The Ploughing
By: Neville and Will
The National Ploughing Championships is a major event in Irish agriculture. It is normally held around the 20thof September every year. It’s attended by not just farmers but people of all backgrounds as it is a fun family day out as there’s more to it than farming, such the fun activities like the funfair. There’s plenty of stands selling all kinds of products from toys to food, with Mary Berry making an appearance this year. There’s also a fashion show which gives enjoyment to people interested in more than farming.
The aim of the championships is to bring the message of good ploughing to all parts of the country and to provide a pleasant and friendly place to meet and do business. The ploughers are judged on how straight and identical their furrows are. There are plenty of classes with machines of all sizes and competitors of all ages.
The ploughing dates back to 16thFebruary 1931 in a 26 acre field at Coursetown in Athy, Co. Kildare. Over the years it has expanded to over 800 acres with 1,700 exhibitors. The attendance in 2017 was a record high of 291,500. The record attendance for one day is 127,000 and it was set in 2015.