National Ploughing Championships

National Ploughing Championships

View of the National Ploughing Championships held in Tullamore, County Offaly, 2007
Status Active
Genre Agriculture
Venue Varies
Location(s) Tullamore, Offaly (current)
Country Ireland
Inaugurated 1931
Attendance 283,000 (2016)
Organized by National Ploughing Association
Website
npa.ie

The National Ploughing Championships (Irish: Comórtas Náisiúnta Treabhdóireachta)(previously known as The National Ploughing Championships Machinery & Livestock Exhibition[1][2]) or (NPC) is an agricultural show in Ireland.[3] The event is one of the largest outdoor events in the world with over 1500 exhibitors and attendances of over 200,000.[3] It takes place each year in September.[3]

History

The first 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. Since then, the National Ploughing Championships has expanded to over 800 acres with 1,400 exhibitors.[4] It has been extended beyond ploughing, farming or machinery enthusiasts, to now featuring attractions such as a tented trade village, live entertainment, music & dancing, fashion shows, craft village, live cooking demonstrations, celebrity appearances, sheep dog trials, pony games & welly throwing.[5]

In 2014 the event attracted a record 279,500 visitors, 281,000 in 2015 and 283,000 in 2016.[6][7]

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

NPC Development

The Big Idea

The original Mission Statement for the National Ploughing Association, NPC's governing body, was set out their big idea in 1931: “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”.[8] In September 2013, the Farming Magazine, Grassroots, in exploring the progress of NPA in an article entitled 'NPA Recalls'(p53) asked the question "Did NPA live up to its Mission Statement?" and concluded "There is no doubt that it has, tenfold".[9]

The story of the National Ploughing Association (NPA) that has since unfolded was described by Examiner newspaper in asking what was the secret to our national ploughing and national hurling success in Ireland: they noted that both national events have a common requirement for participants and spectators — buckets of stamina and a focused approach; that thousands of people had again flocked to the final day of the rural pageant in 2015 and many of them paid homage to the enduring triumphs of the Kilkenny hurlers and the National Ploughing Association, headed by Anna May McHugh.".[9][10] They are both an integral part of the story of Rural Ireland’s development.

The Vision

Following in the footsteps of the GAA and going on to become another Irish Community phenomenon, the National Ploughing Association (NPA) as it’s now known was born of the humble seeds sown in that 1931 challenge between its co-founders Kildare man JJ Bergin and Wexford man Denis Allen. It has continued to grow through the endeavours, foresight and the development work of its three extraordinary Managing Directors and their director teams[11] throughout its 84 year lifetime to become the powerful International showcase of Irish Farming it is today.[12]

Inspirational founder, JJ Bergin, was NPA’s first Managing Director and he laid the sowed the seeds for what was to follow. He was widely acknowledged as a man of tremendous foresight. In 1952 he represented Ireland at the first meeting of the World Ploughing Organisation (WPO) and was appointed their vice president.[13] The first World Contest was hosted by Canada in 1953, and the second was in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland in 1954. That was also the first European venue for the ‘Worlds’, when 10 countries competed. Also in 1954, the first ploughing competition for women was introduced, called the 'Farmerette' class, and which was open to girls and single, married or widowed women and without reference to age. The winner was known as 'Queen of the Plough'.[13] 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, with number of directors limited to forty, with period of office of one year; its liability limited by guarantee and without shares.

JJ Bergin continued to manage NPA until his passing in 1958.[14]

The Foundations

In 1958 the NPA appointed Kilkenny GAA 1933 All Ireland medal winner[15] and Senior Hurling star Sean O'Farrell as Managing Director to harness its already evident future farming potential and to lay the foundations for its future development.

A national bread baking competition was introduced by NPA in co-operation with ESB in 1958 that continues to this day. In 1959 he represented the NPA at the 7th World Ploughing Contest to Armoy, County Antrim, Northern Ireland and that was the first time they held there.[16] A special moment followed for him when he got to ‘bring home’ the NPA Championships to his native county, at Burnchurch, County Kilkenny in 1959, while returning to Danesfort, Co Kilkenny in 1964 and again in 1970. He attended the 8th World Ploughing Contest in Tor Mancina, Roma, Italy 1960[17] where he proudly presented a distinctive block of his native Kilkenny Marble as Ireland’s contribution to Rome’s ‘Cairn of Peace’[18] in 1960[19] One of the highlights of his tenure of office was in 1961 when representing Ireland at 9th World Ploughing Contest, Grignon, Paris, France. He was officially introduced to President of the French Republic, Charles De Gaulle. John was a big man over 6 ft. but he proudly displayed that photo on his wall, dwarfed as he was by the 6’ 5” tall President De Gaulle. Another big event was when the first ever Ploughing Championships were filmed by RTÉ National TV at Killarney in 1961, believed to be the first outside coverage by the new TV station. 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, featuring both local organiser, Mrs Grosvenor, and Sean, was remarkable in that it was broadcast the day after Teilifís Éireann first went on air.[20] And Teilifís ÉireannArchives, itself founded on 1st June 1960, released in 2016 this video from 1961 of then NPA MD, Sean, and current NPA MD, Anna May, at the presentation of the NPC Farmerette trophy to Eiline Brennan from Laois being crowned Queen of the Plough, 1961.[21]

Sean continued to build on NPA’s international profile and in 1964 the NPA sent two competitors to Fuchsenbigl, Near Vienna, Austria, where Ireland won their first World Title when the late Charlie Keegan, from County Wicklow was the winner. It marked a huge Irish International achievement for NPA at that time and was an inspiration to future competitors, demonstrating that the Irish had the standard and the potential to compete with the best in the World. Arriving home from the World Contest in Vienna,[22] the Wicklow man was proudly brought home to Enniskerry, Wicklow on an open top bus to be met by bonfires along the roadside as they greeted NPA’s first World Ploughing Champion.[23] That was a special day for Sean,[24] as County Wicklow was his adopted county. 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 magnificently restored to its original condition by his grandson, Michael, devoting 1,000 hours to restoration work.[25]

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, crafts. This also combined with introduction of the Country Markets as the ploughing was an ideal venue to sell produce. Sean held the position of MD until his sudden 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.

A Dream Fulfilled

The second half of the NPA 84 year old Story, all of 42 years, was led by NPA's long serving Secretary of that time from 1954, Anna May McHugh. In 1973 she was appointed NPA's managing director. Anna May, has served for 61 years as Secretary of the NPA organisation. She brought to fruition as MD of NPA what once a big idea of NPA founders back in 1931, what becomes a dream by 1958, and what had been just aspiration by 1972 - turning their collective dream into reality by 2015. And 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.[26] Anna May is the Irish Board Member to the Board of the World Ploughing Organization, where her daughter, Anna Marie McHugh, is now General Secretary.[27]

1973 was also the year when 20th World Ploughing Contest was held in County Wexford, Republic of Ireland, in a four-day Contest that was attended by 100,000 people, and when 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, Ireland in 1996 and the 53rd World Ploughing Contest at Tullow, Carlow in 2006.[16] In 1994 Wexford man Martin Kehoe brought home the first of his three World Champion titles - in 1994 from Outram, Dunedin, New Zealand; in 1995 from Egerton, Njoro, Kenya and in 1999 from Pomacle, France. It is noteworthy that the only other Irish World Champion (apart from first winner, Charlie Keegan) was Eamonn Tracey, winning in Saint Jean D'Illac - Bordeaux France in 2014.[28] Milestones in their illustrious history were recorded in Independent Newspapers in 2011.[29]

Together with her 32-member board of directors team, she has steered NPA into becoming one of the largest outdoor annual events in Europe.[30] Among their achievements, NPA records that in 1975 the number of national exhibitors was 100, the number of counties competing was 21 and the number of demonstrators was 18. In 1978 the Championships returned to County Kilkenny this time to the village where Anna May McHugh's predecessor, Sean O'Farrell, was born, Knocktopher. Attendance figures grew very steadily throughout the 70s & 80s 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, the ICA and Country Markets then started giving cookery and craft demonstrations at the Shows. Other new Events were added with the Fashion Show in 1981; their introduction of Shopping & Business Arcades in 1985 & Kverneland World Class Challenge; the Livestock Section in 1987 and the Nissan Classic in 1989. They record that the “Tented Village” era was developed substantially at the Ploughing contests throughout the 90’s and early 2000’s. They credit Enterprise Ireland with bringing delegations from a number of countries to review the event, where exhibitors travelled from Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Poland and the USA.

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.[29]

Now in its 84th year NPA records that Events Costs are in the region of 3.5 Million Euro, and have Ploughing Associations in every county in the country of Ireland.[31] NPA claims to now hold the biggest National Ploughing Championships in the World, where over 320 competitors participate in the National Finals; to cater for 19 All-Ireland Ploughing Title Classes; are Ireland’s primary Agricultural Exhibition, and hold one of the largest Agricultural Events in Europe; that many international visitors, exhibitors and delegations from right around Europe and from as far afield as New Zealand now participate; that Events have up to 1,100 Trade Stands which exhibit billions of Euros worth of the most modern agri-equipment in the World on exhibition at the Championships.

It is extraordinary that NPA are still a voluntary association that depends on voluntary efforts of their members from all around the country to achieve such goals. With an average of 180,000 spectators, the NPA attendance has grown from the 3,000 that attended in 1932 to the 280,000 heights it reached in 2014 and 281,000 in 2015.[32] Together NPA's National Ploughing Championships (NPC) are a shop window to what Irish people can achieve when working together, and a great credit to spirit of Rural Ireland ever since the Country's gained its independence one century ago.[33]

Locations

These locations include the official published list of the dates, venues and winners of National Ploughing Championships from 1931 to 1990.[34][35][36]

Year Photo Location Start date End date Attendance Notes
1931 Coursetown, Athy, County Kildare 16 February
1932 Gorey, County Wexford 19 February
1933 Clondalkin, County Dublin 15 February
1934 Athenry, County Galway 13 February
1935 Mallow, County Cork 13 February
1936 Tullamore, County Offaly February
1937 Greystones, County Wicklow 9 February
1938 Oakpark, Carlow 10 February
1939 Killarney, County Kerry 8 February
1940 Thurles, County Tipperary/Kilkenny 21 January 1 February
1941 Cork/ Navan, County Meath 12 February 18 February
1942 Cloghran, County Dublin 12 February
1943 Portlaoise, County Laois 12 February
1944 Ballinasloe, County Galway 9 February
1945 Tipperary 21 February
1946 Balbriggan, County Dublin 7 February
1947 Maynooth, County Kildare 11 February
1948 Limerick 19 February
1949 Drogheda, County Louth 10 February
1950 Bandon 9 February
1951 County Wexford 1 February
1952 Athenry, County Galway 7 February
1953 Mullingar, County Westmeath 11 February
1954 Cahir, County Tipperary 11 February
1955 Athy 10 February 11 February
1956 Nenagh, County Tipperary 1 February 11 February
1957 Boyle, County Roscommon 7 February 8 February
1958 Tramore, County Waterford 12 February 13 February
1959 Burnchurch, County Kilkenny 28 January 29 January
1960 New Ross, County Wexford 9 November 10 November
1961 Killarney, County Kerry 8 November 9 November
1962 Dovea, Thurles, County Tipperary 7 November 8 November
1963 Athenry, County Galway 6 November 7 November
1964 Danesfort, County Kilkenny 18 November 19 November
1965 Enniskerry, County Wicklow 17 November 18 November
1966 Rosegarland Est.,Wellingtonbridge, County Wexford 2 November 3 November
1967 Tullow, County Carlow 25 October 26 October
1968 Banteer, Mallow, County Cork 23 October 24 October
1969 Rockwell College, Cashel, County Tipperary 22 October 23 October
1970 Danesfort, County Kilkenny 28 October 29 October
1971 Finglas, County Dublin 27 October 28 October
1972 Rockwell College, Cashel, County Tipperary 25 October 26 October
1973 Rosegarland Estate, Wellingtonbridge, County Wexford 3 October 6 October
1974 Watergrasshill, County Cork 16 October 17 October
1975 Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny 15 October 16 October
1976 Wells, Gorey, County Wexford 13 October 14 October
1977 Rockwell College, Cashel, County Tipperary 19 October 20 October
1978 Knocktopher, County Kilkenny 11 October 12 October
1979 Watergrasshill, County Cork[37] 10 October 11 October
1980 Rockwell College, Cashel, County Tipperary 7 October 8 October
1981 Wellingtonbridge, Wexford 7 October 10 October
1982 Edenderry, County Offaly 12 October 13 October
1983 IDA Grounds, Waterford 5 October 6 October
1984 Ardfert, County Kerry 3 October 4 October
1985 Kilkea, Athy, County Kildare 2 October 3 October
1986 Woodsgift, Urlingford, County Kilkenny 8 October 9 October
1987 Charleville Estate, Tullamore, County Offaly 7 October 8 October
1988 Oak Park Research Centre, County Carlow 4 October 6 October
1989 Oak Park Research Centre, County Carlow October
1990 Oak Park Research Centre, County Carlow October
1991 Crecora, County Limerick
1992 Carrigtwohill, Midleton, County Cork
1993 Shanballyard, Clerihan, Clonmel, County Tipperary
1994 Drumgold, Enniscorthy, County Wexford
1995 Ballacolla, County Laois
1996 Oak Park Research Centre, County Carlow
1997 Parkmore, Fiveally, Birr, County Offaly
1998 Ballycarney, Ferns, County Wexford
1999 Castletownroche, Mallow, County Cork[38] 28 September[38] 30 September[38]
2000 Ballacolla, County Laois[39] 26 September[39] 28 September[39]
2001 Ballacolla, County Laois[40] 2 October[40] 4 October[40]
2002 Ballacolla, County Laois[2] 24 September[2] 26 September[2]
2003 Ballinabrackey, County Meath (5 km South of Kinnegad)[41][42] 23 September[41] 25 September[41]
2004 Athy, County Kildare[43]
2005 Mogeely, Midleton, County Cork[1][44] 27 September 2005[44] 29 September 2005[1]
2006 Grangeford, Tullow, County Carlow[45] 27 September[45] 28 September[45] Also hosted World Ploughing Championships 29–30 September
2007 Annaharvey Farm
Tullamore, County Offaly[46]		 25 September[46] 27 September[46]
2008 Cuffesgrange, County Kilkenny (8 km Southwest of Kilkenny City)[47] 23 September 25 September
2009 Cardenton, Athy, County Kildare[48]
2010 Cardenton, Athy, County Kildare[48][49]
2011 Cardenton, Athy, County Kildare[48][50] 20 September[50] 22 September[50]
2012 Heathpark, New Ross, County Wexford[4]
2013 Ratheniska, County Laois[3]
2014 Ratheniska, County Laois[3] 280,000
2015 Ratheniska, County Laois[3] 22 September 24 September 281,000[51]
2016 Screggan, Tullamore, County Offaly[52] 20 September 22 September
2017 Screggan, Tullamore, County Offaly[53] 19 September 21 September

References

  1. 1 2 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.
  2. 1 2 3 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.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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.
  4. 1 2 "Background of Event/". National Ploughing Association. 2012. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "NPC 2015". Quality Freight. August 2015. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "National Ploughing Championships - home page". National Ploughing Association. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "National Ploughing Association of Ireland". National Ploughing Association. 2016.
  8. ↑ "History of the NPA & Championships: Formation & Origins of the National Ploughing Association 1931 – 2012". npa.ie. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Grass Roots Magazine - Ploughing 2013 (NPA Recalls)". ISSUU.
  10. ↑ "VIDEO: Secret to ploughing and hurling success? Buckets of stamina and focused approach". Irish Examiner.
  11. ↑ "Board of Directors". Irish National Ploughing Association. NPA.
  12. ↑ "The Irish Times - Ploughing championships: President attends first day". The Irish Times.com.
  13. 1 2 "Milestones in the history of the National ploughing championships". Business: Ploughing Championships. Independent Newspapers.
  14. ↑ "Milestones in the history of the National ploughing championships".
  15. ↑ "Kilkenny All Ireland Winning Teams- Senior winning Teams 1931 to 1960". Kilkenny GAA.
  16. 1 2 "Past World Events". World Ploughing Organisation.
  17. ↑ "History of the NPA & Championships".
  18. ↑ "Cairns of Peace erected during annual World Ploughing Matches". 67 Peace Stones, Rocks, Slabs & Cairns Around the World. Peace Monuments.
  19. ↑ "History of the NPA & Championships".
  20. ↑ ""It's a little bit bumpy for top class ploughing" 1961". RTÉ Archives. RTÉ National TV.
  21. ↑ "Farmerettes At The Ploughing 1961". RTE Archives. RTE. 1961.
  22. ↑ "Champions of the World Ploughing Contests since 1953". World Ploughing Organisation.
  23. ↑ "Charlie Keegan, World Champion, winning the 12th World Ploughing Contest, Fuchsenbigl, Near Vienna, Austria 1964".
  24. ↑ "NPA Managing Direction Sean O'Farrell on location with Charlie Keegan and co at the Ploughing Championships, Kilmacanogue, County Wicklow, 17 July 1962".
  25. ↑ "Tractor on which Charlie Keegan won World Ploughing Championships in 1964 restored".
  26. ↑ "Ordre du Mérite Agricole Conferral to Mrs Anna May McHugh". Irish National Ploughing Association. NPA. 2015.
  27. ↑ "Structure". WPO. World Ploughing Organisation.
  28. ↑ "Champions of the World Ploughing Contests since 1953.". World Ploughing Organisation.
  29. 1 2 "Milestones in the history of the National ploughing championships". Business: Ploughing Championships. Independent Newspapers.
  30. ↑ "Irish Business, News and Lifestyle". Europe’s largest Outdoor Exhibition and Agricultural Trade Show, the National Ploughing Championships finishes on Thursday. InsideIreland.ie.
  31. ↑ "County Ploughing Dates 2014/2015". Irish National Ploughing Association. NPA.
  32. ↑ "Another Record Breaking Year". Irish National Ploughing Association. NPA.
  33. ↑ "Take a tour of the massive National Ploughing Championships site". BreakingNews.ie. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  34. ↑ "List of the dates, venues and winners of National Ploughing Championships from 1931 to 1950.". NPA Ltd.
  35. ↑ "List of the dates, venues and winners of National Ploughing Championships from 1951 to 1970.". Eircom.net.
  36. ↑ "List of the dates, venues and winners of National Ploughing Championships from 1971 to 1990.". NPA Ltd.
  37. ↑ "1979". National Ploughing Association. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  38. 1 2 3 "1999 National Ploughing Championships". National Ploughing Association of Ireland. 1999. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  39. 1 2 3 McCoy, David (16 September 2000). "Ploughing Championship: Lining Up to Do the Bizz at at Ballacolla; THE 2000 Irish National Ploughing Championships Take Place at Ballacolla, Co Laois, on September 26-28.". The News Letter. Retrieved 30 September 2015 – via HighBeam Research. (subscription required (help)).
  40. 1 2 3 "2001 National Ploughing Championships". National Ploughing Association of Ireland. 2001. Archived from the original on 7 June 2001. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  41. 1 2 3 "Irish National Ploughing Championships: Tradition Alive and Well as Meath Hosts the Big Event". The News Letter. 20 September 2003. Retrieved 30 September 2015 – via HighBeam Research. (subscription required (help)).
  42. ↑ "National Ploughing Championships Machinery & Livestock Exhibition 2003". National Ploughing Association of Ireland. 2003. Archived from the original on 4 August 2003. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  43. ↑ "National Ploughing Championships Machinery & Livestock Exhibition 2004". National Ploughing Association of Ireland. 2004. Archived from the original on 20 September 2004. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  44. 1 2 "Ploughing Championships under way in Cork". RTÉ News. 27 September 2005. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  45. 1 2 3 "Machinery & Livestock Exhibition 2006 "Double Celebration"". National Ploughing Association of Ireland. 2006. Archived from the original on 16 July 2006. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  46. 1 2 3 "Machinery & Livestock Exhibition 2007". National Ploughing Association of Ireland. 2007. Archived from the original on 29 July 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  47. ↑ Feeney, Enda; deFaoite, Dara (24 September 2008). "Its All Muck and Muscle in the Field of Dreams". Irish Daily Mail. Retrieved 30 September 2015 – via HighBeam Research. (subscription required (help)).
  48. 1 2 3 "Previous Events". National Ploughing Association of Ireland. 2011. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  49. ↑ "Should City Dwellers Have to Attend the National Ploughing Championships? DEBATE". Irish Daily Mail. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2015 – via HighBeam Research. (subscription required (help)).
  50. 1 2 3 "Come celebrate 80 years of the National Ploughing Association in Athy this September 20th-22nd 2011". National Ploughing Association of Ireland. 2011. Archived from the original on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  51. ↑ "Numbers attending Ploughing Championships at an all-time high". breakingnews.ie. 24 September 2015. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  52. ↑ http://www.npa.ie/
  53. ↑ http://www.npa.ie/2016/10/2017-return-to-screggan/

External links

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