Category: 2019 News

The 36^th European Ploughing Championships will take place in Springpark, Ballinaboola, Co Wexford, making it the place to be on March 30^th & 31^st.  With 33 competitors and over 200 European visitors between competitors, judges, coaches and supporters descending on Ireland there will be a truly international flavour.  With teams starting to arrive from 22^nd from 13 countries; Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Russia, Scotland, Switzerland and Wales, the competition will be very keen.

The NPA last hosted the European Event in 2011 but this will be a first for NPA to host the competition as a stand-alone event and the first time NPA have introduced a Conventional Class as well as the traditional European Reversible.  

Team Ireland will be represented by previous World Ploughing Champion Martin Kehoe from Wexford in the conventional class, European Grassland Champion Russia 2018 Dan Donnelly from Wexford and former European Medal Winner Brian Mahon from Offaly.   The team will be coached by Dermot Ryan from Offaly and the Irish judges will be Pat McKeown from Louth and Joe Slattery from Tipperary.

The members of the 6 Wexford Ploughing Clubs are heavily involved in the organising of the event, marking out plots, organising tractors and ploughs for visiting competitors, arranging parking and providing a number of stewards on the 2 days.

This will be a real ploughing enthusiast event with the focus on Ploughing – with a ploughing workshop on the eve of the event and then the focus turning to the 2 European Competitions on Saturday and Sunday with a small vintage exhibition as well as Horse and Vintage Ploughing demonstrations.  There will also be a carnival and live music to entertain all of the family.

The Championships will commence on Saturday March 30th with a parade of all competitors representing their countries to the official opening complete with the Raising of the Flags Ceremony & Blessing of the Grounds at 9.30am, the competition will take place from 11.30am to 3.30pm on both days concluding on Sunday March 31^st.   This is a great opportunity for Ireland and certainly an occasion that is not be missed.

There was a massive crowd at the first packed public meeting to plan ahead for this year’s ‘Ploughing’ in Ballintrane, Fenagh, Co Carlow from September 17th to 19th.  There was huge enthusiasm and positivity from the floor in anticipation of this year’s event.

Current World Ploughing Conventional Champion, Garryhill local Eamonn Tracey opened the meeting and welcomed all attendees.   NPA Assistant Managing Director Anna Marie McHugh gave an overview of the NPA, the voluntary association and the sheer scale & scope of the event itself.  Anna May McMugh, NPA MD said “we are grateful to all the landowners we have met and sincerely look forward to working with the Carlow people, whose support to date has been outstanding.”  There are 24 landowners involved locally with 930 available acres.

Superintendent Aidan Brennan of Carlow said it is a huge event to come to Carlow and he was delighted to have it and to work as part of the planning for it.  The meeting was told Carlow Tourism will be looking after all accommodation matters and if there are any queries to contact CEO Eileen O’Rourke on 059 9130411.

There was no shortage of volunteers keen to get involved such as Carlow Native Margaret Connaughton who will be responsible for the entertainment as she has done for the last six years.  Sharon Foley will be this year’s Fashion Show Co-ordinator.  Brian Rice will be in charge of the popular Hunt Chase, while Carlow ICA & its President Annette Reddy from Leighlinbridge are already formulating their action-packed programme throughout the 3 days.  The Vintage Display will be looked after by IVS & IVETA.

Local GAA or sports clubs who would like to do car park stewarding were advised to contact the NPA now as these positions are in hot demand.

NPA Manging Director Anna May McHugh said “the meeting was incredible positive as the eagerness and excitement from the volunteers was most welcome and a great sign of what is to come for this year’s National Ploughing Championships.”  The next public organising meeting date has yet to be confirmed but will be either the second week of March or the beginning of April.