It’s not just farmers who are looking forward to Europe’s largest outdoor event, The National Ploughing Championships, many from the construction industry will be there too when it returns to the central and scenic location of Ratheniska, Co Laois, from September 17th to 19th for the third year in a row.
NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said feedback from landowners, the local community and the wider public has been very positive and all were enthusiastic to see a return to Co. Laois.
“It worked well as a location. The site has proved popular for several reasons including its location in the middle of Ireland.”
The first inter- county ploughing contest took place in 1931 as a result of an argument between two lifelong friends, Denis Allen of Gorey, County Wexford and JJ Bergin of Athy, County Kildare. Each argued that their respective counties had the best ploughmen. This resulted in a challenge being called for. Therefore on Monday 16th of February 1931, the first National Ploughing contest took place in Mr W.K. Hosie’s field at Coursetown in Athy.
Since then, the National Ploughing Championships has grown in size, year on year and today attracts in excess of over 1,700 exhibitors and up to 297,000 visitors. It is no longer just for ploughing or machinery enthusiasts; the modern event now features something for just about every member of the community.
Meanwhile, congratulations are pouring in from all over the country and across the globe as the Republic of Ireland Ploughing team had an outstanding performance to seize victory at the 69th World Ploughing Contest in Estonia.
Eamonn Tracey from Carlow was crowned Supreme World Ploughing Champion (his third in a row) in the Conventional Class & West Cork man Jer Coakley stormed to victory as Reversible World Ploughing Champion.
Managing Director of the National Ploughing Association Anna May McHugh said, “This is a fantastic win for both men, Irish Ploughing & Ireland as a whole. Since winning the nationals last year the competitors have been working hard on preparing for the worlds in Estonia and all their effort has paid off. They have done their country extremely proud. Congratulations and a very well done to both”
