Students drinking at the Ploughing led Irish Rail to collaborate with the NTA and Department of Education

Irish Rail has revealed it collaborated with the NTA and Department of Education to address “issues around alcohol consumption” by students attending the National Ploughing Championships last year. 

The information which is due to be released in the latest Iarnród Éireann Customer Safety and Security Report was provided to the Leinster Express/Laois Live in a Freedom of Information request. 

“At a busy time of year for events across the network, IÉ works nationally and locally with the An Garda Síochána, NTA and event organisers to ensure event policing and management encompasses public transport security issues. For example, IÉ has collaborated closely with the NTA and the Department of Education in respect of the National Ploughing Championships to address issues around alcohol consumption by some students attending the event,” the report states. 

Alcohol consumption at the National Ploughing Championships made the airwaves last year when people complained to RTÉ's Liveline about young people drinking at the event in Screggan, Co Offaly.

Alcohol consumption was also raised by District Court Judge Andrew Cody when he voiced concerns about the number of anti-social incidents at the event in Ratheniska in Laois a year earlier. He compared the event to the Electric Picnic music and arts festival at Portlaoise District Court when he stated that “more assaults and trouble come from the Ploughing match than the Electric Picnic”. 

Assistant Managing Director of the National Ploughing Championships, Anna Marie McHugh, defended the National Ploughing Championship on RTE’s Liveline last September. 

"The ploughing is not a festival, but the reason there is drinking is because it is part of the Irish culture for ever, back in the day of the ploughing, it was a pint and a shake of hands, that's where the deal was done, and is still being done by a degree."

She went on to say that "we do not in any way tolerate underage drinking whatsoever and we have very strict rules in place”. 

Meanwhile, Irish Rail stated that year on year reportable incidents recorded in the latest security report had reduced. 

“There have been 386 incidents recorded for Q3 2025. There have been 39 assaults with four assaults on employees. Theft of third-party property at 26 has decreased from Q2, 2024. Increased security patrols and detection, with additional resources seeing interventions at major terminus stations, has contributed to the increase in incidents recorded,” the report states. 

Irish Rail said a new monitoring group has been put in place, led by Iarnród Éireann’s Chief Security Office. 

“There are now twenty 21 Garda Response Hubs in operation across the Iarnród Éireann network and their establishment has had a significant impact in crime and Antisocial behaviour interventions and reducing delays time to services. There are another five Garda Response Hubs proposed,” according to Irish Rail. 

It said the new Garda operating model “Community Engagement Areas” is supporting the Iarnród Éireann customer experience. Garda inspectors have been appointed in Garda Divisions to liaise with IÉ Customer Experience Managers to plan high visibility operations and days of actions.