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Countdown Underway!

Posted on 02/09/2016 by National Ploughing Association

With just over two weeks to go to the staging of one of Europe’s largest outdoor events, preparations at the site in Screggan, Tullamore are well under way for this year’s National Ploughing Championships. Today, the national media were treated to an exciting preview of what to expect, as the event was officially launched on the Co. Offaly site.

At this morning’s launch, the media and special guests were entertained by local performers from Offaly while prize-winning animals, quality machines, horses and hounds were all on display. Models from the Holman Lee modelling agency took to a mini catwalk to provide a glimpse of the highly anticipated fashion shows that will take place throughout the three days of the event. Local and national boutiques/fashion houses provided a taster of the latest styles and the fashion of the forthcoming season.

Launching the event, NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “The Championships not only provides a national stage for showcasing all things agricultural, but also brings together people from all sectors of Irish society both rural and urban, to enjoy three days immersed in country living,”

“It is great to see the phenomenal interest in the Ploughing Championships with countries such as Australia, France, UK, Netherlands, New Zealand, Czech Republic, Germany, Canada and Belgium exhibiting. With 281,000 visitors attending last year and over 1,500 stands the Ploughing Championships is one of the market leading Agriculture Trade Fairs worldwide.”

Improving visitor experience is always a priority for the National Ploughing and this year is no exception with NPA piloting a park n ride system for Dublin traffic. The service will be complimentary and operate frequently each way throughout the 3 days giving visitors the added benefit of a drop off point within a few hundred metres of exhibition arena.

Visitors to this year’s National Ploughing Championships will also have the opportunity to get train transport from around Ireland to travel to Tullamore, where Bus Éireann will operate a shuttle service for the short (5 km) trip to the Screggan site over the days from Tuesday 20^th to Thursday 22^nd 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. The very latest models in agricultural machinery will be on display, quality livestock, a Forestry Village, Food Fayre, an International Business Centre in the Innovation Arena and an extended Local Enterprise Village with over 80 exhibitors aswell as National Baking Competitions, Garden Displays, Craft Shows and many topical seminars.

An extended Trade Arena will see the return of the popular Tented Retail Village with demand necessitating the return of the “Dome” the biggest Arcade ever, with over 120 exhibitors displaying in the one arena plus hundreds more located in specialist Pavilions.

Exciting new initiatives this year will include the Machine of the Year competition, charity calves auction and Ireland’s first ever tractor football matches. The Volkswagen Amorak V6 Experience an exhilarating 4 x 4 off-road driving experience is not for the faint hearted. The National Ploughing Championships taking place from September 20^th to 22^nd in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly is not to be missed.

FBD’s Child Safety

Posted on 31/08/2016 by National Ploughing Association

FBD’s CHILD SAFETY INITIATIVE RETURNS TO PLOUGHING FOLLOWING LAST YEAR’S SUCCESS

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

Launching the FBD Keeping you Safe wristbands for Ploughing 2016 at Screggan, Tullamore 20-22 September. Christy Doherty, Head of Farm and Business FBD; Anna May McHugh, NPA managing director; NPA chairman PJ Lynam; Paul Lynam, Lynam Garden Furniture and Shamrocks footballers Ronan Connolly, David Gibbons and Daithí Guinan.
Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ie

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 continue our sponsorship of the National Ploughing Championship’s Child Safety Initiative. Our aim when launching this last year was to keep all children safe as they attend the event. This initiative proved so successful last year that we will now be supporting the NPA with our added commitment to making sure our staff are there at main entrances to make sure each child entering the event is issued with one of these wristbands. FBD’s ongoing farm safety campaign regularly focuses on child safety and we are investing significantly in our efforts to raise awareness of hazards for children on the farm. Every year, this event grows in popularity 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 anyone who is slightly vulnerable attending Ploughing throughout the 3 days, as it allays fears and adds 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, the 2015 event was attended by 281,000 visitors,” said NPA MD Anna May McHugh

The launch took place in Lynams Garden Centre in Tullamore very close to this year’s Ploughing site in Screggan, Co Offaly. There is now great activity on the ploughing site to prepare for Europe’s largest outdoor event taking place from Tuesday 20^th of September to Thursday 22^nd.

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, Fashions Shows, Prizewinning Animals, a Forestry Village, Pony Games, Sheep Dog Trials, Hunt Chase, Live Entertainment & Music, a Food Fayre, 4 x4 Off-road Driving Experience, Garden Displays, Tractor Football, International Business opportunities, an action-packed Innovation Arena and an extended Local Enterprise Village with something for all of the family, 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.

Top Oil Fuel Championships

Posted on 12/08/2016 by National Ploughing Association

As the start of over 25Km of trakway is currently being laid for this year’s National Ploughing Championships site in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly. NPA are delighted to once again be partnering with Top Oil as the official fuel sponsor. Highlighting this successful pairing, over 100 8ft x 4ft billboards have been erected at strategic locations throughout the country advertising the event which takes place from September 20^th to 22^nd.

On site recently, Managing Director of the NPA, Ms Anna May McHugh, along with Top Oil representatives and the Top Oil Mascot said how she looked forward to working very closely with Top Oil in the run up to the championships and offered “I am delighted that Top Oil have come on board again this year as sponsorship partners of the event. Top Oil are a very well-known brand throughout Ireland and are instantly recognisable throughout the rural community”.

Last year’s National Ploughing Championships was attended by 281,000 and this year promises to be even better with over 1,500 diverse and exciting exhibitors booked in

85th NPC drives ahead

Posted on 05/08/2016 by National Ploughing Association

As the first of over 25 kilometres of trakway for the 85^th National Ploughing Championships is currently being laid to transform a green field in Offaly into the bustling hub that will become this year’s event. The NPA are delighted to welcome back Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles as the official motoring partner; this is the sixth year in a row of this successful partnership.

Alan Bateson, Managing Director, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Ireland said “We are delighted to be returning for our 6^th year in 2016 as official Vehicle partner of the National Ploughing Championships. This year we will supply a range of 4 Motion Transporter Generation 6 Vans and Amarok Pick Ups which have proven to be so popular with the agricultural community in Ireland. We will also launch our new Amarok V6 at this year’s championships, this new vehicle which sets the benchmark against all other competitors in Ireland and which will be the only V6 offering in this segment, with a class leading 221bhp and a best in class 550Nm of torque we know it is sure to attract huge interest.

“The National Ploughing Championships showcases the Best of Irish Food, Farming and Culture and this partnership matches our brand values of being the best Commercial Vehicle manufacturer in the Irish Market.”

The National Ploughing Association Managing Director Anna May McHugh said ‘The Volkswagen fleet of vehicles provided for Ploughing will prove to be a huge addition for the off-road preparations and site works that will take place on upwards of 800 acres, and during the event week they will provide a vital link between exhibition, competitions, demonstrations and car parks.”

Celebrating the 85^th year of the National Ploughing Association, this year’s programme is action packed with exciting activities and events throughout the three days in Screggan, Tullamore from September 20^th – 22nd. Over 1,500 exhibitors have booked their spot at the event showcasing cattle, sheep, and a huge range of goods from tractors and agricultural machinery to cars, fashion, forestry, innovations, house and home, health, lifestyle, leisure and plenty of entertainment, retail therapy and food stalls.

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