Some 102,500 people attended day one of the 2019 National Ploughing Championships in Ballintrane, Fenagh, Co Carlow.

Numbers are up 5,000 this year compared to day one of last year's Ploughing.

Those attending day one of this year's Ploughing basked in autumnal sunshine, with highs of 17°C. More good weather is forecast for the next two days of the event.

Commenting on attendance, National Ploughing Association (NPA) managing director Anna May McHugh said: “We are extremely pleased with the turn out today. The traffic flowed well thanks to the guard’s traffic management and visitor co-operation.

"Everywhere you looked people were smiling and enjoying themselves experiencing the whole array of activities on offer. With the good weather set to continue along with two more action packed days of trading and ploughing, we are expecting similar crowds all week," she said.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, President of Ireland Michael D Higgins called for those in beef negotiations to view what is on offer as a beginning, and to make it a good beginning for the future of the family farm and rural Ireland.

His speech also had a strong focus on climate change and the environment.

“I want to ask the farming community, what you do is you go to the head of the race on biodiversity and climate change because you are people who know it better than others," he said.

The Irish Farmers Journal stand is at Row 18, Stand 403.

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