National Ploughing Association
National Ploughing Championships 2024
The National Ploughing Championships will return to Ratheniska in 2022, and will take place from September 20th to 22nd. We also hope for a return to the Ploughing Championships, as we know it, after the behind closed door event of 2021.
NPA ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT EMO OIL WILL BE A BRAND NEW SPONSOR FUELLING THIS YEAR’S NATIONAL PLOUGHING COMPETITIONS
#Ploughing2021 is due to take place behind closed gates from September 15th to 17th in Rathenisa, Co Laois
This year the National Ploughing Association will celebrate its 90th Anniversary with the National Ploughing Championships competitions brining the focus back to its 1931 ‘ploughing’ origins. It is tremendous to have Emo Oil on board as the new Official Fuel & Lubricants sponsor who will provide fuel for all of the 350 competitors who will be battling it out throughout the 3 days.
At the launch Managing Director of the NPA, Anna May McHugh spoke of how she looked forward to working very closely with Emo Oil as a new National Ploughing Association sponsor. She said, “I am delighted that Emo Oil have come on board this year as sponsorship partners. Emo Oil are a very well-known brand throughout Ireland and instantly recognisable throughout the rural community.”
“As an organisation, they have a great appreciation of the importance and impact events such as the National Ploughing Championships have on both the national economy and the rural community.”
Managing Director of DCC Oil Ireland Andrew Graham said, “It’s fantastic to see the ploughing competitions back in action in 2021 for the 90th year anniversary, and we’re excited to be partnering as the new fuel & lubricants sponsor. We are proud to be a part of an event that brings the very best of Ireland’s agri sector together. “
“Emo Oil is a local Irish business that has been supporting farmers for over 40 years with quality agri fuels & lubricants – so partnering for the 90th running of the ploughing championships was something we didn’t want to miss. While unfortunately we cannot welcome any customers to the event this year, we will be fuelling all the competitors throughout the event and will be on hand to offer advice and support.“
#Ploughing2021
The National Ploughing Association Executive made the difficult decision to cancel all National Ploughing Finals 2020 with the exception of Senior qualifier classes for 2021 which include qualification for the World Ploughing Contest scheduled to be hosted in Ireland next September. The qualifying classes have been postponed until 6th – 7th – 8th October conditional on HSE & government recommendations at that time.
The NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said that “the Executive reached the decision to cancel the Trade Exhibition back in May in the hope that by September the National Ploughing Classes could go ahead behind closed gates, however as public health and safety is the NPA’s foremost priority and with the recent surge in Covid-19 cases the Association felt that the safest option for everyone involved was to cancel the competitions.
With visitor attendance last year of 297,000 and up to 1,700 exhibitors the full event was not an option in the midst of a global pandemic.
Exhibitors, visitors & patrons have all expressed their disappointment with “no ploughing this year” and the NPA together with a number of associates have planned a programme of online activations during what should have been “Ploughing Week” starting on the 14th with the Enterprise Ireland and NPA Innovation Awards, Exhibitor promotions and activations on 15th – 16th – 17th and the Aldi, NPA and ICA National Brown Bread Baking Competition finals on 17th September. Follow #Ploughing2020.
With an annual economic impact reported to be in the region of €45 million the loss of this event is massively significant to the Irish Economy however the NPA are looking forward to September 2021 (15th-16th-17th -18th) marking the 90th year of the NPA and Ireland will be hosting the World Ploughing Contest in tandem with the National.
National Ploughing Association Managing Director, Anna May McHugh said “when lives are potentially at risk then we all have to take stock and just limit our activities to an absolute minimum – we will see brighter days please god in 2021 and I look forward to getting back to “the ploughing” as we know it.”
We hope to return to normal services in 2021
Welcome Home Reception in Dublin Airport to celebrate the Irish Ploughing Team’s great success at the recent European Ploughing Contest in Suzdal, Russia – Liam O’Driscoll from Bandon, Co Cork who beat off stiff competition to win first place at the European Competition and Dan Donnelly from Blackwater, Co Wexford who came 1st the stubble ploughing and 4th in the overall competition.
The team were managed by Laois man DJ McHugh and coached by Joe Slattery from Tipperary. The NPA President James Sutton also accompanied the Irish team to Russia.