A total of 244,000 people basked in the Ratheniska sunshine in Co Laois as this year's National Ploughing Championships took place over three glorious days.

Our photographers captured the faces and the mood of the event.

Sunrise on day one of the National Ploughing Championships. \ Philip Doyle

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In pictures:

A general view of the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska. \ Donal O' Leary

President Michael D Higgens opening the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois \ Claire Nash

Philip Hartley, PJ Hartley, and Thomas Hartley while PJ was competing for Kilkenny in the under 28 conventional plough class (Senior) at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois. \ Claire Nash

Stella and Finn Butler travel in style while at the second day of the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois. \ Philip Doyle \ Claire Nash

Killian Lydon from Galway on the second day at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois \ Claire Nash

Blaithín Murphy and Emma Grace, Bandon, Co Cork, having the craic during the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska. \ Donal O' Leary

Darragh Ryan, Ballymurphy, Borris, Co Carlow, at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska. \ Donal O' Leary

Ursula Kelly had help from her daughter Lauren on the Cormac Tagging stand at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska. \ Donal O' Leary

A group of children watch the NPA sheep shearing open final 2024 at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois. \ Philip Doyle

Fernando Perez, Mountellick, Co Laois ready for some ice cream cones during the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska. \ Donal O' Leary

Jerry from Kerry at this year's Ploughing Championships along with his horse Elton John.\ Claire Nash

Taoiseach Simon Harris visits the IFA stand on the third day of the National Ploughing Championship 2024. \ Philip Doyle

The Ploughing site lies under a thick mist as the sun rises on the third morning of the event. \ Kieran Quigley

The harvest supermoon over the National Ploughing site in Rathniska, Co Laois. \ Philip Doyle

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