Category: 2019 News

 €15,000 prize on offer as National Brown Bread Baking Competition Launches for 2019!

 The National Brown Bread Baking Competition 2019 is open for entries.

Aldi will once again this year sponsor The National Brown Bread Baking Competition, in association with the National Ploughing Association (NPA) and the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA).

Relaunched five years ago by the NPA, the event has proven to be a huge success, with entries from each one of the 26 counties. NPA MD Anna May Mc Hugh and ICA President Josephine Helly were joined by Sile Seoige today to announce details of this year’s competition.

NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “Given the huge popularity and success of the National Brown Bread Baking competition at Ploughing over the past four years, we are once again delighted to be renewing our partnership with Aldi and the ICA.  It is wonderful to see the long and great tradition of baking in Ireland alive and well at Ploughing.  The total attendance figures for the 2018 National Championships  came to 240.700 and this year’s event in the new location of Ballintrane, Fenagh, Co. Carlow looks set to be bigger and better than ever.”

The National Brown Bread Baking competition is open to both members and non-members of the ICA, and baking enthusiasts have the opportunity to earn some serious ‘dough’, with a share of the profits from the sale of their winning loaf once it goes on sale in Aldi*. Second place will receive €1,000, €500 for third, €300 for fourth and the other semi-finalists will all get €200 each**.

Once again this year, entering the competition will be easier than ever, and Aldi is encouraging any bakers over the age of 18 to take part to be in with a chance of seeing their bread on shelves nationwide. Keen bakers that can’t make it to any of the ICA heats will be able to bring their freshly baked bread to 4 Aldi locations nationwide for tasting by the panel of independent judges.

Keen bakers can enter via the Aldi heats by dropping their bread off at the following locations on the following dates:

• Aldi Ireland Head Office, Newbridge Road, Naas, Co. Kildare (12^th June 2019 from 10.30am – 1pm)
• Aldi Regional Office, Limerick Road, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork (12^th June 2019 from 10.30am – 1pm)
• Aldi Store, New Town Centre, Oranmore, Co. Galway (19^th June from 10.30am – 1pm)
• Aldi Store, Wexford Retail Park, Clonard Little, Wexford (19^th June from 10.30am – 1pm)

Group Buying Director, John Curtin said, “At Aldi, we are a proud supporter of Irish suppliers so we are delighted to sponsor The National Brown Bread Baking Competition again, celebrating something as quintessentially Irish as brown bread. ‘Emma’s Brown Bread’ has proven a hit with our customers, and we hope the winner this year will achieve the same success with their brown bread. This year, we are making it easier than ever for people to enter with our regional drop off points, and so we hope to see keen bakers getting involved. At Aldi, we sell a range of great value baking essentials in our 137 stores nationwide so consumers can stock their pantries and make home baked goods all year round.”

ICA members can participate in the competition through local guilds, with heats taking place nationwide and regional finals taking place at An Grianán, ICA Adult Education Centre on July 18^th.

The four finalists selected from the Aldi bread drops, along with the four finalists selected through the ICA will compete at the National Finals. The National Semi Finals and Final will be held from 17^th – 19^th September at the Aldi Marquee during the 2019 National Ploughing Championships in Ballintrane, Fenagh, Co. Carlow.

Speaking at the launch, Josephine Helly, President of the ICA said, “Our members are once again delighted to be taking part in the National Brown Bread Baking Competition to find the best Brown Bread baker in Ireland.  There has been huge interest and the winner will be generously rewarded.”

If you think you have the recipe for success, log ontowww.aldi.ie/brown-bread-competition or www.ica.ie for information on how to enter and further details about the county finals.

* The winner’s brown bread will also be stocked in all Aldi Stores in Ireland for twelve months and they will receive a share of the profits, guaranteed to be at least €15,000.

**All winners (with the exception of first place) will receive their prizes in Aldi Vouchers

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Applications open for County Carlow companies to be part of inCarlow Pavilion for the 2019 National Ploughing Championships

Over a quarter of million people are expected to descend on County Carlow during 2018 for the National Ploughing Championships in Ballintrane, Fenagh, Co Carlow on 17th-19th September 2019 and today (2nd April 2019) , Carlow County Council opened applications for the inCarlow – Enterprise , Education , Experience & Tourism Pavilion which will showcase County Carlow at the Centre of the National Ploughing Championships trade arena during the 2019 show.
County Carlow companies can apply to be part of this showcase which is highly subsidized with support from Carlow County Council which includes a programme in order to prepare companies to make the most of the show which includes Exhibition Training , PR Support & Photography for all clients who participate. The project is in partnership with IT Carlow & County Carlow Chamber.

Speaking about the project Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council , Cllr. Brian O’Donoghue said that “the pavilion will show visitors all that is great about County Carlow from an enterprise , education , experience and tourism viewpoint and collectively shout from the rooftops that County Carlow is a place for people who have ambition , innovation and success in all walks of life”. O’Donoghue continued to say “This initiative is a major element of Carlow County Council’s work to capitalise on the fantastic opportunity presented by the National Ploughing Championships to attract tourists and investment to the county”
Kathleen Holohan, Chief Executive, Carlow County Council, said that “We want to present County Carlow in the best positive light to visitors, media and participants during the National Ploughing Championships. We are delighted with the location of the inCarlow – Enterprise , Education , Experience & Tourism Pavilion right in the heart of the trade stands and expect to welcome thousands of visitors to our pavilion over the course of the championships”.
National Ploughing Association Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “the NPA are pleased to be partnering with the inCarlow Exhibition as supporting rural communities and jobs is very important to the Association and the Ploughing Championships.  We also appreciate that #Ploughing19 is an ideal platform to showcase many of the local talents of our communities and we are delighted to be working with Carlow County Council and its partners on this project.”

Speaking about the benefits of the National Ploughing Championships to the local economy , Brian O’Farrell , Chief Executive of County Carlow Chamber said “there is no doubt that the National Ploughing Championships will provide a significant economic benefit to County Carlow and its business community not just during the exhibition but also in the run up to the event during September 2019” , O’Farrell continued to say “the inCarlow Pavilion” offers us all in the business community an opportunity to capitalize on this opportunity into the future and showcase Carlow’s strengths from a business viewpoint”.

Bookings are now open for exhibition space for County Carlow companies on www.localenterprise.ie/carlow and further information is available from Aine Carey on 059-9129783 or by e-mail enterprise@carlowcoco.ie

Applications Open for the Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships
Top prize fund of €15,000 for overall winner of the Innovation Arena 2019

Applications for the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena and Awards at the National Ploughing Championships, in conjunction with the National Ploughing Association (NPA) are now being accepted. Irish agri companies are invited to apply to showcase their products and innovations at the Innovation Arena from the 17th – 19th September at the National Ploughing Championships in Ballintrane, Fenagh, Co. Carlow.

The Innovation Arena is open to Irish businesses large and small and entrepreneurs within the agri-sector, giving them the opportunity to showcase their pioneering innovations to over one hundred thousand visitors that the National Ploughing Championships attracts each year.
Judging for the awards will take place at the arena throughout the three-day event featuring categories such as best agri-technology start-up, best agri-engineering established company, young innovator of the year and best agri-environmental enterprise. The over-all exhibiting winner of the Arena will be eligible to win up to €15,000 and will be presented with the prize at a formal awards ceremony during the National Ploughing Championships.

Last year’s competition attracted over 100 entries: 60 were shortlisted as 2018 finalists and invited to exhibit in the Innovation Arena Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD said:

“I am delighted to launch the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships. The government through Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting regionally based companies and entrepreneurs and our focus through the Future Jobs framework is to ensure Irish Companies are resilient in the face of new challenges and embrace new opportunities and technologies. The Innovation Arena is clear proof that Ireland is leading the way for innovation in the agri-engineering and agri-technology sector and I encourage all budding entrepreneurs and established enterprises in the field to enter what is a fantastic showcase platform at this prime three-day event.”

Mark Christal, Manager, Regions and Entrepreneurship, Enterprise Ireland said: “Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting companies and entrepreneurs with global ambition where innovation is at the core of their business offering – the Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships is a key platform for promoting the Irish Advantage where the top innovations are showcased to both a captive domestic and international audience. Over 100 international buyers visited the arena last year and we expect this number to increase for 2019.”
In addition, this year’s Arena will feature a conference centre, delivering a focused briefing on the Agritech sector in Ireland, hosting seminars on key issues affecting the agri-sector including Brexit and Global markets and will facilitate important networking opportunities for those attending,” he continued.

Enterprise Ireland is calling for applications for the Innovation Arena Awards at the National Ploughing Championships from Irish companies in the agri sector. The awards will take place within the popular Innovation Arena at the heart of the National Ploughing Championships in Ballintrane, Fenagh, Co Carlow, 17th – 19th September 2019. Pictured are Anna May McHugh, Managing Director, National Ploughing Association; Mark Christal, Manager of Enterprise Ireland’s Regions and Entrepreneurship Division; Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys TD.
Picture by Shane O’Neill, SON Photographic

Anna May McHugh, National Ploughing Association said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Enterprise Ireland to host the Innovation Arena for the 5th consecutive year. The Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships is an opportunity not to be missed for anyone who has a good business idea, product or service to showcase at Europe’s largest outdoor event. Located at the core of the activity, the Innovation Arena will attract tens of thousands of visitors over the three days where an exhibitor is guaranteed prime positioning in front of a targeted stakeholder audience.”

Click HERE to enter this year’s Innovation Arena Awards

Congratulations have been pouring in from all over the country for the victorious Irish Ploughing team.

At the weekend’s European Ploughing Championships, which took place in Ballinaboola, Co Wexford where 13 countries took part the Irish team were triumphant yet again with Martin Kehoe & Dan Donnelly both from Wexford winning gold in the conventional and reversible competitions respectively and Brian Mahon from Offaly securing  a silver medal position on the final day and fourth place position overall in the reversible class.