WITH MUCH of the country draped this weekend in the sort of high-end sunshine so keenly lamented over the summer, and forecasters predicting more to come, organisers of the National Ploughing Championships were preparing for a turnout of more than 150,000 for this week's three-day event.
Poor recent weather had led to a huge effort to weatherproof the 600-acre ploughing site at Cuffesgrange, Co Kilkenny in time for tomorrow's opening day. But yesterday Anna May McHugh, managing director of the National Ploughing Association, said conditions had never been so good in the days leading up to the event.
It will be formally opened by Tánaiste Mary Coughlan at midday tomorrow, will cost more than €3 million to stage and is expected to be the largest ploughing championships to date.
Apart from the huge array of trade demonstrations, a number of Government agencies will be in attendance, including the Defence Forces. All the political parties have official stands at the event. Taoiseach Brian Cowen is expected to attend, as are a number of Government Ministers.
As well as the ploughing competition, the three-day schedule includes livestock exhibitions, fashion shows, food halls and an international property exhibition.
There will also be a novel opportunity to hear and heckle politicians in the flesh, with politicians from all parties due to participate in the first Speakers' Corner event. Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue will launch the Speakers Corner event tomorrow.