WATCH: Soggy start to Ploughing 2023 with very muddy conditions underfoot

The thousands of people heading to the National Ploughing Championship will have to endure very wet and muddy conditions on the 700-acre site in Ratheniska.

After a week of heavy rain and a number of weather warnings in recent days, the site has taken a lot of water and it shows in our reporter's clip from the site on Tuesday morning.

More rain is forecast in the coming days and with an estimated 300,000 passing through the gates before Thursday evening, conditions are likely to worsen.

While Status Yellow weather warnings from Met Éireann only cover western counties with Laois and the Midlands escaping, people can still expect blustery conditions. 

In their forecast, Met Éireann says: "Today will be wet and breezy or windy, with fresh to strong and gusty southwesterly winds extending to all areas, becoming very strong in western coastal areas this evening.

"Generally dull with rain and drizzle, turning heavy at times, and patches of mist. There will be occasional drier and brighter periods in the afternoon, the best of these in the south. Highest temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees.

"It will be wet and breezy or windy tonight with fresh to strong and gusty southwesterly winds, very strong in the west, south and southeast. Rain will persist in most areas through the night and will be heavy at times, with thunder possible too. This may cause localised flooding. The rain will clear to scattered showers in the west towards morning. Lowest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees."

The wet weather could relent for a time on Wednesday with Met Éireann adding: "Rain will clear from the east on Wednesday morning and for the rest of the day there will be sunny spells and widespread showers, some heavy with a chance of isolated thunder.

"It will be breezy or windy during the morning, with very strong southwest to west winds in the northwest. Winds will gradually ease through the day, becoming light to moderate by evening. Highest temperatures of 12 to 16 degrees, mildest in the southeast."