will exit left off the R426 at Lamberton Cross and proceed towards Ratheniska Village where they will merge with the green route and park along with exhibitors on this route route at a section of the green car park adjacent to the grounds.
GREEN ROUTE: Exhibitors on this route will continue to the end entering into the Green Car Park. A section of the car park is set aside for exhibitors and is adjacent to the event site.
YELLOW ROUTE: Exhibitors on this route will park on the Right hand side of the L7835 after being directed past the entrance to the Yellow Car Park. These grounds are adjacent to the event site.
GREY ROUTE: Exhibitors on this route will proceed along the Grey route. Exhibitors will merge with the Yellow route at Timogue Cross and park in the same way as exhibitors travelling the yellow route.
PLOUGHING COMPETITORS PARKING
The ploughing competitors’ assembly area is located on the right hand side of the roadway as you travel from Lamberton Cross to Ratheniska Village. This entrance will be clearly marked.
The following will apply in relation to the Ploughing Competitors:
- Competitors travelling the blue route (Cork) will turn left at Money Cross and onto Lamberton Cross where it will turn right and onto the said grounds.
- The competitors travelling the purple route (Dublin) will travel from Stradbally to Bloomfield Cross(N80) where it will turn left, onto Sheffield Cross and Lamberton Cross and turn left onto the said grounds.
- Competitors travelling the brown route (Limerick) will continue as normal and at Lamberton Cross they will turn left and onto the said grounds.
- Competitors travelling the green route (West) will continue as normal and on arrival in Ratheniska will turn left and immediately right into the said grounds.
- Competitors travelling the yellow route (South East) will continue forward in StradballyVillage at Court Square where it will join the purple route and proceed as set out in “B” above.
- Competitors travelling the grey route (South East) will continue forward in TimahoeVillage onto Money Cross. They will be directed through the cross roads and will join competitors from Cork and proceed as set out in “A” above.
HUNT CHASE PARKING/SHEEP DOG TRIALS PARKING
The grounds for the Hunt Chase/Sheep Dog Trials are located in the main event field on the left-hand side of the roadway just past the GAA field in Ratheniska Village.
The following will apply in relation to Hunt Chase/Sheep Dog Trials Competitors:
- Participants from the blue route (Cork) will turn left on the roadway just after Money Cross and proceed to the grounds which will be on the right-hand side.
- Participants from the purple route (Dublin) will continue on this route as set out in 1.1 of Traffic Routes and
- Parking until they reach Abels corner in Stradbally town. From here they will continue forward on the N80 to Bloomfield Cross, and onto Sheffield Cross veering left onto R426 to Lumberton Cross. At Lamberton
- Cross turn left to RatheniskaVillage and past G.A.A pitch to said grounds on the left.
- Participants from the brown route (Limerick) will continue as set out in the route and at Lamberton Cross will be directed left to Ratheniska Village, past the G.A.A pitch to the said grounds on the left.
- Participants from the green route (West) will continue forward at Bloomfield Cross instead of turning left and will proceed onto the Sheffield Cross and onto Lamberton Cross turning left into Ratheniska Village past the G.A.A pitch to the said grounds on the left (similar to “B” above).
- Participants from the yellow route (South East) will continue forward on the N80 at Court Square Stradbally instead of turning left. They will proceed along to Bloomfield Cross where they will turn left out the R425.
- They will continue via Sheffield Cross onto Lamberton Cross turning left to RatheniskaVillage past the GAA pitch in said ground on the left-hand side.
- Participants from the grey route (South East) will continue straight through Timahoe and onto Money Cross where they will turn right and then the next left. They will then proceed to the said grounds which is on the right-hand side.
DISABLED PARKING
Disabled parking is located within the event grounds near Cahill’s Cross & adjacent to where the Hunt Chase is located and all such accredited vehicles will be guided to same in the following manner. All such traffic from the purple and yellow routes will be directed to parking at the entrance at Cahill’s Cross.
All such traffic from the Browne and Green routes will be directed to parking adjacent to the entrance to The Hunt Chase, just past GAA centre in Ratheniska village.
All other accredited vehicles from the Blue and Grey routes will be diverted to parking at the top of the Blue car park.
BUS PARKING
All buses travelling on the blue route will continue past entrance of blue car park and continue 100M and park across from the event site in the triangular field.
All buses travelling on the brown route will divert off at Lamberton Cross and also RathineskaVillage where they will park in the GAA grounds.
All buses travelling on the purple, green and yellow routes will converge to Abels Corner, Stradbally and proceed to a section of the purple car park where they will park all along a hard-core roadway.
SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE FROM TRAIN STATIONS
A shuttle bus service operated by Bus Eireann will be in operation from Portlaoise and Portarlington Train Station and the purple car park.
The times of this service will operate to suit the train times. The drop-off and pick up point is located near the gates entering the purple car park along the R427 and very close to the 3 main entrances along the front of the site.
