Colour-coded traffic plan outlined as huge crowds to descend on Ploughing Championships site

An Garda Síochána has published the official traffic plan for next week's National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore.

The major national event will take place in Screggan, Tullamore, from Tuesday, September 16, to Thursday, September 18.

Gardai urged visitors not to use their Sat Nav to find their parking location, as it will cause unnecessary delays and disruption to their plans.

In a statement, An Garda Síochána Laois/Offaly said: "For the upcoming National Ploughing Championships, we strongly advise all attendees to plan ahead, follow the official Traffic Management Plan, and comply with the directions of Gardaí.

"Using Sat Nav instead of the designated routes will only cause delays for yourself and inconvenience for fellow attendees."

The traffic plan includes a number of colour-coded approach routes, as follows:

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.

Grey route (traffic from South East / Kilkenny): 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.

Yellow route (traffic from Carlow): 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.

Brown route (traffic from Limerick/the South West): 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.

Purple route (traffic from Dublin): 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.

Pink route (traffic from the North): 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.

Green route (traffoc 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.

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.