300,000 expected as National Ploughing Championships rev up in Laois

Electric Picnic was still tidying up a few fields away as the 92nd annual National Ploughing Championships got its official big launch in Ratheniska, Laois.

Overseen by the unstoppable MD of the National Ploughing Championships, Laois lady Anna May McHugh, a huge ensemble gathered on the rapidly growing vast site of the 2023 championships.

Glamorous models from the Holman Lee agency mingled with horses and hounds from Laois Hunt, a pedigree cow and cute lambs.

Attending the launch were EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness, Bishop Denis Nulty, dancers from the Buggie School of Dancing, reigning world champion ploughers John Whelan and Eamon Treacy from Laois Ploughing Association, and some of the traders and local landowners at the hectic launch of what is one of the biggest outdoor events in Europe.

Also attending the launch on Tuesday, September 5 were the ICA, IFA, Laois County Council and Enterprise Ireland.

The event which expects to attract up to 300,000 visitors over three days, now costs €6.5m to host, revealed MD Anna May at the launch.

She told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that she is delighted it is again in her home county of Laois, here for the past two years. 

“I am so delighted that the event is in my home county. I long for this, and I was so proud last year to host the world ploughing in my home county. It’s only four miles from headquarters where we carry out all the work and preparations. So I’m very happy to be a Laois person.

“We have had great interest from competitors and many people from overseas are coming, including prospective buyers for equipment here in Ireland. Enterprise Ireland have been very supportive and our sponsors have been wonderful. So we hope that everything will go well and everybody will enjoy their time here in Ratheniska and go home with fond memories," Ms McHugh said.

MEP Mairead McGuinness knows the importance of the event.

"It brings everyone together, urban and rural, and the people who exhibit here do business. That's why they keep coming back. There's an element of excitement, we had strange summer weather and I'd say a lot of farmers and machinery people will be talking about the harvest, it's difficult. So it is a big part of the calender for not just Laois, but Ireland," she said.

Dairy farmer Peter Flynn from Ballyclider, Portlaoise brought his pedigree Holstein cow Ballyclider Chris.

"She's milking and breeding. All we do is pedigree cattle. She's classified Excellent 94 which is the top grade. 

Dairy farming is getting more difficult he said.

"Milk price has dropped at the moment and it's getting tough. It was good last year. Expenses were high but now the price has gone lower. It's important to have good animals," he said.

Peggy Drennan is one of the landowners whose fields are loaned out for the vast event.

"There is never trouble. The men are great, they are very helpful, they are like friends now. I actually look forward to it every year," she said.

Kathleen Comerford and Peggy Drennan.

The new Garda Chief Superintendent of the Laois Offaly Division, Anthony Lonergan, told the Leinster Express that there will be 250 Gardaí each day working at the event, mainly for traffic management.

"This is my first occasion to be responsible for the ploughing championships. I can see even today, the benefit it brings to the community. It's about bringing rural communities together. From our perspective, it does pose a challenge around traffic management. But we work well with the other agencies and the NPA and we have a comprehensive traffic plan.  

There are dedicated carparks, we have a fleet of Gardaí on hand to assist people to ensure they enjoy the day, and thirdly, there are clearly marked routes to and from the event and we ask people to log on to Garda.ie or the NPA website, download the plan and follow the guidance given on how to enter and exit the site," Chief Supt Lonergan said.

Laois County Council CEO John Mulholland said Laois is proven to suit major events like Electric Picnic and the ploughing.

"Without doubt between last weekend, and two week's time, it confirms Laois as the place best able to host these kind of events. There's probably 400,000 to 500,000 people come to the county. We should take a step back and congratulate everybody involved in hosting and organising these events. People can take a casual holiday or they can enjoy these events and they can be certain the events will be well managed safely in this county. It's fantastic for the area. 

He sees potential for more.

"We mightn't have always had the best of luck with industry but with events of this scale we're well positioned right in the heart of Ireland easily accessible. The expertise and experience is there, so without doubt there are opportunities for other times of the year for similar type events. Variety is good too," Mr Mulholland said.

WATCH: Ploughing legend Anna May proud to host championships on Laois soil

Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin Denis Nulty attended the launch, and will be at the diocesan stand during the event.

"It's tremendous for the community. It's a three day festival that is the heart of the story of farming all over Ireland. People will come in great numbers and we look forward to welcoming them. It's great for farmers and non-farmers," he said.

Next year's location is a tightly kept secret, to be announced straight after the championships.

Cash is still king at the ploughing, with tickets to be available on the gate. However as entry is limited, organisers advise the public to buy ahead of time on their website.

The event takes place from Tuesday to Thursday, September 19 to 21.