The National Ploughing Championships are being held at Farmley Cuffesgrange, Co. Kilkenny over three days between Tuesday and Thursday the 23rd to the 25th September 2008.
The National Ploughing Championships are being held at Farmley Cuffesgrange, Co. Kilkenny over three days between Tuesday 23.9.08 and Thursday 25.9.08
The event can attract up to 80,000 people and 40,000 vehicles on each of the three days of the event. As a result a major traffic plan has been prepared to cater for the expected large crowds travelling to and from the event on each of the three days.
Designated Routes - With Traffic approaching the site from all corners of the country, the functional area has been divided into 9 separate Traffic Routes. Motorists are strongly advised to adhere to the dedicated traffic routes and follow road signage to the event. Departure from the dedicated traffic routes will result in additional delays for the motorists concerned.
The Routes are described as follows –
Route 1- Traffic from the Galway, Limerick, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary direction travel via Cashel on R691 via Killenaule and Ballingarry, to arrive at the site at Ballymack Cross where they will be directed to car parks, coloured Green.
Route 1a- Traffic from the Laois direction arriving at Johnstown will be directed via Urlingford onto R690 onto R691 and travel via Ballingarry to the event site Car Parks coloured Green.
Route 2- Traffic from the South East travelling from Waterford via N9/N10 to Knocktopher, R699 and R697 via Kells and onto the car parks at Ballyroberts Cross. – Car Parks Coloured Brown.
Route 3- Traffic from Wexford and South East will travel to Inistioge, Thomastown on R700 onto the N9 via Knocktopher to R699, R697 to site and enter the car parks at Ballyroberts Cross. Car Parks Coloured Brown.
Route 4- Traffic from Midlands, Kildare- Athy- Castlecomer on N78 onto Kilkenny city, and along the Ring Road and the N76 on to the car parks at Ballybur cross. Car Parks Coloured Blue.
Route 5- Traffic from the North Central, Laois Offaly will travel to Durrow via N77 to Ballyragget on to Kilkenny city joining Route 4. Car Parks Coloured Blue.
Route 6- Traffic from East, Dublin, via Carlow to Paulstown, taking L2636 at Gowran to Bennettsbridge taking L4200, L1015 via Danesfort to Sevenhouses Cross Roads and on to car parks, coloured Yellow.
Route 7- Traffic from Cork and West Waterford will travel via Clonmel on N76 to Callan and onto Ballymack Cross into car parks at site. Car Parks Coloured Purple.
Route 8- Traffic wishing to travel to Clonmel and Callan will be diverted from Kilkenny out the N10 to Knocktopher, turn right onto the R699 to Dunnamaggan village and on to Callan along R699.
Route 9- Emergency route from the site will exit via a private road from the exhibition areas to N76 at Robert Woodcock’s house. This will allow emergency traffic proceed toward Kilkenny or Clonmel unimpeded.
Traffic Restrictions - The following roads will be restricted to normal traffic for the duration of the event. They will be in use for event traffic only: L5040 from Grove via Ballybur Cross to Burnchurch Cross L1015 from Ballymack Cross to Burnchurch Cross L1016 from Sevenhouses to Burnchurch Cross L5042 from Ballyroberts Cross to Burnchurch Cross. Kells Road (R697) from junction with N76 Ring Road to Ballyroberts Cross. N76 Southbound from Junction with Ring Road Kilkenny to Ballymack Cross.
Parking Areas - As car parks are spread across many different locations around the event site patrons are reminded to take note of the car park they use and the location of their vehicle within the car park. The area around the site has been divided into five separate parking areas. Each car park is colour coded. Car Parks will be controlled by stewards employed by the event organisers. Traffic arriving at Ballymack Cross along N76 will be diverted onto L1015 and into car parks by stewards.
Car Park- Purple- Traffic arriving at Ballymack Cross along R690/R691 will be directed across the road to car parks.
Car Park- Green- Traffic arriving at Ballybur Cross will be directed along the L5040 to car parks manned by stewards.
Car Park- Blue- Traffic arriving at Sevenhouses Cross will be diverted along L1016 and into car parks by stewards.
Car Park- Yellow- Traffic arriving along R697 from Knocktopher will be diverted onto L5042 at Ballyroberts Cross and into car parks by stewards.
Car Park- Brown- Traffic will exit and return home along the same route they arrived. A tow truck will be on stand by at the site to assist in removing any vehicle which parks illegally or in such a manner as to cause an obstruction. Exhibitor Car Parks are located at Calderpotts on Route 4 and 5 and Ger Gorey’s on Route 7. Exhibitors are requested to be on site before 8.30am each morning. Persons involved in Hunter Chase and Sheep Dog trials are advised to access site via Ballymack Cross and along L1015 to designated site.
Bus Parking - There are Four specially designated Bus Parking Areas for use by large 52 Seater Buses – smaller buses can be accommodated in all car parks. Bus parking areas are marked light blue on map. Buses travelling on Route 1 and 1a will park at Hoynes Yard on N76 on Callan side of Ballymack Cross. Buses travelling on Route 2 and 3 will use Bus Parking at Walshe’s field on R695 between Seven Houses and Ballyroberts Cross. Buses using Route 4 and 5 will park at Ger Woodcocks which is directly off N76 at Ballybur Cross. Buses using Route 6 will use same car park as Route 2 and 3. Buses using Route 7 will use car park at Cunningham’s on L1015.
Disability Car Park - Two designated disability car parks will be available – one located at the entrance to the site at Burnchurch, and the other at Car Park Coloured Purple at Gorey’s field adjacent to the exhibition area. Parking Restrictions The parking of vehicles on all roads adjacent to the site and areas within the site will be prohibited from 6am to 9pm daily. All parking restrictions will be strictly enforced and tow away vehicles will be in operation.
Signage - Traffic signs and signs directing the public to the event will be placed on all routes by the event organiser in conjunction with Kilkenny County Council and An Garda Siochana.
Garda Press Office
13.55hrs 17/9/08
