Category: 2013 Archive

The Irish language will take centre stage in ‘Pobal na Gaeilge’ at this year’s National Ploughing Championships in Co. Laois from Tuesday 24th – Thursday 26th September 2013.

‘Pobal Na Gaeilge’, a unique Irish language quarter during the festival, is an initiative instigated by Údarás na Gaeltachta and Glór na nGael in conjunction with other Irish language groups and organisations.
The groups involved will attend the three day event and exhibit their products and services in a grand marquee titled ‘Pobal na Gaeilge’.  The Irish language groups in attendance include: An Spailpín Fánach, Coláiste Uisce, Comhchoiste Náisiúnta na gColáistí Samhraidh (CONCOS), Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Foras na Gaeilge, Gael Linn, Ógras, Oideas Gael, Oireachtas na Gaeilge and TG4.

At the Irish language marquee, visitors can experience wonderful Irish language events and entertainment including musical sessions, dance, competitions, CD launches as well as the launch of a new online bilingual digital news service.

For over eighty years the National Ploughing Championships has welcomed crowds from near and far.  In recent years this event has become one of Europe’s largest outdoor exhibitions attracting on average 1,100 exhibitors and 189,000 visitors.

 A wide range of activities showcasing Irish food, farming and culture incorporating all sectors of agricultural and rural living will be on display.  ‘Pobal na Gaeilge’ will showcase products, services and supports available through Irish.  Exhibition stands will provide information on the advances in Irish language technologies, as well as Irish language books, t-shirts, and information on events in local communities, and Irish language courses. 

Visitors to ‘Pobal na Gaeilge’ will receive a warm welcome whether they have merely a cúpla focal or are fluent Irish speakers.  ‘Pobal na Gaeilge’ / Glor na nGael will be located at in Block 4, Row S and Stand Number 309.

National Ploughing generates Economic Impact of €36m

The National Ploughing Championships Study carried by UCD in 2011 found the event generates an Economic Impact of €36 million per annum.

Key findings included:

• Visitors to the Championships spent just under €36.5 million during the three days of the 2011 event. This spending resulted in a tax take of over €6.6 million for the National Exchequer.
• 20% of attendees at the event are local.
• 63% male and 27% female split attendance.
• Machinery is the main attraction in the trade exhibition.
• Personal shopping accounted for over €7 million.
• Trade purchases were in excess of €9.6 million.
• Hotels, B&B’s, Public Houses, Food Outlets and Service Stations in the area, all stated that they experienced a dramatic increase in trade due to the championships.

Managing Director Anna May McHugh believes “the report highlights the huge economic positives that the event brings to the local community in the first instance and the benefit to the wider economy through air travel, transport to and from the event and VAT collected. 

The Association would have been aware that based on average annual attendances of 180,000 people, the spin off for all involved must be significant. The study highlights and confirms the positive impact the event has on the locality not only from a commercial perspective but also from a rural and social perspective”.

Irish Ploughing hope to secure another victory on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th Sept at the 30th European Reversible Ploughing Championships in Bad Rothenfelde, Germany. Our current world ploughing gold medallist, John Whelan, took first place in last year’s competition in Derry.

The 2013 team consists of Ger Coakley from Cork and Paul Keating of Wexford both well experienced and keen competitors on the national ploughing scene. They will be coached by Denis Keohane, NPA Director, Cork and Donegal’s Harry Mallon will travel as a judge. The team is sponsored by Kverneland.

Managing Director of the NPA, Ms Anna May McHugh said “This is a fantastic opportunity for our ploughmen to compete on the European stage again and we look forward to seeing them on the field at our own upcoming National Ploughing Championships in Rathensika on the 24th September where the competition will be fierce.” I’d like to take the opportunity to wish both men all the best and hope further success in the future is theirs”.