NPA CANCEL TRADE EXHIBITION 2020

Posted on 15/09/2020 by National Ploughing Association

Ploughing 2020 – Trade Exhibition Cancelled

HOPE TO RUN 89TH NATIONAL PLOUGHING COMPETITIONS BEHIND CLOSED GATES DUE TO COVID-19

The NPA have cancelled the National Ploughing Trade Exhibition due to take place in Ballintrane, Fenagh, Co Carlow from September 15th to 17th but still hope that there will be an opportunity to run the ploughing competitions behind closed gates due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said that “the Executive reached this very difficult decision to cancel the Trade Exhibition as public health and safety is our foremost priority given the current global pandemic. With visitor attendance last year of 297,000 and up to 1,700 exhibitors, we had too many concerns about how we could implement social distancing and the potential risk of bringing together people from all over the country.

However we are still hoping that we may be able to run the National Ploughing Competitions behind closed gates and that situation will be closely reviewed over the next number of weeks”.

Obviously this is very disappointing news for the hundreds of exhibitors that have already booked exhibition space but NPA will be making full refunds over the next few weeks.

With an annual economic impact reported to be in the region of 45 million euro the loss of this event is massively significant to the Irish Economy however the NPA are looking at the positive that 2021 will mark the 90th year of the NPA and Ireland will be hosting the World Ploughing Contest in tandem with the National on 15th-16th-17th -18th September – venue to be confirmed.

NPA cancel all ploughing classes except international qualifiers

Posted on 28/08/2020 by National Ploughing Association

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 6^th – 7^th – 8^th 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 14^th with the Enterprise Ireland and NPA Innovation Awards, Exhibitor promotions and activations on 15^th – 16^th – 17^th and the Aldi, NPA and ICA National Brown Bread Baking Competition finals on 17^th 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 -18^th) 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

2020 NATIONAL PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIPS SET TO RETURN TO BALLINTRANE, FENAGH, CO CARLOW FOLLOWING THE MOST SUCESSFUL YEAR TO DATE

Posted on 16/10/2019 by National Ploughing Association

The NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh announced at the recent ‘Ploughing Prizewinners Awards Banquet’ that the 89th National Ploughing Championships will return again to the superb site in Ballintrane, Fenagh, Co Carlow following such as successful event this year.
The site was confirmed as the ideal location for the 2020Championships at the prize-giving ceremony attended by over 500 in Tullow.

Speaking after the announcement the NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “We are delighted to be returning toBallintrane, Fenagh, Co Carlow, as the picturesque siteprovided all of the key criteria required to qualify it as a brilliant place to stage the National Ploughing Championships.
“I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the people of Carlow for all of the goodwill and support this year in running the most successful National Ploughing Championships to date with 297,000 visitors and over 1,700 exhibitors.”

Anna May McHugh also congratulated all of the winners who were awarded at the prize-giving ceremony, and commented “that all of the hard work and training throughout the year has truly paid off so you should all truly enjoy your triumphs.”

Ploughing 2020 for Ballintrane, Fenagh, Co. Carlow. Announcing the site for 2020 are host families with officials and public representatives at the National Ploughing Association awards and banquet in the Mount Wolseley Hotel, Tullow, Sunday 13th October 2019.
Photo: Alf Harvey.

Again John Whelan from Wexford was the overall National Reversible Ploughing Competition winner and Eamonn Tracey the Conventional Ploughing winner and they will compete in World Ploughing Contest in Russia next year.