Author: National Ploughing Association

Exhibitor Bookings Are Pouring In For The 92nd National Ploughing Championships As Businesses Avail Of The Special Early Bird Rate

An unprecedented number of exhibitors have already booked in for this year’s National Ploughing Championships, which will take place in Ratheniska, Co Laois on September 19th, 20th & 21st.   

There has been an immense trade interest in exhibiting at this year’s ‘Ploughing’ as 300,000 visitors are expected to attend Europe’s largest outdoor event, it is widely viewed as the gig of the year.  To guarantee your space and to avail of a special early bird rate book before May 12th.

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 showcasing their products and services in dynamic and progressive ways.  We continue to make a determined effort to improve exhibitor and visitor experience alike, and again this year will be no exception with 37 kilometres of metal roadway, security, lighting, waste removal services, infrastructure and general facilities available on site.

The NPA’s core mission is to create a pleasant, friendly and vibrant place for people, to meet & do business and this is always our priority.” 

The online exhibitor-booking portal is now open following a large volume of enquiries & requests from all over the country and significant international interest – for all details please see www.npa.ie.  

Prize fund of €10,000 on offer for Best Start-Up

New Agri-tech Hub to host winning businesses 

Monday, 3 April 2023 – Applications for the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships, in conjunction with the National Ploughing Association (NPA) are now being accepted. Irish agri companies are invited to apply to showcase their products and innovations at the Innovation Arena from the 19^{th –}  21^st September at the National Ploughing Championships 2023 in Ratheniska, Co.Laois.

The Innovation Arena is a must-see exhibition platform, providing over 50 companies from the agri sector with the opportunity to showcase their pioneering innovations to over 250,000 visitors at the National Ploughing Championships. 

This year the Innovation Arena are inviting applicants from start-up companies that are under five years old and from established companies that are focused on innovation. New for 2023 is the chance for previous participants to apply for a space in the new ‘Agritech Hub’ within the Arena which will give companies the opportunity to return to the Innovation Arena to showcase their progress and growth since first exhibiting. 

Judging for the awards will take place at the arena on day one of the event featuring categories such as best start-up. Other categories include the ACE Agri-tech award and the IFAC best newcomer award. The best start-up winner at the Arena will receive €10,000 and will be presented with the prize at a formal awards ceremony during the National Ploughing Championships.

Leo Clancy, CEO, Enterprise Ireland said: “Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting companies and entrepreneurs where innovation is at the core of their business offering. The Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships is a key platform for promoting Irish agri-technology, showcasing capabilities to both a captive domestic and international audience over a busy three-day period.

In addition and for the first time, this year’s Arena will feature an ‘Agri-tech’ hub, allowing previous exhibitors and early stage companies to demonstrate the journey they have been on and the successes achieved to date. It will provide budding entrepreneurs in the agri-tech space with a chance to network and engage directly with these companies on the steps taken to grow their business”, he continued.

Anna May McHugh, National Ploughing Association Managing Director said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Enterprise Ireland to host the Innovation Arena for the eight year. The Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships is a not to be missed for opportunity for anyone who has a good business idea, product or service to showcase at Europe’s largest outdoor event. Located at the core of the activity, the Innovation Arena will attract tens of thousands of visitors over the three days where an exhibitor is guaranteed prime positioning in front of a targeted stakeholder audience.”

To enter this year’s Innovation Arena Awards please visit: https://www.eventsforce.net/enterpriseireland/3271/home

Pax Arva Colat
‘Let Peace Cultivate the Fields’

This morning the ‘Cairn of Peace’ was officially unveiled in its permanent home in Ratheniska, Co Laois to celebrate Ireland hosting the 67th World Ploughing Contest in 2022.

Each country since 1953 that hosts the World Ploughing Contest erects a ‘Cairn of Peace’ Monument – which is inscribed ‘Let Peace Cultivate the fields’.  The idea of a Cairn of Peace being a permanent way to commemorate a World Ploughing Event.  Although stylistically the Cairns of Peace that have been erected are all unique and remarkable in their own right they are all symbols of peace and co-operation on a global scale.

There are Cairns of Peace where each World Ploughing Contest took place and this is the sixth mounted in Ireland and first in Laois.  There is currently one in Kerry, two in Wexford and two in Carlow.

The 2022 Cairn stone was extracted from Mc Keon Stone’s Kilkenny Blue Limestone quarry in Threecastles , Co Kilkenny.   Kilkenny Blue Limestone, a sedimentary rock, was laid down about 330 million years ago in the Carboniferous era when Ireland was covered by a warm shallow sea. 

McKeown Stone, Stradbally crafted the stone into the Cairn whilst Kent Stainless created the exquisite steelwork on the monument.

THE 92nd NATIONAL PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIPS WILL RETURN TO THE HUGELY SUCCESSFUL RATHENISKA SITE IN CO. LAOIS

Europe’s largest outdoor event, “The National Ploughing Championships” is set to return to Ratheniska, Co Laois from September 19^th to 21^st for a second year given the triumph of this year’s event.  The total attendance figures for the 2022 ‘Ploughing’ came to an amazing 277,000 visitors and with over 1,700 exhibitors it was an incredible success.

The widely popular site was confirmed as the ideal location for next year’s event at the National Ploughing Championships prize-giving ceremony attended by over 500 in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise.  Speaking after the announcement the NPA Managing   Director Anna May McHugh said “We are delighted to be staging 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 very enthusiastic to see a return.”

“Speaking also with many of the exhibitors and visitors over the 3 days throughout the event, all were very vocal about their wishes to have it staged again in Ratheniska given how well it worked as a location this year.  The site has proved popular for several reasons including its central location and surrounding road and rail network.  By and large most people travelled to the site with ease and the minimum of traffic delays.  This has certainly helped the event in being such a success this year and we look forward to 2023.”

Anna May McHugh also congratulated all of the winners who were awarded at today’s prize-giving ceremony.   Supreme World Ploughing Conventional Champion Eamonn Tracey from Carlow will again represent Ireland in next year’s World Ploughing Contest in Latvia.  And Supreme World Ploughing Champion John Whelan from Wexford will take part in the Reversible Class.