Europe’s largest outdoor event, “The National Ploughing Championships” is set to return next year to the central and scenic location of Ratheniska, Co Laois from September 17th to 19th for the third year in a row.
The well-liked site was confirmed as an excellent location for next year’s event at the National Ploughing Championships prize-giving ceremony attended by over 500 in Portlaoise. Speaking after the announcement the NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “The NPA are delighted to be holding the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois again next year. Feedback from landowners, the local community and the wider public has been very positive and all were enthusiastic to see a return to Co. Laois.”
“It worked well as a location this year despite the inclement weather conditions. The site has proved popular for several reasons including its location in the middle of Ireland.”
Anna May McHugh also congratulated all of the winners who were awarded at today’s Prize-Giving Banquet. Irish Ploughing has never been so well represented on the global stage and is the envy of other nations with the historic back to back wins of the Republic of Ireland team at the recent World Ploughing Contest in Latvia with both Eamonn Tracey from Carlow & Wexford’s John Whelan being crowned Supreme World Ploughing Champions in their respective classes. In addition, there was a magnificent result at the European Ploughing Championships with Jer Coakley from Cork winning first place gold and Dan Donnelly from Wexford securing the Reserve European Ploughing Champion position.