Author: National Ploughing Association

Brand at the forefront of the Irish Poitín revival hopes to convert new customers as part of the Irish Food & Beverage section of the festival.   

DUBLIN – 10 Sept 2018 —This year has been a landmark one for Mad March Hare Poitín. Since taking the Best Irish Poitín title at the Irish Whiskey Awards in 2017 they have expanded their footprint in the USA and are now distributed in 12 states as well as having a presence in every province in Canada.

At home, Mad March Hare has made a significant investment in the growth and development on Irish shores with the aim of becoming a key player in the booming cocktail scene in the country.

“Irish Poitín predates every other distilled spirit in the world and is an integral part of Irish culture. We feel Poitín should have a presence in all self-respecting bars in Ireland and in all drinks cabinets in the country.” It’s versatile enough to be enjoyed in place of vodka, rum, whiskey or tequila and it’s something that is uniquely ours and something we should be proud of” commented Colin Staunton, Marketing Director for Mad March Hare.

As part of the company’s marketing drive they appeared at the Bar of the Year Awards this month and will feature at Whiskey Live in November. However, the Ploughing Championships will be their flagship event for 2019. “It doesn’t get more Irish than the Ploughing and we’re really looking forward to speaking to both Poitín aficionados and those who have never tasted a commercial Poitín before. The Irish Spirit industry is booming, and we feel that Irish Poitín deserves its rightful place at the top table”.

You can find Mad March Hare at Stand 618 in the Dome where they will be serving refreshing Mad March Hare cocktails as well as bottles for purchase. 

Portwest have just launched a new clothing range. The brand is known for designing leisurewear that is practical and comfortable yet stylish. This family run company is the nation’s favourite name in outdoor clothing and have designed clothing for over 100 years.

While it is late in the day to ask, I am wondering whether it might be possible to have a couple of Portwest’s new looks featured within some of the fashion shows over the course of the three days next week.

The collection hints at current trends but traditionally has that timeless Portwest feel. The designs are based on the need for suitable clothing for Irelands unpredictable weather, hence durability, comfort and high performance being key elements.

The 2018/19 collection includes a wider range of colours, styles and all pieces are a fantastic fit. Some highlights include the Bloom Padded Jacket which has been re-shaped especially for this collection, eight different styles in ladies’ fleeces and gorgeous new designs in accessories. The favourite Carla jacket is also available in five different colours.

Gowan Distributors Limited, PEUGEOT Importers in Ireland, will unveil a trio of new models at the National Ploughing Championships, 18th to 20th September at Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. With over 300,000 visitors expected at the show, the radical new PEUGEOT 508, rugged Rifter MPV and the eagerly-awaited new Partner van will each make their Irish debut on the PEUGEOT stand, ahead of their official launches in early 2019.

Colin Sheridan, Sales and Marketing Director at Gowan Distributors said: “Year to date the PEUGEOT brand has enjoyed an excellent sales performance; the fastest growing brand, PEUGEOT has seen a 46% increase in new car registrations with our van range maintaining a top five position. We look forward to continued consumer interest with the arrival of three very important new models. The National Ploughing Championships prove every year to be the perfect platform to launch new models, and we anticipate strong attendance on the PEUGEOT stand.”

The radical new PEUGEOT 508’s exterior design is sharper and sleeker than that of its predecessor, while the car’s spectacular interior boasts the latest generation of the iconic PEUGEOT i-Cockpit(r). Highly favourable press reviews from the international press launch of the new 508 in late June have already signalled exemplary road-handling, high performance new petrol and diesel engines, countless technology features and a quantum leap in quality. Initial units of the new 508 will arrive in Dealerships in late 2018, with an official launch anticipated in early 2019.

Replacement to the popular Partner Tepee MPV and mirroring the premium style of the lion-brand’s latest creations, the robust new PEUGEOT RIFTER is versatile and practical. Borrowing SUV characteristics from its big brother 3008 and 5008 SUVs – a high ride height, large wheels, wheel arches and rear bumper protection – proportions are perfectly balanced. Equipped with the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit(r), it features high levels of safety and comfort equipment, new-generation petrol and diesel engines and is available in two lengths, with 5 or 7 seats. The new RIFTER will land in Ireland in late 2018, ahead of 191-registrations.

The all-new Partner is the brand’s first light commercial vehicle to feature the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit(r) as standard, an unprecedented move in this vehicle segment. Offering the perfect balance between convenience, practicality and drivability, the new Partner is available in both Standard and Long body, to swallow goods measuring up 2.16m in length. It delivers a load capacity of up to 4.4m3 (2 Euro-pallets) and payloads ranging from 650KG to 1000KG. A range of new petrol and diesel engines will be launched on the new Partner in 2019, with a choice of both manual and automatic transmission. The new Partner will launch in Ireland in early 2019. 

PEUGEOT, a regular exhibitor at the National Ploughing Championships, will display 14 vehicles across the range at this year’s show at stand number 214, block 3, row number 9.

We will  have a specifically slingshot game with us called: ‘The Further A Field’.

Many of our key target markets purchase lrish Produce, we would like to ask Irish Consumers to catapult our vegetables towards a target. The target will be a Country, we would like our Irish Consumers to target the country they would like to see Irish produce available in. We will tally up the vote and announce after the National Ploughing Championship. Our objective is to have local Irish Vegetables available on the shelves for generation migration.

We will also be launching our new exciting products, Beer Battered Chips and  Beer Battered Onion rings in addition to the new Vegan/Dairy Free range of products: Mashed Potato, Root Veg, Sprouting Broccoli and Potato Crush