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FBD LAUNCH NEW CHILD SAFETY INITIATIVE FOR THIS YEAR’S PLOUGHING

NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh and FBD’s Head of Farm & Business Christy Doherty launch new pioneering Child Safety Wristband initiative for this year’s Ploughing Championships. The white wristbands, which will be handed-out at all of the event entrances, will allow for a contact phone number to be written on the band in the event that the wearer wanders off amidst the crowd.

FBD’s Head of Farm & Business Christy Doherty said: “As one of the main sponsors of the National Ploughing Championships for over 25 years, we are delighted to support this new Child Safety Initiative that aims to keep all children safe as they attend the event. FBD’s Champions for Change Farm safety campaign this month also focuses on child safety and we are investing significantly in our communications campaign to raise awareness of hazards for children on the farm. The National Ploughing Championships are enjoying greater attendance year on year and it is therefore hoped that our FBD Keeping you safe wristbands will serve as a reassurance to anyone bringing children to the event.”

“This is an excellent safety concept not just for children but for anyone who is slightly vulnerable attending Ploughing throughout the 3 days, as it will give peace of mind and add greatly to visitors’ enjoyment of the event. As all can now rest assured that loved ones will be returned safely in case they get lost in the large crowds that attend the Championships,” said NPA MD Anna May McHugh.

The launch took place on the site in Ratheniska, Co. Laois as the first of over 25 kilometres of track-way is currently being laid down to transform a green field into the bustling hub that will become the 84th National Championships. There is now great activity on the ploughing site to prepare for Europe’s largest outdoor event taking place from Tuesday 22nd of September to Thursday 24th of September.

There will be an array of new exhibitors as well as hundreds of outstanding veteran companies showcasing their products and services in dynamic ways. With top quality Machinery Demonstrations, Prizewinning Animals, a Forestry Village complete with Husqvarna Pole climbing, Pony Games, Sheep Dog Trials, Hunt Chase, Live Entertainment & Music, a Food Fayre, a unique Garden Project with renowned gardener Diarmuid Gavin, Fashion Shows, International Business opportunities, a revamped Innovation Arena and an extended Local Enterprise Village with over 75 exhibitors, there is something for all of the family.

Other really exciting new additions to the programme this year include a Festi’Kids Crèche, a Tractor Ted Arena, A Driving Challenge, the Foroige Junior Baker and lots more, Ireland’s Farming Festival is not to be missed..

Tickets are now available online at www.npa.ie or by phoning 059 8625125. Special student and group rates apply to pre-event orders and don’t forget children under 12 are free.

Showcasing the Best of Irish Food, Farming and Culture, this year’s National Ploughing Championships will take place from 22nd – 24th of September in Ratheniska, Co Laois. For the first time ever, due to unprecedented demand there has been an extensive waiting list for exhibitor stands since May. NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “we are delighted that so many exhibitors have booked again to come to Ploughing because that is a real seal of approval for the event.”

“There will be an array of new exhibitors as well as hundreds of outstanding veteran companies showcasing their products and services in dynamic ways. With top quality Machinery Demonstrations, Prizewinning Animals, a Forestry Village complete with Husqvarna Pole climbing, Pony Games, Hunt Chase, Live Entertainment & Music, a Food Fayre, National Baking Competitions, a unique Garden Project with renowned gardener Diarmuid Gavin, Fashion Shows, International Business opportunities, a revamped Innovation Arena and an extended Local Enterprise Village with over 75 exhibitors.”

An extended Trade Arena will see the return of the popular Tented Trade Village with demand necessitating the biggest Arcade ever, with up to 120 exhibitors displaying in the one arena plus hundreds more located in additional specialist Pavilions.
In the competitive ploughing stakes a particularly strong programme has attracted entries from all around the country and Northern Ireland, hundreds of acres will be ploughed over the 3 days with over 350 entrants from all around the country competing.
Other really exciting new additions to the programme this year include a Festi’Kids Crèche, a Tractor Ted Arena, A Driving Challenge, the Foroige Junior Baker and lots more, Ireland’s Farming Festival is not to be missed.
Tickets are now available online at www.npa.ie or by phoning 059 8625125. Special student and group rates apply to pre-event orders and don’t forget kids under 12 are free and parking is free.

Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Farmers Journal and the NPA have joined forces again to provide budding entrepreneurs and innovators with an exceptional opportunity to apply for the Innovation Arena Award at this year’s National Ploughing Championships, with a prize fund now totalling an unparalleled €65,000 this is an opportunity not to be missed.

With remarkable interest the exhibition area for this year’s innovation stands will double in size. There will also be additional categories for a junior award for under-18s and a student category and due to unprecedented demand applications for late entries, known as wildcards, are now open until 3.00pm Friday July 17th 2015.  Successful wildcard entries will be notified of their selection by July 24th.

The competition for places is tough and the rewards are great, according to Denis Duggan from Enterprise Ireland. Denis explained that winning this award is just the start of a long relationship with Enterprise Ireland.

NPA Managing Director Anna Marie McHugh said “The opening up of the competition gives anyone who has a good business idea the chance to enter and possibly become the next big success story in Irish agriculture or business. Missing entry deadlines is easy with high workloads and family pressures all part of modern life. We are delighted to be able to offer this last chance for entries to the Innovation Awards with the National Ploughing Association, Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Farmers Journal.’’
To apply please go to www.enterprise-ireland.com/innovationarena to see the conditions for entry and process details.

From handcrafted hurleys to baked breakfast cereals, more than 70 small businesses to welcome thousands of visitors to new ‘Local Enterprise Village’ at National Ploughing Championships in September.
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton T.D. has welcomed plans for the biggest-ever ‘Local Enterprise Village’, which is being built by the network of Local Enterprise Offices at the National Ploughing Championships.
In twelve weeks’ time at Ratheniska in County Laois, the Local Enterprise Village will be home to more than 70 small businesses for the three days of the Championships (September 22nd – 24th), which is Europe’s largest outdoor event.
Local Enterprise Offices in every county throughout Ireland are supporting small businesses at the ploughing, which attracted more than 279,500 visitors in 2014, generating an estimated €39 million in sales.
Welcoming the announcement of the plans by representatives of the Local Enterprise Offices, the National Ploughing Association and Local Authorities Ireland, Minister Bruton said: “Ireland’s agri-sector is performing very strongly and as a result, small businesses in key sectors are benefitting, with plenty of opportunities for growth and job creation. The National Ploughing Championships are growing in importance and scale every year and through the Local Enterprise Offices, more small businesses and start-ups can start to avail of those opportunities.”
The Chair of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices, Kieran Comerford, said that the Local Enterprise Village has doubled in size in recent years, explaining: “For small, local businesses looking to expand, The Local Enterprise Village is the ideal gateway to customers across farming communities and rural Ireland. Many of the small businesses being supported by the Local Enterprise Offices will be testing new products and services in September, which in turn, will generate more jobs within those companies in the near future.”
The President of the National Ploughing Association, James Sutton said “it is tremendous to see the huge level of enterprise interest, with an unprecedented number of diverse and exciting businesses, exhibiting at the “Local Enterprise Village” at this year’s Ploughing Championships.  There is no doubt that the entrepreneurial spark is alive and well in Ireland and it is a fantastic opportunity for these small businesses to showcase their products to the large  number of visitors that Ploughing attracts, this is very positive for rural Ireland and the wider economy.”

NO REPRO FEE 25/6/2015 The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD ( bottom 2nd from left) has welcomed plans for the biggest-ever ‘Local Enterprise Village’, which is being built by the Local Enterprise Offices at the National Ploughing Championships in September. In all, 70 small businesses from every county in Ireland will be showcasing their goods and services for the public inside the Local Enterprise Village from September 22nd to 24th. Last year 279,500 visitors attended the National Ploughing Championships, generating eur39 million in sales. Plans for the Local Enterprise Village were announced at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation by the Local Enterprise Offices, the National Ploughing Association and Local Authorities Ireland. Pictured at the announcement are, clockwise from left, Paul Reid, Chair of Local Government, Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Committee, Kieran Comerford, Chair of Network of Local Enterprise Offices, Colm Foley from 65 Hurls in Fingal, Richard Doyle from Creative Productions in Carlow, James Sutton, President of the National Ploughing Association, Jacqui Kelly from Kelly’s Mountain Brew in Kildare, Bernadine Burke from Friends and Family Trees in Galway, Minister Richard Bruton TD and Marina Hand from Winnie’s Craft Café in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown. Further information around the Local Enterprise Village at the Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska in County Laois is available through www.localenterprise.ie. Photo: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

NO REPRO FEE 25/6/2015 The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD ( bottom 2nd from left) has welcomed plans for the biggest-ever ‘Local Enterprise Village’, which is being built by the Local Enterprise Offices at the National Ploughing Championships in September. In all, 70 small businesses from every county in Ireland will be showcasing their goods and services for the public inside the Local Enterprise Village from September 22nd to 24th. Last year 279,500 visitors attended the National Ploughing Championships, generating eur39 million in sales. Plans for the Local Enterprise Village were announced at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation by the Local Enterprise Offices, the National Ploughing Association and Local Authorities Ireland. Pictured at the announcement are, clockwise from left, Paul Reid, Chair of Local Government, Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Committee, Kieran Comerford, Chair of Network of Local Enterprise Offices, Colm Foley from 65 Hurls in Fingal, Richard Doyle from Creative Productions in Carlow, James Sutton, President of the National Ploughing Association, Jacqui Kelly from Kelly’s Mountain Brew in Kildare, Bernadine Burke from Friends and Family Trees in Galway, Minister Richard Bruton TD and Marina Hand from Winnie’s Craft Café in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown. Further information around the Local Enterprise Village at the Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska in County Laois is available through www.localenterprise.ie. Photo: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

At today’s launch, the Minister met with seven small businesses that will be hoping to make a big impact on visitors to the Local Enterprise Village in September. They were: 65 Hurls (handcrafted hurls, Fingal), Winnie’s Craft Café (craft and knitting supplies, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown), Nutri-Snax (nutritious cereals and biscuits, Cavan) Kelly’s Mountain Brew (microbrewery, Kildare), Creative Productions (video production, Carlow), Friends and Family Trees (souvenir tree drawings, Galway) and Wild About (artisan chutneys and dressings, Wicklow).
Organised by the National Ploughing Association, the 84th National Ploughing Championships are set to take place from September 22nd to 24th at Ratheniska, Stradbally in County Laois and further details around the Local Enterprise Village are available from www.localenterprise.ie.