Category: en2017

Trócaire will be bringing a life like replica of a dead camel to the NPC this year. The model drew massive attention at Electric Picnic and will be used to draw attention to the current food crisis in East Africa. This will be a part of a larger activation that will depict an African landscape complete with a small house with working rain water harvesting systems.

The Cross of Blessed John Sullivan SJ, who was beatified in May this year, will be on display in the oratory at the Jesuits in Ireland marquee. Visitors are welcome to come and pray and to receive a blessing with the cross from one of the Jesuit priests in attendance.

Born in Dublin in 1861 into the privileged world of the Protestant Ascendancy, John Sullivan spent much of his life in the austere world of an Irish Jesuit. The first part of his life encompassed school days at Portora in Fermanagh, university education at Trinity College and his call to the bar in London, where he lived for some years.

In the second part of his life he converted to Catholicism, entered the Jesuit order and lived an ascetic and spiritual life in his various ministries but most especially in his ministry at Clongowes Wood College, in County Kildare. It was his work here, especially with the poor and the sick, which led to his beatification by Pope Francis. There are many testimonies of the sick he blessed recovering, even when they were believed to be dying.

Fr John’s life was characterised by a total commitment to the service of God and others. He was never without his crucifix, which had been his mother’s, and he blessed countless people with it. Today the cross is brought on request to the sick in hospitals and on house visits.

This crucifix will be in the Jesuits in Ireland marquee for each day of the Ploughing. Other Jesuit organisations attending include: Peter McVerry Trust; Jesuit Mission Office; Jesuit Refugee Centre; Jesuit Centre for Faith & Justice; Sacred Space; Manresa Centre for Spirituality; and the Pioneers.

Visitors are welcome to speak with the many Jesuit priests present, grab some goodies or avail of the opportunity to take a ‘selfie’ with a life-size cut out of Pope Francis!

The popular title A Man Sent by God: Blessed John Sullivan SJ, and many other spirituality titles can be purchased from the Ignatian Bookshop which will be situated in the marquee.

Our Site Number is Block: 4 Row: 38 Stand: 762. We look forward to seeing you there. Just look out for Pope Francis!

For more information or to organise an interview please contact Caitríona Maher on 0852759606 or email c.maher@messenger.ie<mailto:c.maher@messenger.ie>.

 Visitors to the Hansen stand at the National Ploughing Championships (Stand 118, Block 1, row 5) will have an opportunity to test their dexterity, skill and speed in assembling pipes and fittings and be in with a chance to win a Kids Quad bike.

During the three days of the event a series of competitions will be held at the Hansen stand. A maximum of six participants will take part in each competition which will be held every half hour from 10am to 4pm each day. Competitors will race each other using all the Hansen pipe and fittings supplied to assemble the letter ‘H’. The fastest to finish, subject to a full inspection, will be announced via live broadcast on Facebook.

All of the individual competition winners will be entered into a draw and the winner of the Kids 50cc Quad Bike will be chosen at random in a live broadcast on the Sanbra Fyffe Facebook page at 5pm on Thursday, September 21^st. Sanbra Fyffe can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SanbraFyffe/

Sanbra Fyffe, market leader in the supply of plumbing and heating products in Ireland, and Herron & Son, Ireland’s leading hardware distributor, recently teamed up with the long established new Zealand firm Hansen to bring an unrivalled and internationally acclaimed range of products to the Irish market. 

Products specifically for agri, rural, horticultural and irrigation use are Hi-Flo Trough Valves (Fast, Super and Maxflo). Sanbra Fyffe and Herron believe that the Hansen Superflo and Maxflo valves will quickly become the next industry standard for high performance float valves.

Further information can be obtained from sales@sanbra.ie Tel 018426255 or sales@herron.ie tel. 071 913 3100.

THE PORTWEST ALL-IRELAND WELLY THROWING COMPETITION AT THE NATIONAL PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017

 GUINNESS WORLD RECORD HOLDER OF OVER 40 TITLES EAMONN ‘IRONMAN’ KEANE AND STAR OF TG4 DOCUMENTARY ‘Éamonn Ó Cathain – An Fear Iarainn’ SET TO MAKE APPEARANCE

WHAT:

• Family run Irish PPE and clothing company Portwest will host the All-Ireland Welly Throwing Competition over the three days in Screggan, Co. Tullamore in aid of charity.

Guinness World Record Holder and weightlifting champion Eamonn ‘Ironman’ Keane  set to make appearance at the Portwest tent all day Tuesday & Wednesday at the the National Ploughing Championships.

WHERE:

• Portwest All-Ireland Welly Throwing Competition: Next to the Macra Demonstration Area
• Eamonn Keane appearance: Portwest Tent, Block 3, Row 25, Stand 599.

PERSONS OF POSSIBLE INTEREST:

• Eamonn Keane: Keane, who hails from the West of Ireland is a weightlifting champion who has won over 40 Guinness World Records. Once described as one of the ‘World’s Stupidest Athletes’ Eamonn Keane is only man ever to achieve a career “grand slam” of world records in 12 different endurance weightlifting disciplines. Eamonn was also the subject a special TG4 documentary called ‘Éamonn Ó Cathain – An Fear Iarainn’ where he went in search of his ultimate goal winning the  “grand slam” of world records.
•  Rachel Davoren: General Manager of Charles Hughes Ltd. – Portwest.

Some of Ireland’s best welly throwers and possible celebrity guests. ​
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WHAT:

• The Portwest All-Ireland Welly throwing competition takes place throughout the three days of the National Ploughing Championships and is in aid Down Syndrome Ireland in conjunction with Emo GAA Club. As well as the fun in taking part there will be daily prizes from Portwest. The competition takes place from 10am-4pm daily.
• Eamonn Keane, Guinness World Record Holder and weightlifting champion will be present at the Portwest tent to meet and greet attendees all day Tuesday & Wednesday at the the National Ploughing Championships.