The National Ploughing Championships take place from 22nd – 24th of September at Ratheniska, Stradbally, the proven Laois venue for the last time.
After a year’s preparation and months of planning, all roads lead to Ratheniska for the Ploughing. The Ploughing has always generated huge interest from both rural and urban people in this country and internationally, and this year is no different.
Eamonn Tracey and John Whelan with NPA president James Sutton, and the Laois ploughing team at the launch in Ratheniska.
It is a special year this year as Ratheniska is saying goodbye to the event. It will be the third year in succession that the event has been held at the Laois venue. It will just be the Electric Picnic next year for the locals.
To make an observation on the venue, the field’s site and access proved to be very popular with patrons of the National Ploughing Championships. This year the number of exhibitors has increased yet again, from 1,400 last year to over 1,500.
According to NPA managing director and secretary Anna May McHugh, it has been innovation and education that have seen the largest increase. Anna May is also very excited about how the event is perceived internationally.
You can visit the Irish Farmers Journal Stand – Number 396 Row 23.
(Source – Irish Farmers Journal – James Maloney – 16/09/2015)
