There is just under two weeks to go to the the 2015 National Ploughing Championships and preparations are well underway in Ratheniska Co. Laois.
Officially launching the event today National Ploughing Association (NPA) Managing Director Anna May McHugh said that the Championships bring people from all sectors of Irish society both rural and urban, to enjoy three days immersed in country living.
Image: Saran Buttle, son of Anna Marie McHugh, Assistant MD of the NPA, at the Ploughing launch.
“Many visitors to the event take the three days out in late September to have a well-earned break from their daily working lives, particularly following one of the busiest times in the farming calendar, the harvest,” she said.
Food, fashion and farming were the flare of the day as ploughing enthusiasts and public representatives including the Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan got a flavour of all that Ploughing has to offer.
For machinery addicts, the NPC trade arena goes unrivalled as all the top brands will be showcasing the latest makes and models on the market.
Belgium Blue X heifer who won Best Heifer with no Permanent Teeth at the Tullamore Show, owned by Erwin Stanley
Visitors at today’s launch, along with some of Ireland’s top models, took the opportunity to inspect the site and try out some of the tractors/machinery on site.
Motoring exhibits have increased by 20% this year and the international element is incredibly strong with countries from all over the world represented; exhibitors from the UK, Germany, New Zealand, France, Netherlands and USA.
Several new dimensions will see a French Business Pavilion, a Young Innovator Bursary to a European trade fair and an International Business Centre in the Innovation Arena.
John Kelly (4) at the launch of the Ploughing.
Education will also feature significantly at this year’s event with 17 colleges exhibiting between Ireland and the UK.
Up to 200,000 visitors are expected to descend on the 800 acre site with over 1,500 stands.
This makes the 2015 National Ploughing Championships the biggest yet and one of the market leading Agriculture Trade Fairs worldwide, organisers said.
Padraig Whelan, son of well known ploughman John Whelan pictured with Eamonn Tracey, current World Ploughing Champion.
