The National Ploughing Championships 2011

The National Ploughing Championships will take place from Tuesday 20th – Thursday 22nd of September 2011. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the National Ploughing Championships with over 1,000 exhibitors showcasing their products. In 2010 this huge event attracted over 180, 000 people with visitors coming from all over Ireland and the world.

Bus Éireann transfers and the Athy town shuttle services:

Regular Clonmel and Kilkenny bus service - N78: Regular bus services operated by Bus Éireann from the Kilkenny and Clonmel areas travel through Athy via the N78. If there is a significant increase in numbers a drop off point in the Kilkenny Industrial Est. will be investigated. A timetable of all services will be available through Bus Éireann.

Train station transfers:

Athy Station:
Bus Éireann will be providing a bus transfer service from Athy train station from 6.41 am on each morning of the event. There are four appointed times for drop offs and pick ups both in the morning and in the evening. Buses will be utilised for this. The route is as follows: From Athy station on to Leinster Street straight through the town to right turn on to Woodstock Street where passengers will alight on Woodstock Street and walk to the site. Pick up in the afternoon will be from outside the hospital.

Kildare Station:
Bus Éireann will be providing a bus transfer service from Kildare station to the site. The service starts from 6.50am from Kildare station with the return service starting at 15.30pm. There will be a number of buses utilised for this service and the route is as follows: Travel from Kildare to Nurney and on to Booley X. Turn right for Athy, right at Geraldine X to Bert X. travel to Cluain Mhuire where passengers disembark and are picked up at the same spot.

Portarlington Station:
Bus Éireann will be providing a bus transfer service from Portarlington station to the site. The service starts from 6.50am from Portarlington with the return service from 3.30pm. There will be a number of buses utilised for this service. Route is as follows:

Travel from Portarlington to Monasterevin and on to Kilberry via route 2 to Bert X. Travel to Cluain Mhuire where passengers disembark and are picked up at the same location.

  • Portarlington train station to Cardenton, Athy, Co Kildare – services to operate ex Portarlington rail station between 06:50 and 11:30 with return services operating ex Cardenton in Athy between 15:30 and 18:30
  • Kildare train station to Cardenton, Athy, Co Kildare – services to operate ex Kildare train station between 06:50 and 11:00 with return services operating ex Cardenton in Athy between 15:30 and 18:30

Athy train station to Cardenton, Athy, Co Kildare
Services to operate ex Athy rail station between 07:15 and 10:00 with return services operating ex Cardenton in Athy from 19:20

  • Athy town shuttle – shuttle service between Athy train station and the event site in Cardenton, Athy. This shuttle will operate from 9:00-13:00 from Athy to the site and 14:00- 18:30 from Cardenton to Athy station in the evening. The buses will be leaving approximately every 20 minutes.

From Kildare/Portarlington to Cardenton/ Coursetown, Athy bus only tickets cost €7 single and €10 return for adults. There is a special offer on a child return fare for €7.

From Athy train station to Cardenton/ Coursetown there are special shuttle services operating, they cost €3 single and €5 return for both adults and children.

to/from Portarlington
 
Special 1.    
     
Outward    
Cork dep. 05.05  
Mallow dep. 05.28  
Limerick Junction dep. 06.09  
Portarlington dep. 07.20 07.30
Cardenton arr. 07.10  
     
Return    
Cardenton dep. 17.45  
Portarlington arr.. 18.30 18.45 SO (18.00 ex Heuston)
Limerick Junction arr. 19.48  
Mallow arr. 20.15  
Cork arr. 20.50  
     
Special 2.    
     
Outward    
Tralee dep. 05.10  
Killarney dep. 05.39  
Cork dep. 06.15  
Mallow dep. 06.38  
Limerick dep. 06.40  
Limerick Junction dep. 07.12  
Portarlington dep. 08.06 08.30 SO (06.15 ex cork)
Cardenton arr. 09.10  
     
Return    
Cardenton dep. 16.30  
Portarlington arr.. 17.15 17.40 SO (17.00 ex Heuston)
Limerick Junction arr. 18.32  
Limerick arr. 19.15  
Mallow arr. 19.05  
Cork arr. 19.35  
Killarney arr. 20.23 Change at Mallow
Tralee arr. 21.00  
     
Special 3.    
     
Outward    
Cork dep. 07.30  
Mallow dep. 07.52  
Limerick dep. 07.55  
Limerick Junction dep. 08.29  
Portarlington dep. 09.25 09.50 SO (07.30 ex Cork)
Cardenton arr. 10.30  
     
Return    
Cardenton dep. 17.45  
Portarlington arr.. 18.30 18.45 SO (18.00 ex Heuston)
Limerick Junction arr. 19.48  
Limerick arr. 20.15  
Mallow arr. 20.20  
Cork arr. 20.52  
     
Special 4.    
     
Outward    
Tralee dep. 05.10  
Killarney dep. 05.39  
Cork dep. 06.15  
Mallow dep. 06.38  
Limerick dep. 06.40  
Limerick Junction dep. 07.12  
Portarlington dep. 08.06 08.30 SO (06.15 ex cork)
Cardenton arr. 09.10  
     
Return    
Cardenton dep. 18.30  
Portarlington arr.. 19.30 19.42 SO (19.00 ex Heuston)
Limerick Junction arr. 20.55  
Limerick arr. 21.25  
Mallow arr. 21.33  
Cork arr. 21.58  
Killarney arr. 22.28  
Tralee arr. 23.05  
     
Special 5.    
     
Outward    
Cork dep. 05.05  
Mallow dep. 05.28  
Limerick Junction dep. 06.09  
Portarlington dep. 07.20 07.30
Cardenton arr. 08.10  
     
Return    
Cardenton dep. 16.30  
Portarlington arr. 17.15 17.40 SO (17.00 ex Heuston)
Limerick Junction arr. 18.32  
Mallow arr. 19.05  
Cork arr. 19.30  
     
Special 6.    
     
Outward    
Ennis dep. 06.45  
Limerick dep. 07.30  
Portarlington dep 09.01 09.10 SO (07.30 ex Limerick)
Cardenton arr. 09.50  
     
Return    
Cardenton dep 16.30  
Portarlington dep 17.15 17.40 SO (17.00 ex Heuston)
Limerick arr. 19.11  
Ennis arr. 20.10  
     
Special 7.    
     
Outward    
Ennis dep. 06.45  
Limerick dep. 07.30  
Portarlington dep 09.01 09.10 SO (07.30 ex Limerick)
Cardenton arr. 09.50  
     
Return    
Cardenton dep 17.30  
Portarlington dep 18.15 18.23
Limerick arr. 19.55  
Ennis arr. 21.00  
     
Special 8.    
     
Outward    
Galway dep 05.05  
Athenry dep 05.20  
Portarlington dep 06.50 07.00
Cardenton arr. 07.50  
     
Return    
Cardenton dep 17.30  
Portarlington dep 18.15 18.38
Athenry arr. 20.13  
Galway arr. 20.30  
     
Special 9.    
     
Outward    
Galway dep 07.05  
Athenry dep 07.18  
Portarlington dep 08.51 09.10 SO (07.05 ex Galway)
Cardenton arr. 09.50  
     
Return    
Cardenton dep 17.30  
Portarlington dep 18.15 18.38
Athenry arr. 20.13  
Galway arr. 20.30  
     
Special 10.    
     
Outward    
Galway dep 07.35  
Athenry dep 07.50  
Portarlington dep 09.31 09.40
Cardenton arr. 10.20  
     
Return    
Cardenton dep 17.30  
Portarlington dep 18.15 18.38
Athenry arr. 20.13  
Galway arr. 20.30  
     
Special 11.    
     
Outward    
Galway dep 07.05  
Athenry dep 07.18  
Portarlington dep 08.511 09.10 SO
Cardenton arr. 09.50  
     
Return    
Cardenton dep 18.30  
Portarlington dep 19.30 20.06
Athenry arr. 21.31  
Galway arr. 21.50  
     
Initial allocation of 30 spaces per special
     
Fares    
Adult: €31    
Child: €20.50    
Includes return rail and bus transfers
     
Westport to Cardenton
     
Special 1.    
     
Outward    
Westport Dep. 05.15  
Castlebar Dep. 05.28  
Claremorris Dep. 05.45  
Portarlington Arr. 07.40 07:50
Cardenton arr. 08.30  
     
Return    
Cardenton Dep. 18.10  
Portarlington Arr. 18.50 19.10 (SO 18.30 Heuston to Westport)
Claremorris Arr. 21.05  
Castlebar Arr. 21.26  
Westport Arr. 21.45  
     
Special 2.    
     
Outward    
Westport Dep. 07.15  
Castlebar Dep. 07.28  
Claremorris Dep. 07.50  
Portarlington Arr 09.50 10.00
Cardenton arr. 10.40  
     
Return    
Cardenton Dep. 18.10  
Portarlington Arr. 18.50 19.10
Claremorris Arr. 21.05  
Castlebar Arr. 21.26  
Westport Arr. 21.45  
     
Fare    
Adult €31    
Child €20.50    
     
To/from Kildare    
     
Heuston to Cardenton
     
Special 1.    
     
Outward    
Heuston dep. 06.15   
Kildare dep.  06.52 07.00
Cardenton arr. 07.35  
     
Return    
Cardenton Dep 16.00  
Kildare arr 16.35 16.42
Heuston arr 17.18   
     
Special 2.    
     
Outward    
Heuston dep 07.20  
Kildare dep 07.51 08.00
Cardenton arr 08.35  
     
Return    
Cardenton Dep. 17.00  
Kildare arr. 17.35 17.46
Heuston arr  18.20  
     
Special 3.    
     
Outward    
Heuston dep. 07.20  
Kildare dep. 07.51 08.00
Cardenton arr 08.35  
     
Return    
Cardenton Dep. 15.20  
Kildare arr. 15.55 16.15
Heuston arr  16.50  
     
Special 4.    
     
Outward    
Heuston dep. 09.10  
Kildare dep. 09.42 09.50
Cardenton arr 10.25  
     
Return    
Cardenton Dep. 17.00  
Kildare arr. 17.35 17.46
Heuston arr  18.20  
     
Special 5.    
     
Outward    
Heuston dep. 09.10  
Kildare dep. 09.42 09.50
Cardenton arr 10.25  
     
Return    
Cardenton Dep. 18.00  
Kildare arr. 18.40 18.56
Heuston arr  19.30  
     
Initial allocation of 30 seats per special
     
Fares    
Adult €21    
Child €12.50    
     
To/from Athy    
     
Waterford to Cardenton
     
Special 1.    
     
Outward    
Waterford Dep.  06.00  
Thomastown dep.  06.23  
Athy dep. 07.22 07.30
Cardenton Arr 07.50  
     
Return    
Cardenton Dep. 17.00  
Athy arr. 17.20 17.33
Thomastown arr. 18.35  
Waterford arr. 19.00  
     
Special 2.    
     
Outward    
Waterford Dep. 07.40  
Thomastown dep. 08.03  
Athy dep.  09.07 09.12
Cardenton Arr 09.35  
     
Return    
Cardenton Dep. 17.00  
Athy arr. 17.20 17.33
Thomastown  arr.  18.35  
Waterford arr. 19.00  
     
Special 3.    
     
Outward    
Waterford Dep. 07.40  
Thomastown dep. 08.03  
Athy dep.  09.08 09.12
Cardenton Arr 09.35  
     
Return    
Cardenton Dep. 18.00  
Athy arr. 18.20 18.30
Thomastown  arr.  19.31  
Waterford arr. 20.00  
     
20 spaces per special
     
Fares    
Adult €16    
Child €10.50    
     
All fares include bus transfers.

Friday, 16th September, 2011