Sales of tricolour balaclavas soar at the National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore

Forget about pens and keyrings, the must-have item on everyone's wish list at the National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore is the tricolour balaclava.

Once a symbol of violence and division, the green, white and gold headpiece is now regarded as a fashion accessory drumming up craic and chats between mutual wearers.

Based on the anecdotal evidence in Screggan, Tullamore, teenagers account for the majority of consumers. When asked why they were wearing a knitted head piece on a warm September afternoon, many simply replied "Kneecap".

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Despite the geographical distance from Belfast, the Northern Ireland band's impact can be felt strongly in the fields around Tullamore which are hosting the National Ploughing Championships.

Being sold in numerous stalls and shops across the sprawling site there's no doubt the green white and gold headpiece is hot stock at this year's event.

Despite heavy rainfall on Tuesday night, tens of thousands of people have once again descended on the site of the National Ploughing Championships at Screggan, Tullamore.

Just over 78,000 people passed through the gates on Tuesday and it's expected the attendance figures will be higher on Wednesday and Thursday.