Ploughing reaction: 'It's a disaster of the highest order'

Nora, Derry, James and Ronan Scannell travelled from Clonakilty

“We travelled last night and stayed in Birr so that we could have an early start today. It’s a disaster of the highest order. There’s a lot of planning involved in coming to an event like this, getting somebody to mind the farm at home, taking the kids out of school. You can understand it’s for health and safety but you only get one shot at coming as the kids are back at school tomorrow.”

Michelle, Caoimhe and Sarah Craughwell, Alex Kenny and Alisha Hanlon from Ballinasloe

“We are very disappointed that the Ploughing is cancelled. We might come tomorrow but we were talking to somebody inside the site who said the damage is significant. It probably should have been called off last night.”

Meanwhile, anxious exhibitors waited to access the site in the afternoon to check on their stands.

Martin and Jenny Murphy from Co Clare

“We are very disappointed but the weather is the weather and it’s hard to predict. It could have been called off and then turned out to be a lovely day. I can’t come back tomorrow, but if it runs Friday, we might come back.”

Catriona Dineen, Jennifer Dineen, Kevin Dineen, Rory Hearty from Rathmore, Co Kerry “We left Kerry at 7.30am this morning. It probably should have been called off last night or by 10am this morning. But we did get down to see the horses, so at least we saw something. It won’t put us off coming again.”