OVER 90,000 PEOPLE flocked to Ratheniska in Laois today for the second day on the National Ploughing Championships.
Overall, over 171,000 people have attended the festival in the last two days, putting it well on course to smash pre-festival predictions of 190,000 attendees.
The festival organisers say that commercial reports are strong across the board, describing the event as “the busiest in five years”.
Anna May McHugh of the National says that the figures were “beyond all expectation” and urged visitors to continue to check the website and follow garda instructions.
“I am delighted that the traffic management plan An Garda Síochána put in place is dealing so well with the numbers travelling. I would urge all visitors attending tomorrow to download and follow the Garda traffic plan on our website.
“Walking the site today, the atmosphere was tremendous and we are all looking forward to another day of ploughing and trade tomorrow.”
Today featured the first-ever “tweetup” in the history of the championships, prizes for the “Most Appropriately Dressed” gent and lady as well a host of politicians pressing the flesh.
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