Author: National Ploughing Association

#NDCDome at #ploughing: Block 3/ Row 21/ Stand 306

Rugby professionals Rob and Dave Kearney will join the National Dairy Council on the first day of the National Ploughing Championships, Tuesday 23rd September, 2014, from 12 noon to 2.30pm.   At 2.00pm Rob and Dave will judge the NDC Welly Line Out, charged with selecting unique, colourful or characterful wellingtons.

Rob and Dave Kearney are ambassadors to the NDC, helping to highlight the importance of starting good habits young in relation to diet and exercise; showcasing the natural goodness of Ireland’s pasture based dairy farming and promoting the positive role that milk may play in a number of aspects of sports nutrition, based on emerging scientific research in this area.    They feature in an NDC advertisement campaign (It All Starts Here) filmed on the farm in the Cooley Peninsula where Rob and Dave grew up.

NDC Supporting Era of Opportunity for Irish Dairy Sector

Celebrating its 50th Anniversary, the National Dairy Council says that it will continue to work with policy makers and stakeholders to promote the nutritional goodness and quality of our pasture based dairy farming produce.

“An era of unprecedented opportunity lies ahead for the dairy sector which will make a big contribution to our economic recovery,” says chief executive Zoë Kavanagh.

“The milk quotas which have been restricting dairy farmers will be removed in 2015. This is an exciting time as the body of scientific evidence supporting the benefits of dairy as part of a balanced diet is continuing to grow.  Evidence-based nutrition guidance, and the encouragement to put these guidelines into practice, can help result in a healthier population overall,” said Ms. Kavanagh.

“There are also innovative and expanding ranges of dairy products available to consumers, more opportunities for dairy ingredients and for Irish exports.   Ireland has superb standards of dairy farming, access to lush green grass which creates a sustainable grazing platform and a superb track record for quality dairy produce. These are solid foundations for the future.”

Dairy Diversity & Action Packed Programme at NDC Dome

Chef Phelim Byrne will showcase the many versatile ways we can enjoy Irish milk, yogurt, cheese, butter and cream in some tasty recipe ideas at four free cookery demonstrations each day of the ploughing.   They are taking place in the NDC Dome at 11.00am, 1.00pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm, with themes including “Baking Bliss,” “Love The Leftovers,”  “Meals in Minutes” and “Afternoon Tea.”

Broadcaster and designer Brendan Courtney will join the NDC on Day 2, Wednesday 24th September from 12 noon until 3.00pm.   He will launch two new NDC consumer leaflets on ‘Nutrition and You’, and will chat live in the NDC Dome with Dr. Catherine Logan, NDC Nutrition Manager, about being the ‘Best Version of You’ with guidance on healthy eating, activity, grooming, fashion and communication. ’

Wednesday 24th September is also designated World School Milk Day by the UN (United Nations) Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Food and farming broadcaster Suzanne Campbell and eight-time All -reland hurling Champion Eddie Brennan will be with the National Dairy Council at the ploughing on Thursday, 25th September, from 12 noon until 3.00pm.

You can find out more about the work of the National Dairy Council on its website www.ndc.ie.  You can also find the National Dairy Council on Facebook/NDCIreland or follow on Twitter @NDC_ie

#AldiPloughing

Watch a preview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdY6wuBZCPs

The ovens are being heated, the recipes are being tweaked and the 8 finalists of The National Brown Bread Baking Competition sponsored by Aldi and in association with the NPA and ICA are getting ready for the bake-off. To celebrate please find enclosed a mini brown bread with Aldi’s compliments – grab a knife, some butter and maybe some jam to enjoy a slice of Aldi’s traditional brown bread recipe.

The semi-finals will take place in the Aldi Marquee at the National Ploughing Championships on the 23rd and 24th of September. Two people will be picked from each day, and they will go head-to-head on Thursday the 25th of September for the final. Having fought off some stiff competition in An Grianan, Co. Louth on the 14th of August, the 8 finalists spoke of their excitement ahead of the competition at The National Ploughing Championships:

Kerry: Tina Boulton – “My three sisters will be traveling with me so it’s a real case of sisterly support. I am over the moon to be representing Kerry and can’t wait to be in the Aldi tent.”

Monaghan: Pauline Carney – “I am pleasantly surprised that I am in the final, it was a stiff competition. When the judges cut through the various brown breads, they looked like they were going to be hard to beat so I was very lucky that they liked mine. I have been baking since I got married 30 years ago, so I have just adapted my daughter’s recipe and that’s what I use. I hope my daughter Roisin will travel down to the Championships with me; she’s in 5th year in school. I’ve never been before so it’ll be an experience in itself and let the best woman win!”

Wicklow: Statia Ivers – “I am delighted to have gotten so far in the competition and I’m really looking forward to the final, hopefully it will go well for me. I have been baking for 50 years and have always baked brown bread, it’s a definite favourite of mine. I can’t wait to get to Laois, most of my family are traveling down with me.”

Westmeath: Margaret Kelly – “Surprised is not the word, I can’t believe it, I am overwhelmed that I have gotten this far, it’s great to get the recognition, I’ve been making brown bread for the past 45 years! My daughter and 4 sons as well as lots of neighbours are getting a bus to come down to support me at the National Ploughing Championships, and I can’t wait for it!”

Mayo: Margaret Jennings – “My feet haven’t hit the ground at all yet, I’m still in shock. My partner Sean will be traveling down with me, as well as my daughter, her husband and their two kids. I am over the moon excited about it!”

Galway: Patsy Kenny – “I’m really surprised and thrilled, I’m not sure what baking in front of everyone will be like, but I’m sure it will be fun! I am originally from Dublin, so family will come from there, and some of our ICA ladies from Renmore Guild and Galway Federation will also be coming along to support me.”

Tipperary South: Betty Williams – “Naturally I am surprised and pleased with the win and I can’t wait for the National Ploughing Championship. I’ll be traveling with my daughter as she drove me to An Grianan and my friend Mary White will also come along. It’s a great honour and Aldi have been so kind and generous, I am delighted, over the moon actually!”

Limerick: Bernadette Daly – “Traveling to the final with me will be my husband, my three adult children, my mother Marguerita McCarthy, my three sisters, a few friends and some work colleagues! I’m absolutely thrilled because I’ve been making brown bread for over 30 years and have tried every recipe under the sun. I have had numerous failures and successes – it’s been a labour of love! I bake a lot but the bread is my favourite, always has been! I buy all my ingredients from Aldi and I can’t wait for the event!”

Liz Wall, President of the ICA said, “The competition was fierce but we feel we have got the best in the country ahead of the finals at The National Ploughing Championships,” “It’s going to be a fantastic few days, and we would encourage everyone to pop into the Aldi tent and support these fantastic ladies – you might even get to sample some of their now infamous brown bread!”

#AldiPloughing

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#AldiPloughing
A stunning living wall of salad greens and flowers, grown from a million seeds, covers the exterior of Aldi’s Marquee at the National Ploughing Championships. Grown from seed, and eight weeks in the making, the 3 metre tall, 90 metre long living wall covers a total area of 270 metres – a truly impressive feat!

Featuring Kale, Spinach, Salad Greens and Red Clover, the Aldi Marquee’s living wall incorporates a water and feed system to keep it looking fresh and beautiful for the many thousands of visitors expected to visit the marquee over the three days of this iconic annual event. The Aldi logo has been woven into the wall with Winter Pansies and Violas, in the signature colours of various shades of orange, blue, white and red!

Carmel Farrell of Focus on Flowers has worked for many years with Aldi Ireland. “This is such an exciting project! As soon as we agreed the design with Aldi Ireland, we began planting seeds to grow every single plant from scratch, here in Mooncoin, Kilkenny.  The end result is more than worth the work, and we can’t wait to see people’s reactions!’

The Aldi Marquee will showcase Aldi’s suppliers and the very best of Irish produce, with a few special guests too. Two large venues within the Aldi Marquee will feature entertainment by the D’Unbelievable’s hilarious Jon Kenny, Gaeltacht superstars Seo Linn, the legendary Sharon Shannon, the first National Brown Bread Baking Competition since 1973, with guest MC Síle Seoige.