Author: National Ploughing Association

SUN SHINES ON THE FINAL DAY

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As the traffic flows from the car parks this evening, the total attendance figure for the 2018 National Ploughing Championships came to a total of 240,700 over the 3 days, there was a more relaxed mood today with visitors thoroughly enjoying themselves on the final day of this year’s Ploughing Championships.

Speaking at the close of business, Ms Anna Marie McHugh said “We are delighted with the overall attendance figure this year, particularly given the unprecedented natural event of storm Ali causing the postponement of the event on Wednesday. With true Irish spirit and resilience the exhibitors, contractors, service providers, NPA team and local volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure that the site was up and ready for business on Thursday morning. And all attendees really appreciated the additional day today to exhibit and visit again.”

James Lutrell from Portlaoise was the worthy winner of the ‘Most Appropriately Dressed Gentleman’ competition, he will receive a prize of a stay in the exclusive Wineport Lodge nestled on the banks of Lough Ree, in Athlone County Westmeath, plus a bespoke custom-made suit sponsored by Master Tailor himself, Louis Copeland.

The NPA would like to wish everyone a safe journey home and thank you for your contribution in making #Ploughing18 a most memorable event.

THE INDOMITABLE IRISH SPIRIT ROARS ON AT DAY 2

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Despite the destructive appetite of Storm Ali and her best efforts to put paid to the National Ploughing Championships, exhibitors, contractors, service providers, the NPA team and local volunteers put in a mammoth effort and returned the site to all its glory, and as a result it was business as usual this morning for Day 2 of this year’s event.

A crowd of 81,500 visitors descended upon the site here in Screggan, Tullamore to savour all of this year’s Ploughing. Speaking this evening, NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “the feedback from exhibitors so far is that business is extremely vibrant and those I spoke with today said sales are already well ahead of what they predicted, and are delighted to have another opportunity to exhibit again tomorrow Friday the 21st of September given yesterday’s unforeseen postponement. This is very positive for both rural Ireland and the wider economy.”

“Shoppers, machinery and agricultural enthusiasts joined celebrities and politicians on the 30 kilometres of track way to savour all of what Ploughing has to offer.”

The hotly contested National Brown Bread Baking final took place in the Aldi tent in front of an audience of several hundred. The overall winner in first place was Mother of three Emma Ferguson from Trim in Co Meath, who had only given birth 2 and a half weeks ago. Emma was absolutely delighted with her win as she is now the 2018 National Irish Brown Bread Baker and her bread will be sold in every Aldi store in the country.

Despite some showers this evening, traffic is moving smoothly out of car parks and visitors are returning home happy. Gates will open to the public at 9.00am tomorrow morning Friday 21st of September.

PLOUGHING #18 KICKED OFF IN TRUE ‘PLOUGHING’ STYLE

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Spirits were high and the atmosphere electric despite the occasional shower, visitors poured in the gates from early morning to embrace the ‘Ploughing’ experience. With 97,500 attendees enjoying everything from farming to fashion, artisan foods to top-of-the range machinery, quality livestock and ploughing competitions of an excellent standard.

This year’s event is the perfect example of the very best of what Ireland has to offer for people of all interests and sensibilities.

President Michael D. Higgins officially launched the event with a rousing address paying tribute to Ms Anna May McHugh, the Gardaí, Offaly County Council and the hundreds of volunteers and staff that are required to stage the event. Prior to this, he visited the ploughing plots to meet ploughing competitors. Having witnessed the high standard of competition he then chatted with the county representatives, he also attended and visited several exhibitors to experience and witness all that the Championships has to offer.

The highly anticipated and prestigious Machine of the Year competition result was also announced with congratulations going to Agri-Spread International for their Automatic GPS section control on their equipment with a double belt system and precision Ag controllers. The judges Melvin Bailey Brofi International, UCD’s Kevin McDonald and Wilfried Wolf from DLG were extremely impressed with the strength of the entries in this inaugural competition.

Speaking at the end of Day One, Ms Anna May McHugh stated “We are extremely pleased with the fantastic turnout today. The traffic flowed with ease thanks to the guard’s fantastic traffic management and visitor co-operation. Everywhere you looked people were smiling and enjoying themselves at a whole array of activities.”

Firsts for New Bobcat/Doosan Products at Ploughing Show 

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Limerick-based Bobcat and Doosan dealer, Adare Machinery, will be showing new Bobcat and Doosan products for the first time in Ireland at the National Ploughing Championships, taking place in Screggan, Tullamore in Co Offaly from 18-20 September 2018. 

Ireland Launch for New R-Series Mini-Excavators

The Ploughing Show will provide the platform for the latest developments from Bobcat, including the launch in Ireland of the new Bobcat R-Series mini-excavators from 2-4 tonne. The new range of five excavator models – the E26, E27z, E27, E34 and E35z – offers a best-in-class mix of high digging forces, superb stability and smooth controllability of working functions complemented by low weights for easy transportation. 

Adare is showing the new E27z 2.7 tonne model at the Ploughing Show, offering the largest cab for this size of machine on the market. As a true Zero House Swing machine (even with the optional heavy counterweight), the E27z offers the highest flexibility of movements when working close to walls.

Also being shown for the first time in Ireland is the Bobcat T40.180SLP 18 m high lift telehandler, The T40.180SLP is the top-of-the-range model in the fifteen different rigid frame telehandlers from Bobcat, covering maximum lifting capacities between 2.6 and 4.3 tonne and maximum lifting heights from 6 to 18 m. All Bobcat rigid frame telehandlers are backed by a unique three year warranty as standard. High performance is ensured by the Bobcat D34 Stage IV/Tier 4 Final compliant diesel engine developed in-house.

The Adare stand will also feature the Bobcat E10 and E19 mini-excavators and the S70, S450 and S590 skid-steer loaders. This year is the 60th Anniversary of the Bobcat skid-steer loader. Sixty years ago, Melroe Manufacturing Company, the forerunner to Bobcat Company, introduced a compact front-end loader that evolved quickly into the M-400, the world’s first true skid-steer loader. The M-400 later adopted what became the world famous ‘Bobcat’ brand and its success created the global compact equipment industry we know today.

First Time for Doosan DL220-5 Wheel Loader in Ireland

Adare is showing the Doosan DL220-5 Stage IV compliant wheel loader for the first time in Ireland. With a bucket capacity of 2.2 m3, the DL220-5 is intended to meet a wide range of material-handling and loading applications in housebuilding, commercial developments, civil engineering, road construction and maintenance, land improvement/water control, crop and livestock production, snow removal, scrap handling and many other areas.

The DL220-5 wheel loader is powered by the well-proven 6-cylinder, turbocharged Doosan DL06P water-cooled diesel engine which offers convenience and lower costs by meeting Stage IV emission regulations without the need for a diesel particulate filter (DPF), through the use of cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and selective catalyst reduction (SCR) after-treatment technologies. The DL06P engine provides a power output of 119 kW (160 HP) at 2100 RPM and a maximum torque of 735 Nm at 1400 RPM.

The DL220-5 wheel loader has an operating weight of 12365 kg, a static full turn tipping load (40°) of 8570 kg and offers a breakout force of 102 kN.

The DL220-5 is manufactured with a standard Z-bar lift-arm linkage and is ideal for scooping, loading, carrying and general construction tasks.  For operators requiring additional dumping capabilities, the DL220-5 is also available with a high-lift Z-bar configuration, extending the dump height 457 mm above that of the standard DL220-5.  This configuration is ideal for loading material into high-sided trucks or high hoppers, building stockpiles or handling solid waste.

Adare will also be showing the popular Doosan DX140LCR-5 reduced tail swing crawler excavator and DL450-5 wheel loader on the Ploughing Show stand.

  

Award-winning Family-run Dealership

Adare Machinery is an award-winning machinery dealership established by David and Marian Cuddy in 1984, which has developed into a fully-fledged family enterprise, with son, William, and daughter, Caroline, involved in the running of the business.  Together with an excellent team of staff, the Cuddys continue to innovate, expand and grow the business. 

For the Bobcat range, Adare Machinery is the Authorised Dealer for the whole of Ireland. As an Authorised Dealer for the Doosan Heavy range, Adare has exclusivity for sales and service in Munster and Connacht for Doosan crawler and wheeled excavators from 3 to 53 tonne and the Doosan range of wheel loader models with bucket capacities from 1.9 to 4.8 m3. 

Operating out of state-of-the-art premises at Patrickswell near the city of Limerick, Adare Machinery is also offering service and warranty work on all existing Doosan and Bobcat machines in its area, backed by a full selection of genuine accessories and parts. 

For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website  HYPERLINK “http://www.bobcat.com” www.bobcat.com