Category: 2013 Archive

Fashion Shows continue to be a key attraction at the National Ploughing Championships and this year sees ten boutiques and fashion houses taking part in three hourly shows per day. Fashion followers will be treated to all the latest styles and designs of the coming season.

Shows take place daily at 11.30 am, 1.30 pm and 3.30 pm with the Holman Lee Model Agency partnering the NPA once again this year to compere during each show and supply models to the catwalk. Some of the participating boutiques/fashion outlets taking part in the Fashion Shows this year include local retailers Number One Boutique and Seven Ladies Boutique from Portlaoise along with Wexford’s La Crème Boutique and premier country living clothes champion, Noreen O’Donnell’s of New Ross.  International designer clothing company Style-Ikon owned by Tanya McGilligan who specialises in clothing, shoes and bags from Italy, South Korea and Brazil will also feature.

For those wishing to catch a glimpse of what colour and cut will feature in the fashion realm for the coming season make your way to the dedicated Fashion Show marquee conveniently located within the Arcade section of the Trade Arena, at Block 1, Row A1, Stand Number 510.

The ever  popular ‘Most Appropriately Dressed Lady’ competition takes place again this year with a very exclusive prize of a €500 voucher from Wineport Lodge. The ‘Most Appropriately Dressed Gent’ is being sponsored by Louis Copeland & Sons who have once more provided the NPA with a superbly tailored suit for those males making the effort to look the part while Thomas Cook Holidays will sponsor the overall Grand Audience Prizes in the Fashion Marquee to a value of €500 each for a man and woman.

 Pamela Curtin Millinery, Bernice Rafferty of www.fashionfeathers.com  along with The Hair Gallery will supply hats, jewellery and hair & beauty services to all on the ramp.
At the Championships , RTE will run a Make Over competition from their tent and Neelu Beauty Services of Arnotts  will ensure visitors will be treated to expert advice from regarding their personal style, skin  and overall beauty routine.

Looking forward to this year’s event, Managing Director, Ms Anna May McHugh said “We have a feast of fashion at the championships this year, it is a must arena to visit for both the men and the ladies, the added spectacle of two grand audience prizes is exciting, I’m sure the front row will be full for every show’ .

Location Map

Location Details

 Final Row Numbers

About The Race

Where: Please come join us for the 2013 Plough-On & Run, a 10k fun run in aid of VITA on September 22nd at 11am in Ratheniska, Stradbally, Co. Laois, the site of the 2013 National Ploughing Championships. All proceeds from this NON-PROFIT event are in aid of VITA.

The route will be a relatively flat around the site of this year’s Ploughing Championships. The 10km road surface is ideal for a Personal Best, Couch to 5k or fun runners.

Registration

• Online only registration – this reduces cost.
• Online at Run Ireland: http://www.runireland.com/active/enter-this/204606
• or links on the following websites: www.vita.ie, www.npa.ie www.asaireland.ie
• Cost EUR15.00. 
• Deadline for online entries is Sept 21st at 6pm; online entries must collect their race number on the day.

On the day:

• Please arrive early to give yourself time to collect your number and warm up. 
• Important: The main roads will not be closed so please note you will be running with light traffic on one side of the road
• We will have a bag drop area at the registration area
• First Aid cover and water will be provided on the day
• Goodie bag at the finish line for all participants
• Small prizes to the fastest runners in each category
• Representatives and info from VITA explaining what they do, so you can see who you are helping. 
• A map of the course will be available online closer to the day.
• The emphasis on the day is to have fun for both the novice and the more experienced runner, families and friends spending time together and making a difference.

Please come out and support this fantastic charity and we hope to see you on the day.
The link to enter is below: 
http://www.runireland.com/active/enter-this/204606

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.