Author: National Ploughing Association

Keep “Ploughing” with Join Our Boys

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Thanks to the generous help and support of many people the Join Our Boys trust will have a stand at the National Ploughing Championships from 23rd to 25th September at Ratheniska, Stradbally, Co Laois. The National Ploughing Championships attracts on average 1,350 exhibitors and over 200,000 visitors annually making it Europe’s largest Outdoor Exhibition and Agricultural Trade Show.

Volunteers from Join Our Boys will be present at the National Ploughing Championship raising awareness about Join Our Boys Trust and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and selling tickets for the “Monster Draw” event. The top prize for the draw is a brand new car and the other prizes include a €5,000 voucher for SuperValu. Tickets for the draw cost €10 each and the draw itself will take place on January 3rd 2015 in Roscommon.

The Join Our Boys Trust was established by the community in Roscommon to support three Roscommon Boys Archie, George and Isaac Naughton who have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Their parents Padraic and Paula Naughton were guests on RTE’s Miriam O’Callaghan show last month telling the heart-breaking story of receiving the news that their three boys are suffering from DMD for which there is no cure or treatment and how Paula and Padraic with the help of family and friends went about setting up a Trust to help the boys and fundraise for research to find a treatment and cure. Visit www.joinourboys.org for information and updates.

Media interviews, during the Championships, with Padraic and Paula Naughton can be arranged by contacting joinourboys@gmil.com or telephone to 0851212333 or 0906630000.

RTÉ at The National Ploughing Championships 2014

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Sean O’Rourke, Nicky Byrne and Sunday Game Among RTÉ Highlights at The National Ploughing Championships 2014

The 83rd National Ploughing Championships takes place from 23rd – 25th September in Ratheniska, Stradbally, Co. Laois, and RTÉ will be in the thick of the action, in association with Aldi, bringing visitors and audiences at home a packed schedule of programming and activity (www.rte.ie/ploughing<http://www.rte.ie/ploughing>).
Over 200,000 visitors will have the chance to Explore RTÉ, with live radio and television broadcasts, musical performances and exclusive events with RTÉ presenters. Visitors can enjoy new interactive experiences with RTÉ Player and the RTÉ Guide, and enjoy storytelling with RTÉjr.
Says Noel Curran, Director-General, RTÉ: “The National Ploughing Championships has rightly earned its place as one of the best national outdoor events in Europe each year. RTÉ will be at the heart of the action in terms of broadcast output right across the three days. The RTÉ set on-site also always proves to be a hugely popular hub for visitors of all ages to sample a flavour of the full range of RTÉ activities and services.”
On RTÉ One, the Six-One News will be co-presented live from the site by Bryan Dobson on Tuesday and Sharon Ní Bheoláin on Thursday, while RTÉ’s Agricultural and Environmental Correspondent George Lee will be reporting live each day. Morning Edition, Nuacht RTÉ and News2day will also feature a series of news reports from the event and RTÉ Nationwide will devote a full programme to the best of the Ploughing 2014 on Wednesday 24th
On Tuesday 23rd, RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland will broadcast live from the RTÉ set. Sean O’Rourke will present the Today programme at 10am with guests and live music. Later that afternoon, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta is guaranteed to lift the roof with a very special trad session live on Cóisir Cheoil.
On Wednesday 24th Marty Whelan gets a lie-in and is live from the event at the later time of 10am on RTÉ lyric fm, with music from Connor and The Crooks. Rick O’Shea will be soaking up the atmosphere that afternoon from 2pm – 4.30pm, live on RTÉ 2fm.
Making their first trip to the Ploughing, Nicky Byrne and Jenny Greene will don their wellies to present The Nicky Byrne Show on RTÉ 2fm at 11am on Thursday 25th.  Following this, Ploughing favourite Joe Duffy and the Liveline ‘Funny Thursday’ crew will provide more than a few laughs, live on RTÉ Radio 1.
In addition to the on-air content, you may need to bag your seat early for one of the exclusive events in the RTÉ set. Having packed out the marquee last year, RTÉ Two’s The Sunday Game panellists return to the Ploughing with Michael Lyster, Michael Duignan and Kevin McStay discussing all the recent GAA action and the forthcoming All-Ireland Hurling replay.  Sports fans will also get a sneak peek of a brand-new sports quiz, presented by Jacqui Hurley, and there is also the chance to meet and hear from Nationwide’s Anne Cassin and Mary Kennedy in a chat with Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh.
Depending on what corner of the RTÉ set you find yourself in there will be range of daily activities for visitors of all ages. At the Weather Studio, visitors have the chance to watch the live weather bulletins or if you fancy yourself as a budding presenter, you can try your hand. Think you know your TV trivia? RTÉ Player will be putting visitors to the test with their new interactive quiz game. You can also get on the cover of your very own RTÉ Guide. After all of that, you can rest those weary feet in the RTÉjr zone and enjoy children’s storytelling with presenters Emma O’Driscoll and Muireann Ní Chíobháin.
For a full schedule of events please visit www.rte.ie/ploughing or pick up this week’s RTÉ Guide for a special map of the Ploughing site to help plan your trip.

NPC 2014 Kicks Off!

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With just under two weeks to go to the staging of one of Europe’s largest outdoor events, preparations at the site in Ratheniska are well under way for the National Ploughing Championships. Today, the national media were treated to an exciting preview of what to expect, as the event was officially launched on the Co. Laois site.

Launching the event, NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “The Championships not only provides a national stage for showcasing all things agricultural, but also brings together people from all sectors of Irish society both rural and urban, to enjoy three days immersed in country living”.

“Many visitors to the event take the three days out in late September to have a well-earned break from their daily working lives, particularly following one of the busiest times in the farming calendar, the harvest”.

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NPA managing director Anna May McHugh with John and Abbey Kelly and Darbhla and Saran McHugh on site
at Ratheniska, Co. Laois for the launch of the 2014 National Ploughing Championships which will be held on the 23-25 September next.
Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ie REPRO FREE

“Returning annually, the event has been responsible for the forging of many lifelong friendships.”

Food, fashion and farming were the flare of the day as ploughing enthusiasts, public representatives and photographic journalists got a flavour of all that “Ploughing” has to offer.

For Machinery addicts, the NPC trade arena goes unrivalled. All the top brands will be showcasing the latest makes and models on the market. Today several guests along with some of Ireland’s top models from the Holman Lee modelling agency took the opportunity to inspect and test drive some of tractors/machinery on site.

There was a great welcome for World Ploughing Conventional Champion, Carlow man Eamonn Tracey and his republic of Ireland team mate John Whelan who successfully secured bronze at the recent World Ploughing Contest in France. The NPA were also delighted to confirm that now both World Ploughing Champions will be attending the 2014 Ploughing Championships as the Reversible winner, Andrew Mitchell from Scotland will be judging at this year’s event.

Up to 200,000 visitors are expected to descend on the 800 acre site with over 1,400 stands.

This makes the National Ploughing Championships the largest outdoor event in Europe and one of the largest agricultural events in the world.

Top Oil Partnership

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Top Oil have partnered with the NPA in the run up to the National Ploughing Championships as part of a new sponsorship deal. Highlighting this new partnership, 100 8ft x 4ft billboards have been erected at strategic locations throughout the country advertising the event which takes place form the 23rd to 25th of September at Ratheniska, Co. Laois.

On site recently, Managing Director of the NPA, Ms Anna May McHugh, along with management staff from Top Oil and the Top Oil mascot, erected the first of these advertisements. As the billboard went up, Ms McHugh spoke of how she looked forward to working very closely with Top Oil in the run up to the championships and offered “I am delighted that Top Oil have come on board this year as sponsorship partners of the event. Top Oil are a very well-known brand throughout Ireland and instantly recognisable throughout the rural community”.

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“As one of the main sponsorship partners, Top Oil bring much to the table in terms of supporting the hosting of the Championships. As an organisation, they have a great appreciation of the importance and impact events such as the Championships have on both the national economy and the rural community.”

Speaking on the new partnership, Marketing Manager for Top Oil, Jason Power expressed how he looked forward to working closely with event organiser in the run up to the Championships “Top Oil are serving fuel products to the local communities of Ireland for over 200 years so when we were offered the opportunity to work with the iconic 83rd National Ploughing Championships by becoming their official fuel partner, I can honestly say that we jumped at the chance”.

“Since formally agreeing to this mutually beneficial partnership there is a great buzz of excitement throughout our nationwide network of Top Oil depots and retail sites. Top Oil are extremely proud to be associated with this legendary three day event and the primary reason Top Oil decided to become involved is because we understand how much The Ploughing means to literally thousands of our agricultural, fuel card, commercial, motor fuel and home heating customers”.

“Top Oil are really looking forward to working extremely closely with a prestigious brand like The National Ploughing Championships as it represents, we believe, a perfect fit with our very own Top Oil brand as both brands acknowledge the vital importance of local communities to each of our businesses, we both believe in product quality and continuous innovation, value for money and we are both sharply focused and committed to building long lasting relationships with our customers, many of which we hope to welcome onto our Top Oil stand during the 23rd, 24th and 25th of September.”