News 2021 Archives - National Ploughing Association

Great excitement as Ploughing Championship’s Exhibition Portal opens for first Ploughing in 3 years!

Posted on 22/03/2022 by National Ploughing Association

Book Early To Avail Of Early Bird Rates!

The Trade Exhibition portal for exhibitors to book stand space opens today following much anticipation for all details please see www.npa.ie.

The largest outdoor event on the Irish Calendar is set for a fantastic comeback this year after a two-year absence returning to the familiar venue of Ratheniska, County Laois on September 20^th21^st & 22^nd.

2019 saw the biggest event to date with an attendance of almost 300,000 and already there is an incredibly positive reaction from exhibitors, patrons and visitors alike for #Ploughing2022 as companies are anxious to get back trading and people are keen to do business again.

Anna May McHugh NPA Managing Director said, “I’m delighted to be in a position today to announce that the Trade Exhibition Portal for this year’s National Ploughing Championships is now open following a large volume of enquiries and requests from all over the country and significant international interest.

NPA continue to make a determined effort to improve exhibitor and visitor experience alike, and this year will see the biggest area to date allocated to exhibition and demonstrations. The NPA’s core mission is to create a pleasant, friendly and vibrant place for people, to meet and do business and this is always our priority.”

For information regarding this year’s National Ploughing Championships please see www.npa.ie or call 059 8625125, where our exhibition team will be on hand to assist as you prepare for this year’s event. Follow the build-up and journey to #Ploughing2022

The 90th Anniversary Of The National Ploughing Championships Was A Huge Success

Posted on 17/09/2021 by National Ploughing Association

The National Ploughing Championships first established in 1931 celebrated its 90th anniversary in Ratheniska, Co Laois with the focus firmly back on the Association’s ploughing roots.
A true ‘Ploughing’ master class was on display with the finest ploughmen and women from all over the country battling it out on 150 acres in 22 separate classes over the 3 days as old friend’s reunited and new marvellous memories were made.

Martin Kehoe from Wexford became the National Senior Conventional Ploughing Champion and Dan Donnelly from Wexford won the Senior Reversible Contest. Siobhan Dermody from Co Kilkenny was crowned the ‘Queen of the Plough’ following her win in the farmerette class.

Aisling O’Toole from Co Kildare was named the 2021 National Brown Bread Baker winning a prize fund of €15,000, her award winning loaf will be available to purchase in Aldi stores nationwide for the next year.

This year’s overall Innovation Arena Awards with Enterprise Ireland winner was marine biotech company Brandon Bioscience in Tralee, Co Kerry. In collaboration with the traditional fertiliser manufacturer Target Fertilisers, the company’s winning entry is an innovative new biostimulant product using extracts from common brown seaweed that has the potential to reduce chemical nitrogen input on farms by up to 20 per cent.

The best overall start-up award went to Jennifer and Kevin Corley, founders of EquiTrace which is an app that works with a horse’s microchip to identify, locate and track individual animals as they move while also recording animal temperature and health records when used with a Merck Bio-Thermo chip and scanner. Both the overall and best start-up Award winners will receive a prise fund of €5,000 each.

So as the final sod was turned in Ratheniska today signalling the end of the 2021 National Ploughing – thoughts are firmly on the 2022 event returning to Ratheniska from 20th – 22nd September.

Emo Oil – Our Brand New Sponsor

Posted on 18/08/2021 by National Ploughing Association

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 Brown Bread Baking Competition sponsored by Aldi

Posted on 15/06/2021 by National Ploughing Association

With the National Ploughing Association and The Irish county Women’s Association

A grand prize of €15,000 for the overall winner!

Winner will be announced on 17^th of September

Aldi will once again, sponsor The National Brown Bread Baking Competition, in association with the National Ploughing Association (NPA) and the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA).

Do you know someone that has perfected their brown bread baking skills over the past year? Have you made a brilliant brown bread whilst stuck at home over the past few months? If the answer is yes, then this is the competition for you!

The competition will be open to all members of the public; all entrants will be asked to drop off their freshly baked bread at one of the following Aldi stores on the prescribed date:

WEDNESDAY 4^th AUGUST 09:00- 11:00

Aldi Head Office Naas, Newbridge Road, Naas, Co.Kildare, W91 VE40.

Aldi Swords, 10 Seatown Rd, Townparks, Swords, Co. Dublin, K67 V2N7.

Aldi Athlone, Golden Island, Ankers Bower, Athlone Co. Westmeath N37 FC04.

WEDNESDAY 11^th August 09:00- 11:00

Aldi Macroom, Oakwood, Sleveen East, Macroom, Co. Cork, P12 ER89.

Aldi, Newcastle West, , Co. Limerick, V42 KD35.

Aldi, Main Street, Gort, Co. Galway, H91 PV44.

WEDNESDAY 18^th August 09:00- 11:00

Aldi New Ross, Marshmeadows, New Ross, Co. Wexford, Y34 NP48.

Aldi Castlebar, Lannagh Rd, Garryduff, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, F23 TV29.

Aldi Cavan, Dublin Rd, Tullymongan Upper, Cavan, H91PK29.

All successful entrants will be contacted on 20^th of August, to attend the finals, due to take place on the 10^th of September in Howth Castle Cookery School.

Group Buying Director, John Curtin said, “At Aldi, we are a proud supporter of Irish suppliers and producers, so we are delighted to sponsor The National Brown Bread Baking Competition again this year and to be able to host the competition during these challenging times. Last years’ winning product ‘Marie’s Brown Bread’ has been a great success, and we want to ensure that Ireland’s best bakers have the opportunity to take part in this fantastic competition again this year. We look forward to sampling Ireland’s best brown bread in the coming weeks and announcing the winner on September 17^th in Howth Castle Cookery School.”

NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “The NPA are delighted that the hugely popular National Brown Bread Baking competition is returning this year. Every year the interest grows and the standard is escalating with hundreds of entries from all around the country. Despite having to cancel this year’s Trade Exhibition due to Covid the National Ploughing Competitions will take place from Sept 15th to 17th and plans are in place to build a programme of activities around #Ploughing2021 including digital activations for all to get involved with and the highly anticipated National Brown Bread Baking winner will be announced on the final day. ”

Hilda Roche, President of the ICA said, “The members of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association are very much looking forward to participating in this year’s National Brown Bread Baking Competition. I wish everyone the very best of luck.”

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

The winner’s brown bread will be stocked in all Aldi Stores in Ireland for twelve months and they will receive a grand prize of €15,000.

The National Brown Bread Baking Competition