'It's busy' - Ploughing traffic still heavy on all routes amid diversions in Offaly

Over 100,000 are expected to attend the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly, today with traffic still very busy on all routes into the site.

A major Garda traffic plan is in place and traffic is moving but attendees can escape some delays as gardaí and stewards manage traffic heading into carpark this morning. 

One worker on the site said "it's busy" as queues of cars piled into the fields surrounding the site outside Tullamore as early as 7am this morning. 

Scores of gardai ringed all entries to the town of Tullamore, directing traffic for the early arrivers.

Before 7am a tail-back was already forming between the Distillery Roundabout and the Charleville Roundabout on the N52 Tullamore town bypass as visitors from the south made their way to Screggan.

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Nonetheless vehicles were moving smoothly, proving once again that those who hit the roads before dawn were best placed to find the easiest way into the sprawling site.

Traffic will inevitably build as the morning progresses on what is just day one of the three-day National Ploughing spectacular, billed as the biggest outdoor event of its kind in Europe.