Issue Date: 13/09/2026
An Garda Síochána has a significant policing operation in place for the National Ploughing Championships taking place on Tuesday 15th, Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th September 2026.
• Partial road closure of N52 between Tullamore and Birr
• Local road closure of all approach roads to Mucklagh village and event site at Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
• Road users are advised to avoid using satnav and other similar devices close to the event site
• Significant updates will be posted on An Garda Síochána social media channels
With an anticipated in excess of 80,000 persons attending this event, a traffic management plan and parking plan is in place for each day.
The assistance of all road users is required to allow traffic to move freely to and from the event during these times.
Gardaí are urging road users not attending the National Ploughing Championships to avoid the N52 between Tullamore and Birr. Road users are also asked to avoid all approach roads to Mucklagh village, and the event site at Screggan, from Tuesday, 15th September at 6am until Thursday, 17th of September at 8pm.
For those attending the National Ploughing Championships, please view in advance the Traffic Management Plan on the An Garda Síochána and National Ploughing Association websites for the correct route to take, depending on where you are travelling from.
It is essential that drivers do not use other satnav-type devices as they may not have this up-to-date information on the specific traffic diversions for this event. Over the course of the event, persons are asked to listen and comply with any direction by An Garda Síochána or stewards.
The Traffic Management Plan includes an interactive map, which can be viewed on any internet-enabled device and is available at the following link: How to get to the Ploughing?
This Traffic Management Plan includes routes to the event broken down into a colour coordinated system. The colour coordinated system will help with parking in the correct zone.
The following websites also provide valuable additional information for persons planning to attend the National Ploughing Championships 2026:
www.garda.ie
www.npa.ie
Real-time updates will be provided, where appropriate, by the Garda Press Office via press release to media and/or An Garda Síochána's official social media accounts:
• X @gardatraffic and @gardainfo
• Facebook An Garda Síochána
• Instagram @gardainsta
In general, traffic from the following areas are advised to plan accordingly:
Green Route - Traffic from West/North West
We are asking all patrons travelling from the west along the M6 to exit at Junction 6 Moate and not to proceed to Junction 5 Kilbeggan as this will bring patrons into Dublin traffic travelling to the event. All people travelling from the west who exit at Junction 6 Moate will be assisted by Gardaí through the villages of Ballycumber and Rahan and onto parking in close proximity to the site. Buses on this route will proceed to Junction 5 Moate and they will be assisted by Gardaí getting to the designated bus parking.
• Patrons travelling this route will park in the designated GREEN Car Parks on the right hand side of the L2011 just beside the event grounds at Screggan.
Brown Route - Traffic from Limerick/Kerry/South West
All traffic travelling to the event from Kerry, Limerick and the south west will turn off the M7 at Junction 26 Nenagh South. The designated route for this traffic will bring it along the Ring Road in Nenagh and into Borrisokane. We are asking patrons to continue straight through Borrisokane to avoid encountering other traffic routes. From Borrisokane, all ploughing traffic will be assisted by Gardaí through major junctions and the village of Cloghan to car parks in close proximity to the site. Patrons following this designated route will not have to merge with traffic coming to the event from any other area of the country.
• Patrons on this route will park in the designated BROWN Car Parks beside the event grounds at Screggan.
Blue Route - Traffic from Cork/Munster
We are asking people travelling from the Cork/Munster area to turn off the M8 at Junction 6 (Horse & Jockey) and not to proceed along the motorway to Portlaoise. By turning off at Junction 6, people travelling from the Cork/Munster region will avoid traffic congestion and other ploughing traffic in the Portlaoise area. Traffic turning off at Junction 6 will be assisted by Gardaí on point duty in the towns of Thurles, Templemore, Roscrea and Birr, these patrons will then enter car parks on the west side of the site without encroaching on the town of Tullamore, or merging with any other traffic approaching the site.
• Patrons on this route will park in the designated BLUE car parks on the left and right hand side beside the event grounds.
Purple Route - Traffic from Dublin/Leinster/North
Traffic from Dublin is asked to use the M4/M6 Westbound to Junction 5 on the M6 (Kilbeggan) and then onto the N52 towards Tullamore for 4km. 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.
• Patrons on this route will park in the designated PURPLE Car Park – Park and Ride facility.
Grey Route - Traffic from South East Waterford/Kilkenny
We are asking all persons travelling north along the N77 via Durrow and Abbeyleix before arriving at Portlaoise where traffic will be directed left at Junction 17 through Clonminham and onwards to Fairgreen Portlaoise, travelling along the N80 to Mountmellick. 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, Tullamore and parking beside the event site.
• Patrons on this route will park in the designated GREY Car Parks beside the event grounds at Screggan.
Yellow Route - Traffic from South East/Carlow
Traffic travelling from Carlow and the South East will travel on the N80 towards Portlaoise. 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 (signposted Portarlington). Traffic will proceed to Kennells Cross and be turned left and travel towards Mountmellick town. All traffic will be directed around Mountmellick town and onto Tullamore via Killeigh. Traffic will then proceed to parking beside the event grounds.
• Patrons on this route will park in the designated YELLOW Car Parks beside the event grounds at Screggan.
Pink Route - Traffic from the North/North West
People attending the event from the North and North West will travel through Mullingar and on towards Tyrellspass. We are asking patrons on this route to follow the directions of Gardaí onto the old N6 road and not to proceed onto the M6 Motorway at Tyrellspass. By abiding to this request, traffic will not merge with Dublin traffic travelling to the event. All traffic from the north and north west will be assisted by Gardaí through the town of Kilbeggan and onto the Clara to Tullamore Road where it will proceed on its own designated route to car parks on the north of the site. Traffic following this route will not merge with any other patrons driving to the event.
• Patrons travelling this route will park in the designated PINK Car Parks beside the event grounds at Screggan.
