Ploughing 2026: Livestock, Fashion, Welly-throwing, And Bread Baking

The National Ploughing Championships kick off today amid sunny spells and scattered showers.

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 over the three day schedule.

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.