2023 National and World Ploughing Championships

Location

The Garda Marquee is located at the Government Village Block 4, Row 22, Stand 362.

Activities at the Garda Marquee

Gardaí will be on hand to talk and advise the public on various crime prevention initiatives and projects.

There will be loads of fun things happening at the Garda Marquee over the three days, including:

• Crimecall Green Screen Studio - Find out what it's like to be Crimecall presenter.
• Garda Virtual Headsets - Experience a 360 view of a Garda motorbike escort.
• Garda Vehicles on display - including a very special Garda tractor.
• Demo of Body Warn Cameras (BWC).

The Garda Victim Liaison Office, Garda National Protective Services Bureau will also be on a Victim Information stand within the Department of Justice area in the Government of Ireland.

Traffic Management

As part of the Traffic Management Plan for National and World Ploughing Championships at Ratheniska, Stradbally Co. Laois , Gardai are requesting all road users to avoid the N80 at Stradbally and all approach roads to Ratheniska village from Tuesday 19th of September at 6am to Thursday 21st of September at 8pm.  Gardai are urging road users to avail of alternative routes during these times.

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 hand side of the R427 just beside the event grounds at Ratheniska.

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 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 left and right hand side of the R427 just beside the event grounds at Ratheniska.

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, through Mountrath, will be diverted back onto the M7 Motorway at Junction 18 where it will proceed to parking with the rest of Limerick/ Kerry/ South West traffic on the Brown Route.

Parking:  

Patrons travelling this route will park in the designated BROWN car parks on the left side of the R426 just beside the event grounds at Ratheniska.

GREEN ROUTE

Traffic from the West/North West

Traffic travelling from the west on the N80 will proceed to Mountmellick town.  Approaching the town Traffic will take a left onto the L20972 at Bay Road.  Continuing on this road to take a right onto the R423. Traffic will join the R422 and travel as far as Kennels Cross, Emo, Co. Laois. At Kennels 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 L6772 as far as Ratheniska village. Traffic will proceed to parking beside the event grounds.

Parking:  

Patrons travelling this route will park in the designated GREEN car parks just beside the event grounds at Ratheniska.

YELLOW ROUTE

Traffic from South East/ Carlow

Traffic travelling from Carlow and South East will travel through Simmons Mill Crossroads on the N80 and continue forward 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 hand side of the L7835 beside the event grounds at Ratheniska

GREY ROUTE

Traffic from South East (Kilkenny)

Traffic travelling from Kilkenny/South East along the N78, through Castlecomer, 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 Timahoe Village. 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 to the car parks

Parking:

Patrons travelling this route will park in GREY car park, which is off the right hand side of the R427 adjacent to the site.