Portlaoise Gardaí warn of possible Ploughing related traffic delays

Portlaoise Gardaí said traffic was particularly heavy this morning around the Mountrath and Mountmellick Road in the town at school opening time due to the National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore, Co Offaly.

They said despite the best efforts of Gardaí directing traffic, there were issues in the area due to a combination of large crowds going to the Ploughing and children arriving at school.

They expect traffic will be heavy in the area again this afternoon and have advised people to expect delays and to avoid the area if possible. They believe traffic will be heavy between 3pm and 4.30pm today(Wednesday).

Meanwhile, Garda said there were no injuries following a collision between a motorbike and a bicycle on the Dublin Road in Portlaoise on Sunday afternoon.

The bicycle and the motorbike riders, who are both male and aged in their 50s, fell from their bikes when the collision occurred near the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise.

Gardaí said nobody was injured when they attended the incident which they described as a material damage traffic collision.