• Date -
  • Location Screggan, Co. Offaly, Ireland

National Ploughing Championships

16th – 18th September 2025

at Screggan, Tullamore, Co.Offaly

Europe’s largest outdoor event, the National Ploughing Association confirmed Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly as the venue for the 2025 National Ploughing Championships on 16th, 17th, 18th September.

The 3 day event is set to bring millions into the local economy mainly through the hospitality industry but also utilising many local services in order to build an event that requires upwards of 700 acres.

More than 275,000 visitors are expected to attend this year.

Expect delays—plan for at least double the normal travel time due to traffic.

• Carpool if you can to reduce traffic congestion.
• Familiarize yourself with the traffic plan and know your route.

National Ploughing Screggan 900x 514

Plan your visit!

The National Ploughing Championships attracts  80,000-150,000 visitors daily.

Check below for:

Public Transport

  • Shuttle Bus to/from Tullamore and Portalington Train Stations
  • Visitor information
  • Car directions and parking
  • For directions and Parking details check out below for the
    • Blue route – Traffic from Cork / Munster
    • Grey route – Traffic from South East (Kilkenny)
    • Yellow Route – Traffic from the South East (Carlow)
    • Brown Route – Traffic from Limerick, Kerry and Southwest
    • Purple Route – Traffic from Dublin
    • Pink Route Traffic from the North
    • Green Route – Traffic from the West
    • Orange Route  – Traffic from the North

When does it all kick off?

  • Trade Exhibition Arena Open: 9.00 – 18.00.
    Visitors are not guaranteed access to site after 3pm due to traffic plan restrictions.
    Entry gates will close at 4pm.
  • Ploughing Competitions: 10.30 – 14.30
  • Other activities include:
    • Entertainment Programme: 10.00 – 18.00
    • Fashion Shows: 11.30/ 13.30/ 15.30

Transport, Road Diversions, and Parking

Visitors – National Ploughing Association

Plan your visit!

Buy your Admission tickets beforehand at: NPA – National Ploughing Association .

NPA recommends checking local media for information on coach companies bringing tours to the event.

Getting there

  • Shuttle Bus to/from Tullamore and Portarlington Train Stations (see below)
  • Car Parking:
    • A wide range of car parks are located near the Trade Exhibition Arena (See below)
    • Upon arrival, visitors will be directed to the nearest available car park
    • • Electric car charging facilities will not be available in the event car parks, as these are temporary
      parking areas set up for the duration of the event. For the exact locations of the nearest charging
      points to the event, visit https://chargemap.com
    • Each car park is colour coded in the event Traffic Plan, based on the route you are travelling.
      • For example, vehicles on the brown route will be directed into the brown car park on arrival, and so on.
    • All routes to the event are colour coded with matching car parks for each route. (see below)
    • Colour-coded signage is displayed at the entrance and exit of each car park. Take note of the image on the sign when you enter or leave.
  • Disability Access
    • Dedicated disability parking is available in designated car parks.
    • To ensure proper access, the official Government issued Disability Parking Permit must be clearly displayed in the front windscreen of your
      vehicle upon arrival, so stewards can direct you to the correct car park.
    • All internal roadways within the Trade Exhibition Arena are double-tracked to facilitate disabled access around the site.
    • Disability access toilets are provided in every toilet block and in each Disability Car Park.

2025-Bus-Eireann-NPC-Shuttle-Bus-Timetables-Tullamore-and-Portarlington-Train-Stations – PDF

Bus Eireann will be operating a Shuttle Bus service to/from Tullamore and Portalington Train Stations – to/from the event at Screggan Co. Offaly.

A Shuttle Bus service operated by Bus Eireann will be in operation from Tullamore and Portarlington Train Stations.

The times of this service will operate to suit train times;

with pick up times

  • from Tullamore Train Station
    • starting at 7.00am until 12.30pm
  •  from Portarlington Train Station
    • starting at 6.30am until 12.15pm.

Shuttle Return
The Shuttle Bus service will start return runs from the site

  • to Tullamore Train Station at 14.40pm up until 19.00pm,
  • and to Portarlington Train Station at 13.30pm up until 19.20pm.
  • The drop off and pick up point is located near the event entrance along the N52.

Purchase Shuttle Bus tickets on expressway.ie or Combi Rail/Shuttle Bus tickets on irishrail.ie

Shuttle from ploughing championships to Tullamore train station

Shuttle from ploughing championships to Portalington train station

National Ploughing Championships 2025 rates and timetable

Travel to Tullamore (Co. Offaly), or to Portarlington (Co. Laoise) Train Stations.

Bus Eireann will be operating a Shuttle Bus service from these 2 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 at NTA – National Ploughing Association 
  2. Check out the Map and the coloured parking zones (details will be available closer to the event date)
  3. Car Parking:
    • A wide range of car parks are located near the Trade Exhibition Arena
    • Upon arrival, visitors will be directed to the nearest available car park
    • • Electric car charging facilities will not be available in the event car parks, as these are temporary
      parking areas set up for the duration of the event. For the exact locations of the nearest charging points to the event, visit https://chargemap.com
    • Each car park is colour coded in the event Traffic Plan, based on the route you are travelling.
      • For example, vehicles on the brown route will be directed into the brown car park on arrival, and so on.
      • Details will be available closer to the event date.
  • Blue route – Traffic from Cork / Munster
  • Grey route – Traffic from South East (Kilkenny)
  • Yellow Route – Traffic from the South East (Carlow)
  • Brown Route – Traffic from Limerick, Kerry and Southwest
  • Purple Route – Traffic from Dublin
  • Pink Route Traffic from the North
  • Green Route – Traffic from the West
  • Orange Route  – Traffic from the North

Blue route – Traffic from Cork / Munster

  • Traffic travelling Northbound on the M8 will exit at Junction 6 (Horse & Jockey) and proceed towards Thurles where Gardai will divert traffic along the event route onto Templemore and Roscrea along the N62. At Birr traffic will join the N52 travelling northbound via Kilcormac and Blueball and onto the event site at Screggan, Tullamore.

Parking:

  • Patrons on this route will park in the designated Blue car parks on the left and right hand side beside the event grounds.

Grey route – Traffic from South East (Kilkenny)

  • Traffic travelling from Kilkenny/South East will travel North along the N77 via Durrow and Abbeyleix before arriving at Portlaoise where traffic will be directed left at Junction 17 through Clonminham and onwards to Fairgreen Portlaoise, travelling along the N80 to Mountmellick.
  • At Derryclooney Bridge, Mountmellick traffic will be directed left and onto the R422 through Rosenallis and Clonaslee. At Coolagh Cross traffic will be directed right onto the R421 (Killurin Road). At Killurin Cross traffic will be directed left towards the event site at Screggan, Tullamore and parking beside the event site.

Parking:

  • Patrons on this route will park in the designated GREY Car Parks beside the event grounds at Screggan.

Yellow Route– Traffic from the South East (Carlow)

  • Traffic travelling from Carlow and the South East will travel on the N80 towards Portlaoise. At Bloomfield Roundabout, Portlaoise traffic will be directed right onto Rathbrennan and onto Junction 16 (M7). Traffic will then turn left to the Heath and left again at the Wheel Inn pub (sign-posted Portarlington).
  • Traffic will proceed to Kennells Cross and be turned left and travel towards Mountmellick town. All traffic will be directed through Mountmellick town and onto Tullamore via Killeigh. Traffic will then proceed to parking beside the event grounds.

Parking:

  • Patrons on this route will park in the designated ‘YELLOW Car Parks’ beside the event grounds at Screggan.

Brown Route – Traffic from Limerick, Kerry and Southwest

  • Traffic travelling Northbound on the M7 will exit at Junction 26 (Nenagh South) and will proceed on the N52 towards Borrisokane. In Borrisokane traffic will take the N62 (Signposted Portumna) and after 5km traffic will turn right onto the R438 to Cloghan. In Cloghan traffic will turn onto the R357 before being directed to parking beside the event grounds.

Parking:

  • Patrons on this route will park in the designated BROWN Car Parks beside the event grounds at Screggan.

Purple Route– Traffic from Dubli

  • Traffic from Dublin to use the M4/M6 Westbound to Junction 5 on the M6 (Kilbeggan) and then onto the N52 towards Tullamore for 4km, where at Durrow turn right onto L2005 (passing GAA Pitch) and travel for 2km, then turn left onto the R420 and travel for 2km to avail of a shuttle service to the site.

Parking:

  • Patrons on this route will park in the designated PURPLE Car Park.

Pink Route- Traffic from the North

  • Traffic travelling from the North will travel via Mullingar and onto the N52 towards Tyrellspass. Traffic will be turned right into Tyrellspass Village and on to Kilbeggan Village via R446 (old N6). Once through Kilbeggan Village turn left for Clara onto the R436.
  • On the approach to Clara traffic will turn left onto the L2009 before joining the R420 Tullamore to Clara Road. Traffic will then turn right at Coolnahiley and be directed to parking beside the event grounds.

Parking:

  • Patrons travelling this route will park in the designated PINK Car Parks beside the event grounds at Screggan.

Green Route – Traffic from the West

  • Traffic travelling from the West will exit M6 motorway at Junction 6 (Horseleap, Clara) and will be directed towards Moate town. Traffic will then be directed left onto the Ballycumber Road. At Ballycumber traffic will join the R436 (Ballycumber to Clara Road) before turning right on towards Rahan Village.
  • At Rahan Village traffic will be directed onto the L2011 towards the event site and parking.

Parking:

  • Patrons travelling this route will park in the designated GREEN Car Parks on the right hand side of the L2011 just beside the event grounds at Screggan.

Orange Route  – Traffic from the North

  • Traffic travelling Westbound along the M7 Motorway will exit at Junction 15 (Cappakeel), turning right over the Motorway and onto the R445 (Old Dublin Road). At New Inn Roundabout traffic will proceed through Emo Village and onto Kennells Cross where it will turn right and be directed to Garryhinch Cross and onto Cloneygowan Village.
  • Traffic will then follow the R420 to the event site.

Parking:

  • Patrons travelling this route will park in the designated ORANGE Car Parks.

• A designated bicycle parking area will be available in car parks on either side of the event site. Please follow the directional signage for bicycle parking upon arrival.

Screggan, Co. Offaly, Ireland