An estimated crowd of 66,000 people attended the opening day of the Ploughing Championships near Athy in Co Kildare.
The huge rural festival is taking place for the second year running on a 700-acre site at Cardenton, close to where the event was first held 79 years ago.
Over the next three days, 180,000 people are expected to converge on the 700-acre tented trade village to try out everything from combine harvesters to gourmet cheeses.
President Mary McAleese opened the event and said that while the economic climate is tough, people hoped they would soon see evidence of prosperity.
There will be European ploughing competitions tomorrow and Thursday, with 13 countries participating.
The event brings an estimated €10m into the local economy.
Managing Director of the National Ploughing Association Anna May McHugh said: 'We are delighted with such a fantastic attendance today.
'There's really a wonderful atmosphere here and a great buzz about the place.
'We were honored to have President Mary McAleese officially open the event today and we look forward to two more great days.'
Meanwhile, the Irish Aviation Authority has issued a warning to aircraft after a blimp broke away from its ties at the championships.
The balloon measuring four metres by two metres escaped into the air just before noon.
The blimps are flown at the championships as aerial advertisements or identification markings to help spectators locate various displays and demonstrations.
