Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and to collect information about how you use this site to improve our service to you. By not accepting cookies some elements of the site, such as video, will not work. Please visit our Cookie Policy page for more information on how we use cookies.

Accept All Cookies Necessary Cookies Only Manage Cookies

Traffic Management Tullamore National Livestock Show 2026 - Sunday 9th August 2026

On Sunday, 9th August 2026, the Tullamore Agricultural and National Livestock Show takes place on the grounds at Butterfield Estate, Blueball, Tullamore.

This event attracts upwards of 60,000 visitors and approximately 20,000 vehicles each year.

The Showground is located on the outskirts of Tullamore on the N.52 – Tullamore to Birr Road, approximately 7km from Tullamore town.

Gardai wish to advise motorists that delays in the area can be expected all day and that Diversions will be in place.

People Attending the Show

Free car parking is provided adjacent to the show grounds and motorists will be directed along 4 dedicated routes to each of 4 car parks as follows:

NORTH/NORTH EAST TRAFFIC - (Kilbeggan, N.52, N.80 etc.)

Will be diverted via the Tullamore By-Pass to the Birr Road and access the Green Car Park adjacent to the Showgrounds.

WEST/NORTH WEST TRAFFIC – (From Athlone M6 direction)

Will be diverted off the M6 after Athlone and via Clara, Coolnahiley and Rahan where they will be accommodated at the Yellow Car Park adjacent to the showgrounds.

SOUTH/SOUTH EAST TRAFFIC - (Portlaoise, Mountmellick, N.80 Direction)

Will be diverted at Killeigh Village towards the Showgrounds, where they will be accommodated at the Blue car park.

SOUTH/SOUTH WEST TRAFFIC - (From Birr N.52 Direction)

Will be diverted left at Blueball to the Red car park adjacent to the Showgrounds.

A periodic reversible one-way traffic system will operate around the Showgrounds at peak times in the morning and the evening. This will result in delays.

Motorists and local Residents etc., are asked to co-operate with the Gardai and Show Stewards and to follow all information signs which are there for their benefit.

No Parking will be permitted on the Diversion Routes or Roads in the precinct of the Showgrounds.  These will be ‘Tow Away Areas’

Patrons attending the show are asked to disregard Sat-Nav/Google Maps and to follow Road Signs for Show Parking.

EXHIBITORS:

Exhibitors are requested to follow Exhibitors Signs and to arrive before 9.30am in order to avoid delays.  Please display Exhibitor Badges clearly.  After 9.30am the Exhibitor Route will close and Exhibitors will have to use regular car parking facilities.

All exhibitors, with the exception of livestock, will be directed to the main site entrance situated on the Blueball/Rahan Road. 

Livestock, including horses, will gain access to the site via the closed section of the N52.  Please follow signs for Livestock.

DISABLED CAR PARK:

A disabled car park is provided on the event site by organisers. Show committee will issue PWD Passes to patrons who wish to use this parking facility. All vehicles displaying PWD Pass will be directed onto the event site. 

All persons wishing to avail of Disabled parking and issued with relevant PWD Pass should follow signage for Livestock and enter at Gate 3 on the Greatwood Road. After 12pm please use the Blueball Entrance for Disabled Parking.

FOR MOTORISTS NOT ATTENDING THE SHOW

Please note that a section of the N52 from Mucklagh to Blueball will be closed to non-show traffic from approximately 7am to 8pm on the day of the Show. 

The following alternative routes are available to passing motorists, not attending the show and in order to avoid delays those motorists are asked to use the Signed Diversions.

  1. Traffic travelling towards Tullamore from a South or Southwest direction can divert 2 km from Birr at Kennedy’s Cross for Athlone, Tullamore, Kilbeggan or Mullingar and at Kilcormac for Mountmellick, Portlaoise or Portarlington.
  2. Traffic travelling towards Tullamore from a North or Eastern direction can divert at Kilbeggan via Clara, Ferbane and Cloghan for Birr.
  3. Traffic travelling through Tullamore from a South or Southeast direction can divert at Portlaoise via Portarlington and Rochfortbridge to the M6 motorway.

Delays on the day are unavoidable and passing motorists are asked to be patient and use the signed diversion routes where possible.

Traffic Management:

The management of traffic is the primary role of An Garda Sìochàna in relation to this event. There are four large car parks amounting to 240 acres selected to accommodate visitors.  The four car parks and their selected entrances are strategically located.  Dedicated routes have been selected leading directly to the car parks as follows:

  1. North/North East – Tullamore – Site (Green Car Park)
  2. West/North West – Athlone – Clara – Rahan – Site (Yellow Car Park)
  3. South/South West – Birr – Blueball – Site (Red Car Park)
  4. East/South East – Portlaoise – Killeigh – Site (Blue Car Park)

Alternative Routes have also been selected around Tullamore for traffic not attending the event in order that they can avoid delays.  Those alternative routes will be communicated to the public via the media and internet in the days leading up to the event.

Patrons attending the show are asked to disregard Sat-Nav/Google Maps and to follow the Road Signs for Show Parking.

 Traffic Plan:

The Car Parks are located as follows:

(1)

Tullamore Car Park (Green) has approximately 100 acres of parking and will accommodate all traffic from the North and North East.

Traffic approaching from Kilbeggan, Edenderry and Portarlington will follow the Tullamore By-Pass and take the N52 to this car park.  A contra flow system will operate from Mucklagh to the Car park entrance both in the morning and in the evening.  The N52 from Tullamore to Blueball will be closed to passing traffic from 7am to 9pm in order to accommodate the event. 

(2)

Athlone Car Park (Yellow)has an approximate size of 30 acres and will cater for traffic approaching the event from the West and North West.  Traffic approaching from Athlone will be diverting off the motorway via Tubber, Clara, Coolnahiley, Rahan and into this car park.

(3)

Birr Car Park (Red) has an approximate area of 52 acres and will cater for traffic approaching the Event from the South and South West.  In addition, an extra 50 acres of car parking space is available in an adjoining field. 

All show traffic approaching from the Birr direction will turn left at Blueball via the Colegap Junction and into the car park.  A contra flow system will operate between the Colegap Junction and the car park entrance as required to accommodate traffic approaching from the Cloghan direction along B.357

(4)

Portlaoise Car Park (Blue) has an approximate area of 48 acres and will cater for traffic from the East and South East.  All traffic approaching from Portlaoise on the N80 will be diverted at Killeigh and will approach the Car park via Killurin Cross, Blacklion, Clonterlough and Holmshill.  In addition, an area of this car park directly off the N.52 will act as a Bus Park accommodating buses bringing patrons to the event.  Patrons from this car park will cross the closed section of the N.52 to gain access to and from the Event Site.  One Garda and 6 Civil Defence personnel will be on duty at this location to manage the road crossing.

(5)

Disabled Car Park –

A disabled car park is provided on the event site by organisers. Show committee will issue PWD Passes to patrons who wish to use this parking facility. All vehicles displaying PWD Pass will be directed onto the event site. 

All persons wishing to avail of Disabled parking and issued with relevant PWD Pass should follow signage for “Livestock Entrance” on the Greatwood Road (Zone B – PINK Pass) and enter at Gate 3.

Each car park will be operated by stewards selected by the Show Committee.  An Garda Sìochàna will have an opportunity to brief the car park stewards before the event.

(6)

Exhibitors

All Exhibitors/Competitors/Trade Parking (ZONE B – Pink Pass) with the exception of livestock will be directed to the event site where they will gain access at Gates 5/6. 

Livestock Exhibitors/Competitors/Trade (ZONE A – BLUE PASS) only will between 7.30am and 9.30am gain access at Gates 2/3 to the site via the closed section of the N52 onto Greatwood Road.  In the evening only cattle exhibitors will leave via the closed section of the N52.

Road Closures:

The N.52 Route will be closed to through traffic from Mucklagh Junction to Blueball to accommodate the event.  Special arrangements will be put in place for anyone residing on that stretch of roadway and for the single business premises located on it.  Suitable diversions will be put in place for non-show traffic using this route.

Parking Restrictions:

Parking restrictions will apply in the environs of the event particularly:

  • (A) From Mucklagh to Blueball
  • (B) From Blacklion to Portlaoise Car Park
  • (C) From Blueball to the Event Site
  • (D) From Screegan via Glaskill and Agall to the event site (The emergency route).

Local people will be advised of the Road Closures and Parking restrictions.  Householders directly affected by road closures will receive written notification of traffic arrangements.