PLOUGHING TRAFFIC UPDATE: Huge tailbacks reported as crowds flock to Carlow

By COLIN BARTLEY

ORGANISERS are struggling to cope with record crowds turning up at the National Ploughing Championship today.

Some visitors are reporting being stuck in traffic for up to three to four hours, while organisers have just announced the shuttle bus service from Carlow has been stopped due to over-capacity saying there is no more parking available at the Park & Ride in the Braun site in Carlow.

Some frustrated commuters went on social media to vent their frustration, reporting tailbacks up to 15km. getting out of their vehicles to temporarily escape the heat, which had the effect of causing further delays.

The amazing weather, added to the site’s central location close to the motorway, is attracting more people to the championship than ever before.

Yesterday 102,000 people passed through the gates at Fennagh, county Carlow, and indications suggest this number will be shattered today despite the traffic issues.

Diversions have been put in place for the duration of the event from Urlingford and Threecastles onto the N77 via Ballyragget and Durrow to assist traffic flow.

On the site, gardai are warning people of the presence of pickpockets urging people to be more security conscious.

A Garda spokesperson said: “With events of this size and the amount of people it attracts, we are going to get opportunists coming to the site.

“We advise people to have their bags secured, zipped up and to know where their bags are. Keep your wallets and phones in your front pockets where you can feel them and not in back pockets where they can be easily got.

“There are not too many pickpockets, but there are a few opportunists about.”

Gardai are also warning teenagers they are taking a ‘Zero Tolerance’ stance to underage drinking. “We have kids coming to the site with drink on them, they are being found and they are being refused access. We are contacting the parents and the kids will be sent home,” a spokesperson said.