The best biggest and best event in a farmer’s calendar is beginning today in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly, and while all good farmers will be there, it’s interesting to know what it means for people living nearby.

For one, local schools are in bother. In Killina village, which is right beside the site, both the secondary and national school have had to shut for the week because the children won’t be able to get in with the traffic.

The three secondary schools in Tullamore are open from 11am until 2.30pm for the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Schools in Kilcormac and Birr are the same too, opening from 11am till 3pm every day. I’m surprised they are bothering to open at all – sure everyone will want to go to the Ploughing.

Teacher traffic plan

I’ve heard one teacher there say the traffic management plan is only for people ‘round the country to get to the Ploughing and won’t help the locals at all to get to and from work.

They say in Mucklagh, which is just outside Tullamore on the other side of Screggan, people were told they’d only be let through into town if 20 or 30 cars come at once, otherwise they’ll have to go the backroads. Twenty cars? Sure that would be the population of the area.

Nevertheless, it means a journey that would take about five minutes of anyone’s day would take 30 or 40.

Hospital appointments

I’ve also heard that appointments in the hospital in Tullamore have been rescheduled for the week.

A couple of people I know said they got calls to bring their appointment forward because they’re expecting the roads to be hectic and sure it’s not like anyone in Ireland has ever been a couple hours late to see the doctor before.

It looks like the postmen are taking a bit of a holiday this week as well. I heard they’ll only be able to deliver post to the town of Tullamore and the rural areas will have to wait until next week.

Sure after their morning round they could always pop over to the stalls and see what’s going on if they get bored.

Other businesses in the town are set to shut down this week too. Carroll Cuisine won’t be able to get its deliveries out over the next few days because of the issue with traffic. I know they’ve a stall at the Ploughing, though, so it’s not like they will be sitting idle.

After hearing all of that, I’m starting to think the three days of the Ploughing should become a national holiday, but what would I know.

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Full coverage: Ploughing 2016