National Ploughing Championships

Annual agricultural contest and exhibition in Ireland

This article is about the annual agricultural contest and exhibition held in Ireland. For competitive ploughing in general, see Ploughing match.

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National Ploughing Championships

Stands at the National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore, County Offaly, 2007

Status| Active
Genre| Agriculture
Venue| Varies
Location(s)| Screggan, Tullamore, County Offaly (2025)[1]
Country| Ireland
Inaugurated| 1931
Attendance| 297,000 (2024)
Organized by| National Ploughing Association
Website| npa.ie

The National Ploughing Championships (Irish: Comórtas Náisiúnta Treabhdóireachta) or NPC or the Ploughing,[2] previously known as The National Ploughing Championships Machinery & Livestock Exhibition,[3][4] is an outdoor agricultural show in Ireland incorporating a ploughing contest.[5] Held every September, it draws over 1,700 exhibitors and had 297,000 visitors in 2019.[5]

## Competition classes

[edit]

There are distinct categories of horse drawn and tractor ploughing, as well as for the use of reversible ploughs.[6]

Ancillary events such as pole climbing competitions have also taken place as part of the Championships.[7]

## History

[edit]

The first Irish inter-county ploughing contest was held between County Wexford and County Kildare on 16 February 1931 in a 26-acre field at Coursetown in Athy in County Kildare.[8] Since then, the National Ploughing Championships has expanded to over 800 acres with 1,700 exhibitors.[9][10] It has been extended beyond displays relating to ploughing, farming and machinery and now includes a tented trade village, live entertainment and music, fashion shows, a craft village, cooking demonstrations, sheep dog trials, pony games and other activities.[11]

In 2014, the event attracted what was then a record of 279,500 visitors, rising to 281,000 in 2015, 283,000 in 2016 and 291,500 in 2017.[12][13][14]

All Ireland Pole climbing competition at the National Ploughing Championships in 2011

### Foundation

[edit]

The original mission statement for the National Ploughing Association, the body which organises the event, was set out as bringing "the message of good ploughing to all parts of the country and to provide a pleasant and friendly place to meet and do business".[15]

One of the co-founders of the Association, JJ Bergin, became its first managing director.[16] In 1952, he represented Ireland at the first meeting of the World Ploughing Organisation (WPO) and was appointed their vice president.[17] The first world contest was hosted by Canada in 1953, and the second was in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland in 1954. Ten countries competed in the 1954 event, which was the first ploughing competition in which women competed. The winner of this 'Farmerette' class was known as 'Queen of the Plough'.[17] In 1955, the National Ploughing Championships expanded into a 2-day event. The association became a limited liability company and was incorporated on 2 March 1956.[18]

JJ Bergin continued to manage NPA until his death in 1958.[19] Upon his death, the NPA appointed hurler Seán O'Farrell as managing director, a role he held until his death in 1972.[20] A national bread baking competition was introduced by NPA in co-operation with ESB in 1958 that continues to this day. In 1959, O'Farrell represented the NPA at the 7th World Ploughing Contest to Armoy, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.[21] He later attended the 8th World Ploughing Contest in Tor Mancina, Rome, Italy in 1960,[22] where he presented a block of Kilkenny Marble as Ireland's contribution to Rome's 'Cairn of Peace'.[23][24] During O'Farrell's tenure in office, he representing Ireland at the 9th (1961) World Ploughing Contest, at Thiverval-Grignon in France. He was officially introduced to President of the French Republic, Charles De Gaulle.[25] Also in 1961, the Ploughing Championships (at Killarney) were filmed for the first time by RTÉ. It was filmed on 8 and 9 November 1961 and broadcast in the first ever episode of the farming programme 'On the Land', on 1 January 1962. The film was notable in that it was broadcast the day after Teilifís Éireann first went on air.[26][27]

In 1964, the NPA sent two competitors to Fuchsenbigl, near Vienna, Austria, where Ireland won their first World Title when Charlie Keegan, from County Wicklow, was the winner. Arriving home from the world contest in Vienna,[28] the Wicklow man was welcomed home to Enniskerry, County Wicklow on an open top bus and met by bonfires along the roadside as they greeted NPA's first World Ploughing Champion.[29] The Irish Times reported how the tractor on which Charlie Keegan won World Ploughing Championships in 1964 had now been restored. It was a green Deutz D40L tractor that was restored to its original condition by his grandson.[30]

At the National Championships 1964, a new Youth class was introduced for Youths 21–28. In 1965 Esso became an NPA sponsor and introduced the Esso Supreme Trophy which is still presented to the Senior Conventional Champion annually. In 1966, a new competition was introduced to cater for students from the agricultural colleges. In 1969, the Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA) were invited to give demonstrations in cookery and crafts. O'Farrell held the position of MD until his death in 1972. The Kilkenny People, in their September 1972 obituary, recorded that he was NPA Managing Director and a member of World Ploughing Organisation and that the graveside oration was delivered by Seán Ó Síocháin, General Secretary of GAA.[citation needed]

### Later years

[edit]

In 1973, Anna May McHugh was appointed NPA's managing director. McHugh had previously served as secretary of the NPA. In September 2015, National Ploughing Association Managing Director Anna May McHugh was awarded the Officier de l'Ordre du Mérite Agricole by the French Ambassador to Ireland Mr Jean-Pierre Thébault.[31] McHugh is the Irish board member to the Board of the World Ploughing Organisation, where her daughter, Anna Marie McHugh, is now general secretary.[32]

In 1973, the year of McHugh's appointment as managing director, the 20th World Ploughing Contest was held in County Wexford. It was a four-day contest that was attended by 100,000 people, and in which 25 countries took part. Further World Ploughing events have since been held in Ireland with 29th World Ploughing Contest in Wexford in 1981; the 43rd World Ploughing Contest at Oak Park, County Carlow in 1996 and the 53rd World Ploughing Contest at Tullow County Carlow in 2006.[21] In 1994, Martin Kehoe from County Wexford won the first of his three World Champion titles – in 1994 from Outram, near Dunedin, New Zealand; in 1995 from Egerton, Njoro, Kenya and in 1999 from Pomacle, France. The only other Irish World Champion (apart from first winner, Charlie Keegan) was Eamonn Tracey, winning in Saint Jean D'Illac, France in 2014.[33][17]

By 2014, the event had become one of the largest outdoor annual events in Europe.[34] NPA records indicate that, in 1975, the number of national exhibitors was 100, the number of counties competing was 21 and the number of demonstrators was 18. By 1978, the championships returned to County Kilkenny \- this time to the village where Anna May McHugh's predecessor, Seán O'Farrell, was born, Knocktopher. Attendance figures grew steadily throughout the 1970s and 1980s until 1988, when the event was expanded to 3 days in order to cater for heavy traffic due to escalating attendances. According to NPA records,[which?] the Irish Countrywomen's Association and Country Markets started giving cookery and craft demonstrations at the shows around this time. Other events added in the 1980s included a fashion show in 1981, shopping and business arcades in 1985 and the 'Nissan Classic' in 1989.[35]

The 2005 event was held in Mogeely, County Cork

Between 2000 and 2011, the Ploughing Championships had grown to 180,000 spectators, 320 competitors, 1,100 exhibitors, 14 shopping arcades and was by then generating €10m for the local Irish economy.[17]

As of 2014/2015, the event's costs were in the region of €3.5 million, and there were ploughing associations in every county in Ireland.[36]

With an average of 180,000 spectators, the NPA attendance has grown from the 3,000 that attended in 1932 to over 280,000 in the 2010s.[37] Some outlets have described the National Ploughing Championships as a "flagship event in Irish agriculture" and as "the biggest outdoor exhibition and agricultural trade show in Europe".[38] Despite the size of the events, the NPA remains a voluntary association.[citation needed]

The 2020 event was cancelled as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland.[39][40] The 2021 event went ahead on a much scaled-back level, with the trade exhibition element and the world ploughing contest cancelled due to uncertainty over COVID-19 restrictions.[41] The 2022 event returned as normal with a new attendance record of 115,500 on 21 September.[42][43] In 2023, Macra na Feirme organised a successful world record attempt to throw the most wellies simultaneously.[44]

## Locations

[edit]

Further information: List of venues for National Ploughing Championships

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Ploughing Championships 2025 Venue Confirmed". National Ploughing Association. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
2. ^ Miller, Steven (16 September 2024). "LaoisToday to record live podcast at the Ploughing in association with Laois Hire and Briggs Equipment as Laois GAA launch new jersey". LaoisToday. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
3. ^ "National Ploughing Championships Machinery & Livestock Exhibition 2005". National Ploughing Association of Ireland. 2005. Archived from the original on 5 March 2005. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
4. ^ "The National Ploughing Championships Machinery & Livestock Exhibition 2002". National Ploughing Association of Ireland. 2002. Archived from the original on 2 August 2002. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
5. ^ a b Flaherty, Rachel; Griffin, Dan (22 September 2015). "Ploughing championships: President attends first day". Irish Times. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
6. ^ O'Donnell, Charles (15 September 2021). "Results are in for Day 1 of 'Ploughing 2021'". Agriland.ie.
7. ^ "Have you got a good head for heights?". Independent.ie.
8. ^ Cox, Valerie (2017). A Ploughing People: Farming Life Celebrated, Stories, Traditions, The Championships. Ireland: Hachette Books Ireland. p. 4\. ISBN 978-1-473-65945-2.
9. ^ "National Ploughing Championships 2017: Tractor highlights on-site". Agriland. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
10. ^ "Background of Event/". National Ploughing Association. 2012. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
11. ^ "NPC 2015". Quality Freight. August 2015. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
12. ^ "National Ploughing Championships – home page". National Ploughing Association. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
13. ^ "National Ploughing Association of Ireland". National Ploughing Association. 2016.
14. ^ "National Ploughing Championships 2017: Tractor highlights on-site". Agriland. 21 September 2017. Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
15. ^ "History of the NPA & Championships: Formation & Origins of the National Ploughing Association 1931 – 2012". npa.ie. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
16. ^ Valerie, Cox (2017). A Ploughing People. Ireland: Hachette Books Ireland. pp. 13–32\. ISBN 978-1-473-65945-2.
17. ^ a b c d "Milestones in the history of the National ploughing championships". Independent.ie.
18. ^ "NPA History 1931-2024". National Ploughing Association. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
19. ^ "Milestones in the history of the National ploughing championships". Independent.ie. 20 September 2011.
20. ^ Cox, Valerie (2017). A Ploughing People. Ireland: Hachette Books Ireland. p. 27\. ISBN 978-1-473-65945-2.
21. ^ a b "Past World Events". World Ploughing Organisation. 29 May 2013.
22. ^ "History of the NPA & Championships".
23. ^ "Cairns of Peace erected during annual World Ploughing Matches". 67 Peace Stones, Rocks, Slabs & Cairns Around the World. Peace Monuments.
24. ^ "History of the NPA & Championships".
25. ^ Cox, Valerie (2017). A Ploughing People. Ireland: Hachette Books Ireland. p. 29\. ISBN 978-1-473-65945-2.
26. ^ ""It's a little bit bumpy for top class ploughing" 1961". RTÉ Archives. RTÉ National TV.
27. ^ "Farmerettes At The Ploughing 1961". RTE Archives. RTE. 1961.
28. ^ "Champions of the World Ploughing Contests since 1953". World Ploughing Organisation. 27 June 2013.
29. ^ "Charlie Keegan, World Champion, winning the 12th World Ploughing Contest, Fuchsenbigl, Near Vienna, Austria 1964". The Irish Times.
30. ^ "Tractor on which Charlie Keegan won World Ploughing Championships in 1964 restored". The Irish Times.
31. ^ "Ordre du Mérite Agricole Conferral to Mrs Anna May McHugh". Irish National Ploughing Association. NPA. 2015.
32. ^ "Structure". WPO. World Ploughing Organisation. 13 May 2013.
33. ^ "Champions of the World Ploughing Contests since 1953". World Ploughing Organisation. 27 June 2013.
34. ^ "Irish Business, News and Lifestyle". Europe's largest Outdoor Exhibition and Agricultural Trade Show, the National Ploughing Championships finishes on Thursday. InsideIreland.ie. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015.
35. ^ "NPA History 1931-2024". National Ploughing Association. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
36. ^ "County Ploughing Dates 2014/2015". Irish National Ploughing Association. NPA.
37. ^ "Another Record Breaking Year". Irish National Ploughing Association. NPA. Archived from the original on 5 October 2015.
38. ^ "Take a tour of the massive National Ploughing Championships site". BreakingNews.ie. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
39. ^ "Next month's national ploughing competitions cancelled". RTÉ.ie. RTÉ. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
40. ^ "Ploughing Trade Exhibition cancelled due to uncertainty over Covid-19 restrictions". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
41. ^ Kane, Conor (15 September 2021). "Scaled-back ploughing championship under way in Laois". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
42. ^ Mag Raollaigh, Joe (20 September 2022). "National Ploughing Championships back after Covid break". RTÉ News. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
43. ^ "New attendance record set at National Ploughing Championships". RTÉ News. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
44. ^ O'Sullivan, Kathleen (20 September 2023). "Macra breaks world record for welly throwing at Ploughing Championships". IrishExaminer.com.

## External links

[edit]

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