Ploughing Live 2026 Day One: As It Happened

The National Ploughing Championships saw 77,000 people attend on Day One.

Our live coverage of  Day 1 of the National Ploughing Chanpionships at Screggan in Tullamore.

We'll be putting the biggest stories reported on site here for you to enjoy.

The National Ploughing Championship Attendance for Day One reached 77,000 today according to the NPA.

Reflecting on the day, NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said:

“We are absolutely delighted with the atmosphere here today and with the fantastic number of people who have come through the gates. There is a wonderful buzz right across the site and it is great to see so many visitors enjoying everything the Ploughing Championships has to offer.”

President Catherine Connolly has criticised Ireland's lack of action on climate change.

Opening the 95th National Ploughing Championships in Screggan  earlier today, she spoke on a number of topics including food trade and extreme weather events in Europe.

President Connolly referenced multiple academic papers and environmental reports which outline concerns about climate change:

The Government looks likely to introduce supports for home heating oil in the upcoming budget.

Finance Minister Simon Harris says there’s rising energy bills are hitting some people harder than others.

Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships, he says discussions on the issue are taking place;

The Taoiseach says Sinn Fein has set back Irish unity by collaborating with Wales and Scotland on the issue.

It comes 24 hours after the heads of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, along with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald agreed to work together toward independence from Downing Street.

They announced ‘Westminster’s time was coming to an end’, with Northern Ireland’s First Minister saying a united Ireland was the end goal.

Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships in Offaly, Michael Martin is critical of the move:

Tanaiste Simon Harris meets with the Rose of Tralee, Mullingar's Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh.

Engineers Ireland's robot dog is the star of the show

Thousands of people are attending the first day of the National Ploughing Championships in County Offaly.
The 95th edition of the event began in Screggan earlier.

An Garda Síochána is warning of a number of road closures over the course of the three-day event, including a partial closure of the N52 between Tullamore and Birr, and the closure of local roads approaching Mucklagh village and the event site.

President Catherine Connolly is reflecting on how much the event has grown since the first championship in 1931:

The Tanaiste says The National Ploughing Championships represents the "Soul of Ireland".

Day one of Europe's largest outdoor agri event is in full flow with Welly throwing, bread baking, and plenty of fashion still on today's schedule.

The Finance Minister will be presenting his first Budget package at the start of the next month.

Simon Harris says he hopes it will reward the farmers at this year's Ploughing:

The Taoiseach says the National Ploughing Championships is a "national event of great significance."

The event has been officially launched at the Ploughing Grand Stand with President Catherine Connolly joining Anna May McHugh among a number of officials and dignitaries on its 95th anniversary.

Around 80,000 people are expected to attend the site in Screggan in Tullamore today.

Micheal Martin says the future of food production in Ireland is rightly the focus this week:

The Taoiseach at the Ploughing

People are continuing to come through the gates for the opening day of this year's event.

Here's what's bringing them to Offaly:

President Catherine Connolly has arrived at the Official Opening. 

The Garda Commissioner is preaching patience when it comes to tackling trans-national organised crime.

The son of Gerry "The Monk" Hutch Jason Murphy was extradited from Spain last week accused of serious organised crime offences.

While Daniel Kinahan is currently being held in the maximum security Portlaoise Prison after being brought back from the UAE to face a charge of directing a criminal organisation.

Commissioner Justin Kelly says he's happy Mr Kinahan is in custody, and Gardaí are still working on a number of other targets:

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly.

 Engineers Ireland’s exhibition is packed with interactive activities and some striking robot technology:

The Rose of Tralee says she's looking forward to meeting the public, as she attends the Ploughing today.

Mullingar's Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh took the title last month, and is the second Midlands winner in two years after Laois Rose Katelyn Cummins.

It's one of her first major events since taking the title three weeks ago.

The Westmeath Rose says she's looking forward to meeting a few groups in particular:

The Rose of Tralee, Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh at this year's Ploughing.

Day one of the National Ploughing Championships is well underway.

The forecast is for a mix of sunny spells and scattered passing showers.

With top temperatures of 16 to 18 degrees.

Offaly's Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel says the worst of the weather will land in the early hours of day three:

These ploughing revellers having been telling Midlands 103's Abi Vozza and Daniel Boyne what's bringing them to Screggan this year:

Meanwhile one in three farmers plan to leave the industry over the next 5 years.

That's the finding of a new survey from Agriland and the ICMSA, which reveals farm income is one of the biggest obstacles to people entering the industry.

The survey, one of the biggest of its kind, questioned over 2 thousand farmers, who also say they have no-one to take over the land.

Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon says that's something he wants to address:

The EU is set to propose restrictions on under-15s accessing social media.

The plan is part of an EU Kids Act, which is due to be announced this week.

It would also extend to AI chatbots and online games, according to a document seen by Reuters.

Children between 13 and 14 can set up an introductory account with parental control, while accounts for anyone younger must be fully controlled by parents.

Former Ireland rugby international Devin Toner is at the National Ploughing Championships this year for Zurich's Tackle Your Feelings campaign.

The ex Leinster player says he welcomes any move to protect children from online harm:

Devin Toner stands tall at the National Ploughing Championships

Europe's largest outdoor agricultural event is finally here, as the National Ploughing Championships returns to Offaly today.

Screggan in Tullamore hosts the event for the second year in a row, with an estimated 80,000 people set to descend upon the site each day over the three day schedule.

It's a damp start to proceedings after overnight rain in Screggan

The 95th edition of the event will see 350 competitors and 34 unique classes taking part, with President Catherine Connolly opening proceedings at the grandstand at noon today.

Plenty of events will be on alongside the action, including daily fashion shows three times a day with prizes for the Most Appropriately Dressed Gentleman and Lady also up for grabs.

The livestock showcase returns, celebrating the country's finest breeds along the agri pavillion.

While a younger crowd is set to join a firm favourite at the Ploughing - the Junior category  is being added to the National Brown Bread Baking Competiton.

Hoping to succed Maureen Igoe as winner in this year's Senior division will be Westmeath's Ber Ennis and Therese Lonergan alongside six other finalists, with the winners to be crowned on Thursday.

Enterprise Ireland will also  host their Innovation Arena, with Irish agritech businesses and innovators showcasing new ideas and solutions.

Engineers Ireland's exhbit ‘Engineering the Future’, will showcase how engineering is shaping modern life - with a robot dog and humanoid robot on display.

And of course, the welly throwing returns this year with the chosen charity being SOSAD.

Gardaí are warning of significant traffic disruption around the site, with more than 80-thousand people expected to attend each day.

Motorists not travelling to the Ploughing are being urged to avoid the N52 between Tullamore and Birr, as well as roads around Mucklagh and Screggan.

Those heading to the event are being told to follow the designated colour-coded routes and Garda directions.

Drivers are also being warned not to rely on satnavs near the site, as they may not reflect the traffic diversions in place.