THE 85TH NATIONAL PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIPS ROARS INTO ACTION WITH A RECORD DAY ONE ATTENDANCE OF 100,000
Despite the previous days’ rain, the weather picked up as the crowds gathered from all over Ireland for the 85th National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly. The sun beamed down as the crowd of 100,000 enjoyed a fantastic, action packed day for all the family.
With clear blue skies throughout the day, shoppers, machinery and agricultural enthusiasts joined celebrities and politicians on the 25 kilometres of track way.
>From farming to fashion, artisan foods to top-of-the range machinery the very best of what Ireland has to offer was on display today for people of all interests to enjoy.
The highly anticipated and prestigious Machine of the Year competition result was also announced with congratulations going to Acres MD, David Doran for the super Crop 1 machine. The judges; journalist Bruce Lett, UCDs Kevin McDonald and Wilfried Wolf from DLG were extremely impressed with the strength of the entries in this inaugural competition.
The NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “the feedback from exhibitors so far is that business is extremely vibrant and those I spoke with today said sales are already well ahead of what they predicted. This is very positive for both rural Ireland and the wider economy.”
“With the sun shining down on all things Ploughing today, reports are that tomorrow is shaping up to be another action packed day at “largest outdoor event in Europe.”