NPA Historical images

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The First National Ploughing Contest was held in Mr. W.K. Hosie’s field, Coursetown, Athy.

A Perpetual Challenge Cup was donated by the Estate Management and Supply Assoc. Ltd., Kildare,

 

“..to be competed for anually in a contest for
the Senior Individual Ploughing Champion of Ireland.”

A team trophy was also presented for the contest, the “David Frame Cup”.

Anna May McHugh, secretary of the N.P.A., enjoying the company of Murty McGrath at the 1957 Ploughing at Boyle.

A look behind the scenes reveals how the important decisions are made at a general meeting of the National Ploughing Council.

 

Pictured at this meeting are clockwise;
M. Connolly; H. McDonald; G. Baker; B. O’Connor; M. Hanlon; J. Savage; J. Lennon; D. O’Connor; A. McMahon; D. Connolly; & J. Mullins.

Pictured receiving The Golden Grain Perpetual Cup from Beatrice Grovenor at the 1954 World Ploughing Championships at Killarney is Mel Holohan.

 

Onlooking is Gerry Moyles, CAO.

Ireland’s contribution to Rome’s Cairn of Peace in 1960 was a distinctive block of Kilkenny marble.

 

Photographed here before departure are left to right:
J. Savage; A. Cullen; M. Muldowney; S. O’Farrell; A. M. McHugh; JH. O’ Donovan, ESSO; & Count I. O’Kelly

Thomas McDonald on the left, who had a distinguished career in competitive ploughing is photographed here after the presentation of the Minister for Agriculture Shield which he won at Kilkenny in 1959.

 

Included are Thomas Murray, CAO, and Joseph Byrne who also represented Carlow in that event.

Paddy Smith, Minister for Agriculture, makes a presentation to the 1959 Queen of the Plough, Muriel Sutton. In the centre of the picture is Paul Dunican, who was a trustee of the N.P.A. at the time.

Oak Park 1959. Left to right:
Paul Dunican; John Crowley: MT Connolly; J.J. Ruane; Anna May McHugh; Fr. Seán O”Leary P.P.; & J.J. Murphy.

Boarding for the World Championships in Rome in 1960 are

 

Front Row: DC Hearne, Michael O’Connor, Percy Lyons, Anna May McHugh, Tom Sutton, Sean O’Farrell, John O’Donovan.

 

Second Row: Michael Muldowney, Andy Cullen, Count Ian O’Kelly.