Ploughing Championships 2022
The National Ploughing Championships will return to Ratheniska in 2022, taking place from September 20th to 22nd.
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Over 30 small companies set to plough for new business at Local Enterprise Village
Small businesses from across the country will have an opportunity to promote themselves at one of Ireland’s biggest events as part of this year’s Local Enterprise Village at the National Ploughing Championships from the 20-22nd September in Rathiniska, County Laois.
The initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) will see 31 small businesses, one from each LEO, take a stand in the Local Enterprise Village in the heart of the Ploughing Championships, opening their businesses up to almost 300,000 prospective customers across the 3 days of the event.
There will be a variety of products and services on show for the visitors to this year’s Ploughing Championships to enjoy, which includes food, fashion, agtech products, farm safety equipment, spirits, sportswear and even skincare for animals!
The Local Enterprise Village was launched by Damien English, T.D., Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail along with some of the businesses that will be involved including handmade children’s furniture company Lucy & Me, luxury natural skincare and home products Jo Browne and Donegal designer Bernie Murphy.
Minister English emphasised how positive it is to have this opportunity back for small businesses; “The Local Enterprise Village at the Ploughing Championships will showcase the very best of our small business community from across the country. I look forward to joining with almost 300,000 people at the Ploughing and have the opportunity to meet with some of the businesses embedded in our communities and who are the drivers of local economic growth and job creation. Visitors to the Village can expect to see the depth and diversity of amazing small businesses who are supported by Government through their Local Enterprise Office.”
Ploughing 2022 gearing up to be a roaring success as exhibitor bookings are pouring in.
Over 80% of the final 2019 outdoor trade exhibition space is already booked. At this stage of the year some categories are completely full, while other areas have limited space available and there are still 7 weeks to go until the big event so based on historical evidence there will definitely be more outdoor bookings over the next couple of weeks – as there always are.
Indoor exhibition stands are 95% of the final numbers when compared to 2019 and again there are bookings still flying in.
NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “it is wonderful to see all of the returning exhibitors and to welcome the large volume of new exhibitors who will be partaking at the first ploughing since 2019, we continue to make a determined effort to improve exhibitor and visitor experience alike and again this year will be no exception with 37 km of metal roadways, hundreds of staff making the event a great experience for everyone that passes through the gates over the 3 days.
Returning after a full 3 year gap – and in the aftermath of the most devastating global pandemic in my lifetime – we are back and we are hosting a World Contest on our comeback with international delegations from 28 counties from right around the world and exhibition figures to date on a par with August 3rd 2019 – I honestly never imagined we could have had such a strong comeback and yet here we are -all credit to our fantastic and loyal exhibitor base.”
Have you got what it bakes?
The National Brown Bread Baking Competition is back!
The competition, in association with the National Ploughing Association and The Irish Country Women’s Association, has a first prize of €15,000
Do you know someone that has perfected their brown bread baking skills over the past year or perhaps you can rise to the challenge? If the answer is yes, then this is the competition for you!
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) for the 8th year.
All finalists will be contacted by Friday August 12th and will be invited to attend the finals from September 20th – 22nd at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co. Laois. This year is a special year for the National Ploughing Association as they host the 67th World Ploughing Contest at the event.
The competition will open to all members of the public with entrants invited to drop off their freshly baked bread at one of the following ALDI stores on the prescribed date:
The hugely successful Ploughing & FBD: Keeping You Safe Wristband Initiative will return for this year's Championships
The Ploughing and FBD: Keeping You Safe child safety wristband project will be an important feature again at this year’s National Ploughing Championships, which will take place in its full entirety for the first time in three years in Ratheniska, Co Laois on September 20th, 21st & 22nd. This important endeavour will involve the distribution of over 40,000 white wristbands at all of the event entrances, which will allow a contact phone number to be written on the band in case the wearer wanders off amidst the large gathering.
“We are delighted to be partnering up with FBD again on this excellent safety concept as all can now rest assured that loved ones will be returned safely in case they wander away in the massive crowds that will be in attendance. With 300,000 visitors expected over the course of the 3 days these wristbands give reassurance and great peace-of-mind to all attending the event and add immensely to visitor experience”, said NPA MD Anna May McHugh.
“A day at Ploughing is a brilliant family day with something of interest for all ages & tastes and children are particularly well catered for with a Playground, Baby Changing Areas, Fun Fair, Pony Games, over 1,000 Animals of all types, Junior Baking Competitions, Sporting Heroes, TV Stars, Sweet & Toy Stands and much more,” she added.
FBD CEO Tomás O’Midheach said “Everyone at FBD Insurance is delighted to return and support Ploughing this year. We are especially pleased to continue our support for the wristband child safety initiative. Over the years, this important initiative has proved incredibly useful in protecting children should they become separated from their parents or
Exhibitor Bookings Are Pouring In For This Year's National Ploughing Championships As Businesses Avail Of The Special Early Bird Rate
There has been an immense trade interest in exhibiting at this year’s National Ploughing Championships, which will take place in Ratheniska, Co Laois on September 20th, 21st & 22nd. 300,000 visitors are expected to attend Europe’s largest outdoor event, it is widely viewed as the gig of the year highlighting all that is great about Irish companies, food, farming and culture. To guarantee your space and to avail of a special early bird rate book before May 16th.
NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said, “It is wonderful to see all of the returning exhibitors and to welcome the large volume of new exhibitors, who will be partaking at the first ‘Ploughing’ in three years. We continue to make a determined effort to improve exhibitor and visitor experience alike, and again this year will be no exception with 30 kilometres of metal roadway, security, lighting, waste removal services, infrastructure and general facilities available on site.”
This year is a particularly exciting one, as Ireland will host the 67th World Ploughing Contest. World Ploughing Organization General Secretary Anna Marie McHugh said, “it is with great delight that Ireland will welcome ploughing teams and their supporters from 24 countries all over the world where a true masterclass in ploughing will be on display with the most skilled international competitors battling it out throughout the event.”
To book your trade exhibition space or planning your journey to #Ploughing2022 please call 059 8625125 or email info@npa.ie.
National Ploughing AGM Focus On Plans For Return Of Exhibition & Hosting World Event
Date: Wednesday 27th of April 2022
National Ploughing Association Directors from every county in Ireland attended today’s NPA AGM in Athy, Co Kildare, where a most powerful and productive meeting took place. A full progress report was presented to the meeting detailing the preparations for the 91stNational Ploughing Championships and 67th World Ploughing Contest taking place in Ratheniska, Co Laois on September 20th, 21st & 22nd.
The focus of the AGM was firmly on plans for the return of the exhibition after a 2-year break due to Covid-19 and the last minute allocation of the 2022 World Contest to Ireland. The NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said, “At the moment it is full steam ahead for this year’s event with bookings pouring in as exhibitors are availing of the special early bird rate until mid-May. It is fantastic to see such a positive reaction from patrons as they are delighted to see the return of the National Ploughing – it’s a very challenging year for the Association with a huge workload ahead – but we are massively excited to be back with the added honour of holding a World Contest.”
To book your trade exhibition space for this year or planning your journey to #Ploughing2022 please call 059 8625125
or email info@npa.ie. Follow us on www.facebook.com/nationalploughing – www.twitter.com/npa.ie – www.instagram.com/nationalploughing
Agri-innovators and businesses invited to enter Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Arena Competition
- The Annual Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena Competition returns to this year’s National Ploughing Championship in Ratheniska, Co Laois
- Closing date for applications for the competition, in partnership with the National Ploughing Association, is June 1st
11th April 2022– Enterprise Ireland’s Annual Innovation Arena Awards 2022 have today officially been launched, as the competition physically returns to this year’s National Ploughing Championship event.
The Innovation Arena Competition, which is run in partnership with the National Ploughing Association, is an annual competition that invites businesses and innovators in the agritech sector to enter their pioneering agri-related products and services for consideration.
Ireland To Host The 67th World Ploughing Contest
Ireland will have the tremendous honour of holding this year’s World Ploughing Contest in Ratheniska, Co Laois on September 21st and 22nd.
World Ploughing Organisation General Secretary Anna Marie McHugh said “I am delighted today to announce that twenty-five countries from all over the globe from Africa to Australia will be participating in this year’s World Ploughing Contest in Ireland. The very best international ploughing competitors and their teams will be battling it out on Irish soil in September to become supreme World Champions.”
The call came from the World Ploughing Board ‘could another country step up and host the 2022 World Contest’ following the unprecedented cancellation of the event, which had been due to take place this year in Russia. Over the last couple of weeks many meetings have taken place and the final decision was ratified today by NPA and the World Ploughing Organization – the 67th World Ploughing will take place alongside the Nationals in Ratheniska this September with the National Ploughing Championships starting 20th Sept and Worlds 21st/22nd.
There will be huge excitement in Ireland as the World Ploughing Contest comes to Laois for the first time with crowds of hundreds of thousands in attendance and 1,700 exhibitors expected.
To plan for your National Ploughing Championships experience and journey please see www.npa.ie. The NPA team can be contacted on 059 8625125 or email info@npa.ie to assist in any way possible.”
Great excitement as Ploughing Championship's Exhibition Portal opens for first Ploughing in 3 years!
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 20th21st & 22nd.
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
County Ploughing Match Dates 2021 - 2022
Click below for a list of all upcoming qualifying ploughing matches.
THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIPS WAS A HUGE SUCCESS
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.
Friday 17th September 2021
