Category: News 2024

Certa to fuel this year’s ‘Ploughing’ as all roads lead to Laois in September

Posted on by

Spot a ‘Certa ‘billboard road sign and win tickets to this year’s National Ploughing Championships

NPA are delighted to announce that Certa will again be the official fuel sponsor for this year’s National Ploughing Championships & European Vintage Contest taking place in Ratheniska, Co Laois on September 17th, 18th & 19th.  Celebrating the return of this successful partnership, over one hundred promotional road sign billboards have been installed at key locations throughout the country. 

To be in with a chance to win a pair of complimentary tickets to this year’s event simply take a photo of a sign in your locality and share on NPA/Certa socials (*strictly when safe to do so).

At the Certa/#Ploughing2024 launch NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh spoke of how she was looking forward to working with Certa again in the run up to and during this year’s Championships.  The NPA MD said “I am delighted that Certa are on board again this year as the official fuel sponsorship partner of the largest outdoor event in Europe with over 250,000 visitors expected throughout the 3 days. 

Certa will supply all of the event fuel requirements for the 3 days including fuelling all the generators for powering the site, the lighting towers that extend out to a radius of over 30 km from the main site, all the event machinery, upwards of 350 competitors tractors and 26 Competitors from all over Europe in the Vintage Competition. 

Certa is delighted to be the official fuel supplier to the National Ploughing Championships.  Certa Managing Director Orla Stevens said “The National Ploughing Championships is renowned as the largest outdoor event in Ireland.  Certa is proud of the role we play in supporting the organisers to achieve their sustainability goals and to reduce the event’s carbon footprint through the use of HVO as an alternative to diesel.”

Over the course of the 3-day event, Certa will showcase their energy solutions for customers including solar, HVO, Lubricants and other liquid fuels. As sponsors of the Ireland Women’s cricket team, the Certa stand will feature a mini cricket pitch and will also offer visitors the opportunity to meet with See Change and Men’s Sheds charities.

Euronics is announced as the new sponsor of the National Brown Bread Baking Competition 2024

Posted on by

Final to take place on 19th September at National Ploughing Championships, Ratheniska, Co. Laois
Winner to take home a cash prize of €5000 PLUS a NEFF Slide & Hide oven (RRP €2,019)

Today (Thursday, 16th May) Euronics was unveiled as the new sponsor of the National Brown Bread Baking Competition, in association with the National Ploughing Association (NPA) and the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA).

Brown bread is a quintessentially Irish product found in most of the homes around the country. Everyone has their own recipe and their secret ingredient  But – can YOUR favourite win the coveted title and can YOU bake your way to the top spot.

The winning brown bread baker will walk away with a cash prize of €5000 and a NEFF oven, with the three finalists all walking away with a  €500 Euronics gift card.

Daragh Lynch, CEO Euronics Ireland said at today’s launch at the Home of Innovation in Ballymount “We are thrilled to be sponsoring this iconic competition. Every week up and down the country NEFF ovens are baking delicious loaves of brown bread and we look forward to tasting all the entries. Our winner will walk away with a great cash prize and a versatile top of the range NEFF oven”.

All entrants (one entry per person) are being asked to drop their freshly baked bread to one of the stores below (all part of the Euronics portfolio) on the prescribed dates between 09.00am – 11.00am. Bread will NOT be accepted outside of these times. Five bakers  will be invited to join the three finalists from the ICA. Two semi-finals of four bakers will take place on 17th and 18thSeptember  at the National Ploughing Championships with the final four bakers taking to the baking stage on  September 19th.

All successful entrants will be contacted on August 12th and invited to attend The National Ploughing Championships Brown Bread Baking Tent.

Brown Bread drop off locations, dates and time:

Wednesday 19th July   09.00am – 11.00am

TJ O’Mahonys Prosperous, 3, Lime Drive Ladytown , Naas, Co Kildare W91P682

Grange Baldoyle, Unit 48G, Baldoyle Ind Est, Baldoyle, Co Dublin OR

Mastercare in Killester, 164 Howth Road, Clontarf West, Killester D03 V820

Heavins, A1&A2 Shannon Retail Park, Dublin Road, Athlone, Co Westmeath

Wednesday 26th July 09.00am – 11.00am

Bandon Co-Op, Kilbrogan , Bandon , Co Cork P72 X275

Jack Fitzgerald, Howleys Quay, Prior’s Land, Limerick V94 W295

Joyces & Sons Galway Road, Cuilleen, Headford, Co Galway H91 A9X7

Wednesday 2nd August 09.00 – 11am

Redmond Electric, Unit 6 WFC Retail Park, The Avenue, Gorey, Co Wexford

Keans Claremorris, Mount Street, Clare, Claremorris, Co Mayo F12Y642 OR

Brodericks Westport, 5 Castlebar Road, Westport, Co Mayo OR

Harrys Electric  Unit 2 Moynehall Retail Park, Ballina Road, Cavan H12 HP64

NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “We are delighted to welcome Euronics to the National Ploughing Championships and as the brand new sponsor of this prestigious competition.  The first National Brown Bread baking competition took place at ‘Ploughing’ in 1954 and it is wonderful to see that the competition is still as popular now as it was then”.

Mary D’Arcy,  incoming ICA National President added “Our members always enjoy taking part in the National Brown Bread Baking competition to find the best Brown Bread in Ireland and I am sure this year will be no different!”.

If you think you have the recipe for success log onto www.neff-home.com/ie/brownbread or www.ica.ie for information on how to enter, full terms, conditions and competition rules.

Entries are now open for Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Arena Awards at the National Ploughing Championships

Posted on by

·        €10,000 prize for best start-up winner amongst the awards in this year’s competition
·        Applications open for this year’s Innovation Arena awards until 7th June
·        Return of the ‘Agritech Hub’ at the Innovation Arena, a key exhibition platform at one of Europe’s largest outdoor events

Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Arena Awards will return to the 2024 National Ploughing Championships (NPC), and the competition is now open for entries.

The Innovation Arena, which is hosted in partnership with the National Ploughing Association (NPA), is an annual exhibition platform showcasing cutting-edge solutions from Irish agritech companies and innovators to thousands of visitors over the course of the three-day event.

Applications are now being accepted for this year’s Innovation Arena Awards, which will be held on the first day of the Championships, and entries are being invited from Irish-owned companies, research and academia, who have pioneering innovations with the potential to deliver solutions for the agriculture sector that could help to optimise and futureproof the industry.  Those who are successful in their submission will automatically be offered an exhibition spot within the Innovation Arena.

There will a number of awards in this year’s competition, with a focus on applications from start-up companies under five years old, and established companies that are focused on scaling and innovation. There will be an overall start-up award winner, who will receive a €10,000 prize as well as mentoring supports from specialist Enterprise Ireland advisors.

At this year’s Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships, there will also be an opportunity for previous participants to apply for a space in the popular ‘Agritech Hub’.  This is an important exhibition space which gives Irish-owned agritech companies the opportunity to return to the NPC and display their progress to a varied audience, which also includes domestic and international visitors and buyers.

The winners of this year’s competition will be announced at a ceremony at Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Arena at the 2024 National Ploughing Championships, which returns to Ratheniska, Co Laois, from 17th to 19th September.

Leo Clancy, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, said: “Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting Irish businesses to grow and scale, and to become global leaders in their field, and this includes pioneering Irish agritech businesses that are having an impact around the world. Irish agritech innovators are shaping the future, and new ideas and cutting-edge products have never been in greater demand to deliver solutions to global challenges, with a particular focus on sustainability as we strive to work together to protect our planet and futureproof this sector. Working with the NPA, Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Arena provides an important platform for Irish companies in this sector, bringing together some of the brightest minds, and I would encourage all entrepreneurs who are interested to consider applying.”

The Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships is a key platform for showcasing Irish capabilities in this sector, as the NPC annually attracts over 250,000 visitors over the course of the three-day event.

Anna May McHugh, NPA Managing Director, said: “The Innovation Arena proves to be a massive draw at the National Ploughing Championships every year, as it puts a spotlight on the Irish change makers who are making an impact around the world.  We are delighted to continue this successful partnership with Enterprise Ireland again for this year’s Innovation Arena, as it annually delivers cutting edge ideas and technologies, which shapes the future of agriculture globally.”

James Maloney, Senior Development Adviser, Enterprise Ireland, said: “In a sector where the landscape is constantly changing, the importance of initiatives like the Innovation Arena, in partnership with the NPA, have never been more important. Reflecting the ever-evolving demands placed on the sector, in this year’s competition there will be a focus on innovations and solutions which address issues across animal science and technology, agri-engineering, digital technologies, animal health and nutrition, sustainability and climate action, and farm health and safety.”

To enter this year’s Innovation Arena Awards, please click here.

The closing date for entries is 5pm on 7th June 2024.

For more information:
Innovation Arena Awards – innovationarena@enterprise-ireland.com 
Media queries – press.office@enterprise-ireland.com

 

Labour of loaf! Mayo woman’s award-winning brown bread to hit ALDI shelves nationwide

Posted on by
  • Loretta McGuire’s incredible brown bread on sale in 161 ALDI stores nationwide from January 22nd
  • Loretta was crowned winner of National Brown Bread Baking Competition at last year’s National Ploughing Championships, taking home €15,000

Loretta McGuire from Co. Mayo, the winner of the 2023 National Brown Baking Competition sponsored by ALDI in association with the National Ploughing Association and the Irish Countrywomen’s Association, will see her award-winning brown bread go on sale in 161 ALDI stores nationwide for a 12-month period.  

An enthusiastic home baker, Loretta beat out stiff competition to be crowned the winner of last year’s National Brown Bread Baking Competition with judges dazzled by the bread’s taste and texture. Now ALDI shoppers can taste this hearty, rustic loaf for themselves when Loretta’s Brown Bread €1.99/600g goes on sale from January 22nd.  

The bread will be produced for ALDI by O’Hara’s of Foxford, a family-owned company based in Loretta’s native Co. Mayo. ALDI has a longstanding relationship with O’Hara’s of Foxford with the company supplying a number of bread and confectionery products to ALDI.   

Last year’s National Brown Bread Baking Competition final took place in the ALDI Marquee at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co. Laois. Eight amateur bakers from across Ireland competed against one another over the course of a hotly contested two-day bake off. Following much deliberation, Loretta’s bread was judged to be a cut above the rest and she was named the overall winner, taking home a grand prize of €15,000.  

The National Brown Bread Baking Competition aims to showcase the finest amateur bakers and promote the art of brown bread baking across Ireland. Since the competition was brought back in 2014, it is a very popular event at the National Ploughing Championships, attracting hundreds of entrants each year.  

Speaking ahead of the launch of her new brown bread, Loretta McGuire said: “Winning the National Brown Bread Baking Competition has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. When I was baking in my kitchen, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that someday I would see my very own brown bread stocked on supermarket shelves. I am so grateful to ALDI for this opportunity and I look forward to sharing Loretta’s Brown Bread with people all over Ireland – from my kitchen to yours!” 

Laurence Kelly, Buying Director at ALDI, said: “ALDI has been a proud sponsor and supporter of the National Brown Bread Baking Competition along with our partners in the National Ploughing Association and Irish Countrywomen’s Association for over 10 years. Last year’s competition was one to remember and confirmed not only that Ireland is home to a huge number of gifted bakers but that the tradition of brown bread baking is alive and well. On behalf of everyone in ALDI, I wish to extend my congratulations to Loretta on her win. We are proud to stock her high-quality, locally produced bread at an affordable price point and look forward to sharing it with our customers nationwide.”  

NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said: “We would like to offer our heartfelt congratulation to Loretta on being named the winner of this year’s National Brown Bread Baking Competition. It fills me with pride to see the competition continue to endure and remain as popular as ever since its inception in the early 1950s with hundreds of the most talented bakers from all over the country competing to be named ‘The Best Brown Bread Baker in Ireland’.”

Loretta’s Brown Bread €1.99/600g is now available in all 161 ALDI stores