Author: National Ploughing Association

Congratulations and well wishes are pouring in from all corners of Ireland with the announcement of the results over the weekend from the World Ploughing Contest in Einsiedel, Germany.  Ireland’s representatives on the world stage, Mr Eamonn Tracey and Mr John Whelan won 1st and 2nd places respectively for Ireland at the World Ploughing Contest.  Carlow man Eamonn Tracey is the new World Ploughing Champion representing Ireland with an outstanding performance in the Conventional Class. While neighbouring county Wexford man, John Whelan also secured silver place victory in the Reversible Class.

Managing Director of the National Ploughing Association Ms Anna May McHugh said “this is a fantastic win for both men and Irish Ploughing as a whole. Since winning the nationals last year, the men have been working hard on preparing for the worlds in Germany and all their effort have paid off. They have done their Country extremely proud. Congratulations and a very well done to both”

General Secretary of the World Ploughing Organisation, Ms Anna Marie McHugh said “Ireland have always been highly respected internationally in terms of producing Ploughmen to compete on the world stage. However, Eamonn and John in particular are held in extremely high esteem not only in Ireland but across the international ploughing community. Another great result such as this for both men further adds to their global reputation as Masters in their field”.

The Republic of Ireland were coached this year by one of Laois’s finest Ploughmen, Mr Patsy Condron. Also travelling with the contingent to Germany John Deery from Monaghan acting as Judge. Proud sponsors of the Irish Team and delegation again this year are Kverneland.

The ‘Machine of the Year’ award is open to all machines launched/manufactured since the last National Ploughing Championships.  Entries must currently be in manufacture and all machines should have a practical use in agriculture and will be exhibiting at Ploughing 2018. 

NPA Assistant Managing Director Anna Marie McHugh said “There was great interest with entries of an exceptional standard in last year’s ‘Machine of the Year’ competition and this is to be expected again this year.   As the quality of machinery at Ploughing is unparalleled with ground breaking displays and cutting edge technologies worth in excess of €50 million.”

“Last year’s winner was the exceptional horse-power high cylinder Valtra N174 tractor, which the judges praised for its ability to have different levels of specifications for operational use and the intuitive design of the touch screen systems.  Following the Ploughing Championships the Valtra N174 has gone on to experience phenomenal commercial success.”

To enter please email entry form https://www.npa.ie/exhibitorsmenu/ to media@npa.ie before Friday 31^st of August. 

Join in with the excitement by following the build up to #Ploughing18 www.facebook.com/nationalploughingchampionships/www.twitter.com/@NPAIE/

www.instagram.com/nationalploughing

In thirteen weeks’ time, the National Ploughing Championships (September 18^th – 20^th), Europe’s largest outdoor event, returns to Offaly and small businesses from all over the country are getting ‘ploughing-ready’ thanks to the Local Enterprise Offices.

Under plans for the ‘Local Enterprise Village’, launched today (June 20^th) by the Minister for Trade, Employment and Business Pat Breen T.D., Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are helping 30 small businesses and start-ups launch products and services to the thousands of visitors expected at the three-day event. 291,500 people, a record-breaking number, attended the National Ploughing Championships in 2017.

Minister Breen met several Local Enterprise Village entrepreneurs at a LEO-run training day in the Crowne Plaza in Blanchardstown today, where they were learning about business development, product marketing and how to secure more sales for their small business.  A second training day is taking place later in the month in Limerick.

Minister Breen said: “The Local Enterprise Office network is a key pillar in the Government’s support for the growth and development of micro and small enterprises.  By having dedicated supports in place to help small businesses at international events like the National Ploughing Championships, we are promoting trade and driving innovation and export growth for all business sectors across the country. I would encourage all visitors to the National Ploughing Championships in September to pay a visit to the Local Enterprise Village to support Ireland’s start-ups and small businesses. The Local Enterprise Offices are central to the delivery of these dedicated supports, which help build a culture of entrepreneurship and enterprise, delivering jobs in every County in Ireland.”　

Minister Breen was joined at the launch by Oisin Geoghegan, Chair of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices, Anna May McHugh, Managing Director of The National Ploughing Association, Martin Corry of Enterprise Ireland and Paula Butler, Assistant Chief Executive of the Local Government Management Association and representative of the County and City Management Association.

Oisin Geoghegan, Chair of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices said: “As Europe’s largest outdoor event, the National Ploughing Championships are an international showcase for Ireland’s small business sector. To help small businesses get ‘ploughing-ready’, Local Enterprise Offices are providing expert training, marketing and project management support to maximise selling opportunities through the Local Enterprise Village.”

Anna May McHugh, NPA Managing Director said: “It is inspiring that so many small businesses and start-ups will be launching new products and services at this year’s National Ploughing Championships’ at the ‘Local Enterprise Village’ with the support of Local Enterprise Offices.  This is a unique opportunity for these small businesses, with 291,500 visitors in attendance last year, to showcase their companies to the large number of visitors that Ploughing attracts.”

The 30 small companies inside the Local Enterprise Village represent a diverse range of business sectors, such as skincare, fashion, technology, artisan food and drink, sports equipment and horticulture.

More details around the Local Enterprise Village and the supports on offer through the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are available at www.localenterprise.ie.

The 87^th Annual National Ploughing Championships take place from September 18^th to 20^th at Screggan, Tullamore, County Offaly.

The Kildare County Show will take place on Sunday 17th of June at 11.00am in the GAA grounds in Athy, Co Kildare. This will be an action packed day of fun for all of the family including a Food Fayre, Quality Machinery & Cars, a Dog Show, Bubble Soccer, Sheep Dog Trials, Music & Dancing, a Petting Corner and much much more! All accompanied under 14s are free of charge.

The Kildare County Show Society has contributed greatly to the social and economic development of Athy and its hinterland over the past hundred years and intends to continue to do so for many years to come. One of its great strengths has been to grow with changing circumstances, adapting in format and emphasis over the years to meet the demands of modern times and economic circumstances.
 
In recent years its committee has numbered over 50 people giving generously of their time and voluntary effort. This commitment and the ability to provide a relevant and entertaining show has continued to make the Kildare County Show held in the Athy Showgrounds, a very special event for over a century.
 
Background

How it all began
 The show began as the South Kildare Agricultural and Horticultural Show Society, based in Athy, around the beginning of the 20th Century.  To facilitate the show, the early members of the society acquired an area of open space on the east side of Athy comprised of about 20 acres and known ever since then as the Showgrounds. This area already had a number of playing fields on which both Rugby and latterly Gaelic football was played.
The Kildare Show becomes a national event
Things began to improve in 1944 with the foundation of Macra na Feirme in Athy which led to the holding of a Produce Show in the Vocational School in 1946. An outdoor section was added in 1947 and the show was held behind the Railway Bar in Leinster St. The following year, the Kildare Show Society came into its own again, expanded the event and moved it back to the Showgrounds. 
 The show grew to become a very large national two-day event, held during the first or second week in July each year. However, during a period of great difficulty for agriculture nationally in the late 1960s, the show went into decline and ceased altogether in 1971.
The heritage should not be lost
Anna May McHugh, Director of the National Ploughing Association had worked for the Kildare Show in earlier years. She became anxious that the heritage of a show in Athy should not be lost and initiated a public meeting in the Castle Inn, Athy, in the autumn of 1994. This well attended meeting led to the formation of the Kildare County Show Society and the show has continued to me a great success to this date.