A new attendance record has been set at the National Ploughing Championships today in Ratheniska in Co Laois.
115,500 people came through the gates according to the organisers. That is the highest attendance ever recorded on a single day in the history of the event.
Meanwhile, Government and opposition leaders as well as other senior politicians are attending day two of the event.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald are all scheduled to attend. Also due to visit is Northern Ireland’s First Minister Designate Michelle O’Neill.
All the main political parties have stands at the Ploughing Championships which is expected to attract large number of visitors once again today.
Officials said 91,500 people attended yesterday, the first day of the event.
From first light this morning the many car parks surrounding the 900-acre site began to fill and traffic is building on all approach roads.
Around 1,700 trade stands are in place at the venue, along the site’s 37km of trackway.
It is estimated 300,000 people will attend the event over three days.
