Transport for Ireland

The National Ploughing Championships @ Ratheniska Co Laois

17/09/2024 - 19/09/2024

  • Date -
  • Location Ratheniska Co Laois

Europe’s largest outdoor event, “The National Ploughing Championships 2024” returns to Ratheniska, Co Laois from September 17th to 19st 2024, given the triumph of last year’s event.
More than 275,000 visitors attended The National Ploughing Championships 2023. A similar attendance is expected in 2024.

Details available here.

How to get there:

The National Ploughing Championships (NPA) work closely in conjunction with An Garda Siochana to develop a detailed event  Traffic Plan App . This will ensure you get to the event safely and as efficiently as possible.
The NPA website advises all attendees travelling to the event to download the Garda Traffic Plan App, and read the traffic plan before departure and follow the route specified from your direction.

NPC-Traffic-Management-Booklet (note this is the plan from 2023 – tbc for 2024)

Transport, Road Diversions, and Parking

Bus Eireann will be operating a Shuttle Bus service from the Portlaoise, Portarlington and Athy Train Stations to the event.

Provisional Fees and operating times of this shuttle bus service by Bus Eireann – subject to be confirmed  – closer to the event
Download PDF: Ploughing Bus-Eireann-Shuttle-Buses-and-Fees

You are recommended to check local media for coach companies bringing tours to the event.

Use the TFI Journey Planner / TFI Live App to plan your route.

Travel to Portlaoise, Portarlington and/or Athy Train Stations.

Bus Eireann will be operating a Shuttle Bus service from these 3 Train Stations to the event.

Check irishrail.ie for the latest train details and timetables.

Use the TFI Journey Planner / TFI Live App to plan your route, and check the timetables.

  1. Check out your route from the NPA Traffic management Plan
  2. Check out the Map and the coloured parking zones

NPA.ie Traffic Management Plan

  • BLUE ROUTE: Traffic from Cork / Munster
    •  Patrons travelling this route will park in the designated BLUE car parks on the
      left and right hand side of the R427 just beside the event grounds at Ratheniska
  • PURPLE ROUTE – Traffic from Dublin/ Leinster/ North
    • Patrons travelling this route will park in the designated PURPLE Car Parks on the
      left and right hand side of the R427 just beside the event grounds at Ratheniska.
  • BROWN ROUTE – Traffic from Limerick/ Kerry/ South West
    • • Patrons travelling this route will park in the designated BROWN Car Parks on
      the left hand side of the R427 just beside the event grounds at Rathenisk
  • GREEN ROUTE – Traffic from the West/North West
    • Patrons travelling this route will park in the designated GREEN Car Parks near
      the Church at Ratheniska Village near event grounds.
  • YELLOW ROUTE – Traffic from South East/ Carlow
    • Patrons travelling this route will park in the designated ‘YELLOW Car Parks on
      the left hand side of the L7835 beside the event grounds at Ratheniska
  • GREY ROUTE – Traffic from South East (Kilkenny)
    • Traffic will proceed to parking by turning right off the L7837 into the
      GREY Car Park beside the event

Download this PDF

a. NPC-Traffic-Management-Booklet-FINAL-2.pdf (npa.ie)

and of the Car Park Map- Ploughing – from the npa.ie

There will be an area for bicycle parking in the dedicated car parks  on either side of the event site (see car parking section above).
Please follow direction signage for bicycle parking on arrival to event.

Ratheniska Co Laois
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