Category: 2013 Archive

Ratheniska is set to host the National Ploughing Championships again in 2014 as the event returns to Co. Laois for a second year. With record attendance figures this year, organisers made the announcement at the close of business today. Speaking after the announcement, Managing Director, Ms Anna May McHugh said “We are delighted to be staging the event here again next year. Feedback form landowners, the local community and the wider public has been very positive and all were enthusiastic to see a return. Speaking also with many of the exhibitors and visitors over the past few days, all were very vocal about their wishes to have it staged here again. I think the site has proved very popular for several reasons including its central location and surrounding road & rail network. By and large most people have been travelling to and from the site with relative ease and the minimum of traffic delays. This has certainly helped the event in being such a success this year and we hope to repeat this again in 2014”.

Early light showers starting off, the weather soon picked up with sunny spells breaking through just in time for the arrival of An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD. Making his first port of call to the plots, the Taoiseach met with several of Irelands top Ploughmen before attending several agricultural stands such as Beet Ireland, Macra na Feirne, ICMSA, IFA and Lely Ireland. Stepping out on the trackway between stands, the Taoiseach was joined by 57, 000 visitors throughout the day, bringing the total attendance figure for the 2013 National Ploughing Championships to approximately 228,000. This is a new record in the history of the event breaking all attendance figures previously set.

The highlight of today, and the week for most ploughing enthusiasts came with the announcement of Irelands two representatives for the World Ploughing Championships in 2014. Congratulations must go to John Whelan of Wexford competing in the Reversible Class and Eamon Tracey of Carlow competing in the Conventional Class. Both will take to the fields of France next September 5^th and 6^th in Bordeaux, once more representing their country with pride. 

Day 2 of the National Ploughing Championships witnessed record crowds descend once more on the site in Ratheniska, Co. Laois. Todays attendance figures exceeded all expectations topping 90,000 and setting a new record in the history of the event. This brings the total figure for attendance this week up over170, 000 with a final day of ploughing tomorrow. Reports form all commercial quarters have been extremely positive with trade being described by many exhibitors as “the busiest in five years”. Speaking at the announcement of the attendance figures, Ms Anna May McHugh stated “We anticipated large crowds again today but these figures go beyond all expectation and I am delight that the traffic management plan An Garda Síochána put in place is dealing so well with the numbers traveling. I would urge all visitors attending tomorrow to download and follow the Garda traffic plan on www.npa.ie. Walking the site today, the atmosphere was tremendous and we are all looking forward to another day of ploughing and trade tomorrow”.

The much anticipated “tweetup” which was a first for the Championships took place with over 200 avid tweeters “meeting-up” to stage this #Ploughing event on Twitter. Also proving a great success again this year was the ever popular “Most Appropriately Dressed Lady” and “Most Appropriately Dressed Gent” competitions. Taking the top prize for the ladies was Sharon Foley from Borris Co. Carlow, who won a €500 voucher form the Wineport Lodge. With many stylish men out in force also, Mark Flood from Kildare secured the title of “Most Appropriately Dressed Gent”, taking the prize of a tailored suit by Louis Copeland & Sons.

Today also witnessed the usual “pressing of the flesh” that goes hand in hand with the event. Most political parties, having taken large exhibit stands, ensured the tea and coffee continued to flow as their political representatives mingled with potential voters. Out and about today was Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Simon Coveney TD, who walked the site with great ease, visiting the stands and ploughing plots; meeting competitors, exhibitors and visitors alike. Also in attendance were Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD, Deputy Micheál MartinTD, Martin Ferris TD, Mairead McGuinness MEP, Marian Harkin MEP and a host of local representatives. Taking to the trackway today also were IFA presidential hopefuls Eddie Downey of Meath and Laois’s Jer Bergin, both vying to win over the voters.

With another action packed day of ploughing, hunt-chase, sheep dog trials, tractor building, fashion, sheep shearing, pony games and much more planned for tomorrow, large crowds are expected in county Laois once more.

A ten minute video journey through last years very successful National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois

Congratulations to NPA Toplink Innovation Winner, Neilus Murphy of ‘Grazemate‘ who is currently exhibiting at LAMMA SHOW in the UK presently and has being awarded a Cert of Merit ‘ Best New Innovation Product (See www.grazemate.ie)

Neilus hails from Coolagown, near Fermoy, Co Cork and won the 2013   Innovation Award at last year’s Championship for his “GrazeMate  > Drover” fence opening device.

Grazemate Drover is a new, easy-to-use labour saving device for  farmers that allows the user to open or close an electrified barrier  to a field using their mobile phone.