International interest in Ireland’s showpiece agricultural event has been growing

Dancing in the mud and high fives at the entrance are part of last-day high spirits

Cumulative visitor total tops 280,000 for three-day event to break new ground

Motorists advised to turn off the sat-nav and follow the signs for Ireland’s biggest event

With 300,000 people, the event in Tullamore is now six times bigger than Electric Picnic

Decision on National Ploughing Championships follows most successful year ever

The success of the event lies in the fact it’s about a lot more than ploughing

Next year’s venue still to be announced but it could return to Laois

Papal Nuncio describes the event as ‘absolutely terrific’

Minister for Agriculture and Tánaiste among the 87,000 expected in Ratheniska today

The green Deutz D40Ltractor, restored by grandson Michael, will take centre stage at Ploughing Championships

Champions and edible insects just some of the attractions promised for ploughing event

Eamonn Tracey and John Whelan take gold and bronze at world event in France

Anna May McHugh, who is in her 70s, lives on a farm with her husband John. “ I have no notion of ever leaving here. The only way I’ll leave here is, well, I don’t want to say, but you know . . . I couldn’t see myself living anywhere else,” she says

The fittest festival-goer of them all, Mark Graham, chooses his 10 best festivals of the year

Taoiseach Enda Kenny puts his foot in it at National Ploughing Championships

Increase in numbers attributed to central location in Co Laois and good weather

Helping young farmers to access land ‘greatest’ of all challenges in agriculture

Three-day event is the largest show of its type in Europe

President Michael D Higgins to open event at Ratheniska, Stradbally, Co Laois