CÍAN NIHILLasks five farmers about the championships
STEPHEN ARTHUR
Ballinaclash, Co Wicklow
We have just come down to have a look and sure there is loads of stuff here. It’s very unusual to get so much trade, so much of everything in one position. In one place you can just walk around and see everything. We didn’t get a chance to see the ploughing at all, you have so much around you . . . you have every trade that you need for your business, and what show would you get all of those in one place? You get good deals, people are very keen to do business. Last year we bought some equipment and you’ll buy bits and pieces this year . . . Imagine all the phone calls you would have to spend trying to contact six and seven people when they’re all around you here.
CARMEL O'DRISCOLL
Bandon, Co Cork
We've been involved in ploughing since the early 70s. My husband has been competing in the senior conventional class and he has represented Ireland three times and my son is actually competing today, Liam O'Driscoll from west Cork. Most years I have been at the ploughing all the time but this year I have changed it around, so I am down here [at the stalls] rather than just up there [at the ploughing championship fields]; I'm back and forth. The ploughing is a great social event for everyone. It's great, you just meet neighbours and it's a great way of coming together and sharing our interests and seeing all the different stalls, the ICA and Macra na Feirme and everything.
MICHAEL BYRNE
Waterford city, Co Waterford
I haven't been at very many ploughing matches since I retired from Teagasc [about 20 years ago]. I was very involved in the first All-Ireland ploughing match that the current director was involved in in Co Waterford, in 1957 I think it was. Ploughing is about the dumbest thing you could look at . . . fellas turning over a sod, but still it is an attraction because there is a skill in it, very much. In addition to the skill, there is the lure and all the hubbub that goes with, the country people seem to build up a lot of lure about the "sport", if you want to call it a sport. I won't visit too many stalls now, I have a grandson with me who is in his 20s and he's off around somewhere looking around.
SARAH CASS
Gowran, Co Kilkenny
We come every year and with it being the 80th anniversary, we'd said we have to go this year. I suppose the attraction is a lot of things really, the machinery, and I'd come with my father and he would be looking at the sheep and the cattle and all that and see what different farmers have, I suppose. Today [is a social event] all right, but just today I'd said I would come along dressed up for the most appropriately dressed lady and man competition. That was just today; last year we were over at the ploughing but not yet this year, maybe later on."
SAMUEL HARPER
Bennettsbridge, Co Kilkenny
Well for me, the attraction is that you can see so much product in a short time because there is a variety of product. I'm not a full-time farmer, I'm in tourism as well and I can see the Leader stand, the Department of Agriculture stand, every field. Even secular people are coming along now with stands. Even if I wanted them, I could get a religious stand. I have to come back tomorrow to see the ploughing . . . this is my second day and I haven't had time to see the ploughing yet.