Ploughing Returns to Ratheniska 79 Years On
The National Ploughing will take place in Ratheniska, Stradbally, Co. Laois on 24th, 25th, 26th September 2013 bridging a 70 year gap since the Championships was last held in the area.
David Carter and his family will be the main landowners with many neighboring farmers providing ploughing and parking ground to meet the requirement of 700 acres for this huge National and International Event.
The impact of the Ploughing Championships in 2011 was a staggering €36 million and plans for the 2013 event are nearly complete. This very central Laois location just off the N80 and M7 is expected to draw an even bigger attendance than 2012’s figure of 187,000.
Ms Anna May McHugh, Managing Director of the NPA said “I’m obviously delighted that the event is in my home county this year and I have enjoyed the build-up working with the people of Ratheniska, Stradbally and Laois to make this one of our best events yet.
The venue in Ratheniska marks 70 years since the Championships were first held in county Laois and on that occasion, Lamerton, Ratheniska hosted the event in 1943. Since then the Championships were also held in Ballacolla, Co. Laois in 1995, 2000 and 2002. 2013 will mark the 5th time for the National Ploughing Championships to take place in the O’Moore County.
The Ploughing fields in Co. Laois will play host to World Ploughing Champion medalists John Whelan and Eamon Treacey who won massive ploughing accolades this year in Canada with Gold and Bronze medals.