National Ploughing Championships officially launched in Screggan

The weather gods were certainly smiling down on the sprawling Screggan site outside Mucklagh for the official launch this afternoon (Monday) of the biggest farming festival in Europe – the 94th National Plouging Championships.

In less than three weeks time, over a quarter of a million visitors will travel to Offaly from all parts of Ireland and abroad for what Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon described as “the highlight” of the national calendar which showcases “all this is good about our vibrant agricultural sector.”

Minister Heydon was guest of honour at the press launch for this year's event, which takes place from Tuesday, September 16 to Thursday, September 18, in Screggan, and will be opened by President Michael D. Higgins on his last official visit to Offaly as Uachtarain na hÉireann.

Managing Director of the NPA, Anna May MCHugh paid tribute to President Higgins by saying that he had “never missed” the ploughing championships during his eight-year term and adding that it would be “a pleasure” to welcome him to Screggan once again this year.

With the National Ploughing Championships being the biggest outdoor festival in Europe, there was understandably much talk of the weather, with Anna May McHugh even entreating local parish priest, Fr. Michael Whittaker, not to neglect saying “all the prayers” for good weather. She also urged all those at the launch to “pray, in the meantime” that the sun will shine!

Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr John Leahy, thanked Lisa Flaherty Grogan for “carrying on the legacy” of her late husband, Joe, on whose lands in Screggan this year's ploughing championships will be held, having also hosted the event from 2016 to 2018.

Having experienced huge growth since it was first staged in Athy in 1932, this year's National Ploughing Championships will feature over 150 acres of trade exhibition space alone, with a further 300 acres being devoted to the provision of car parking. It is estimated that upwards of 700 acres of land are required to stage the annual event, with much of the additional lands being provided by neighbouring landowners in Screggan and Mucklagh. A number of speakers at the launch paid tribute to the landowners who had made their lands available, including Anna May McHugh, who acted as MC for today's event. Local farmer and chairman of Offaly Ploughing Association, Brian Mahon, described the local landowners as “the backbone” of the event.

The logistics of managing traffic and ensuring the safety of over 240,000 visitors to the Screggan site falls under the remit of An Garda Siochana, with Chief Supt Martin Lonergan appealing to visitors and locals alike to “have patience” and to follow all the instructions of members of the force as they go about their duties during the three days of the championships.

Supt Lonergan said the ploughing championships are a showcase of “our national culture, rural life and community spirit” and he stressed that the roads around the ploughing site will experience “traffic levels that are not normal” regardless of how much pre-planning goes into formulating a traffic management plan. He again urged patience and pledged that An Garda Siochana will do “everything in our power” to ensure the safety and security of everyone visiting the event, as well as the local community.

Guests at today's launch were treated to a selection of rousing traditional tunes by a group of local musicians who came together especially for the launch under the banner of The Ashling Murphy Memorial Group. The group included the National President of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Attracta Brady, her daughter, Róisín O'Connor, Ballyboy father and son musical duo, Paddy and Michael Buckley and the late Ashling Murphy's Dad, Ray.

Two of Brian Mahon's daughters, Emer and Chloe, also gave an exhibition of Irish dancing while models from the Celia Holman Lee Agency brought a welcome splash of late summer colour to the event with their bright flowery dresses.

While the official launch was underway this afternoon, work continued at a feverish pace across the sprawling Screggan site to lay tracking, set up hundreds of marquees, mark out exhibitor space, install fencing, prepare entry and exit points and ensure that no stone is left unturned in readiness for the 94th National Ploughing Championships.

“We will be ready” said a confident Anna May McHugh, and nobody doubted the sincerity of her words!