THE NATIONAL Ploughing Association will mark its 81st birthday in 2012 by holding the national championships in Heathpark, New Ross, Co Wexford it was announced yesterday.
On one of his first official functions, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney made the announcement at a reception in the Horse and Hound Hotel, Ballinaboola, Co Wexford.
He also launched the trade exhibition brochure for this year’s championships, the 80th, to be held in Athy, Co Kildare from September 20th to 22nd.
The Minister said the championships are a celebration of all that is good about Ireland’s most important indigenous industry.
“As the newly appointed Minister with responsibility for the agri-food sector, I certainly believe that this industry has huge potential to contribute to economic growth, employment and exports and I intend to do my utmost to ensure this potential is realised,” he said.
Anna May McHugh, the ploughing association’s managing director, said the event was the largest of its kind in Europe, attracting an average attendance of 180,000 visitors and more than 1,000 exhibitors.
A special programme is being planned for this year’s event and she said there were many inquiries already for trade space on the site, about a mile and a half from Athy.
The championships are the largest outdoor event in the country and generate an estimated €15 million for the local economy in a radius of 30 miles around the site, including accommodation and other services.
Ms McHugh said while it had been 14 years since the championships were held in Co Wexford, it hosted the second-ever national championships in 1932. The New Ross event will be held on the O’Dwyer and Kehoe family farms.