A HUGE boost to the local economy was assured for the county this week as plans for the 2004 and 2006 national and world ploughing championships were finally unveiled.
Following months of speculation, the National Ploughing Association (NPA) made the announcement last Saturday night at a function in Mount Wolseley attended by Junior Agriculture Minister Liam Aylward.
NPA managing director Anna May McHugh announced that the association had located an excellent site for the 2004 national championships at Grangeford on the land of Kevin Nolan and Friarstown on land owned by father and son Larry and George Byrne from Ardnahue.
The national championships will take place from September 28 to 30, welcoming thousands of farmers and associated commercial businesses to the area.
In what’s seen as a major coup for the local area the three-day event promises a significant boost to the county’s economy.
Then the world’s best ploughmen will assemble again in Carlow in 2006 when the NPA plays host to the world ploughing championships for the fifth time.
It is regarded as a major coup for the Irish organisers to secure this big event after a gap of only ten years. Ireland previously hosted the world championships in Killarney in 1954, Wexford in 1973 and Wexford again, for the 50th anniversary of the national championships, in 1981, and Carlow in 1996.
The site for the 2006 event is very close to the 2004 site, taking place on land owned by John and Larry Doyle at Bennekerry Lodge, Busherstown, Carlow.
At the launch, Ms McHugh said that she had every confidence in Carlow as a location for both events. The county had hosted the national championships with distinction as far back as 1938 and again in 1957; at Oak Park Research Centre in 1988, 1989 and 1990, and again at Oak Park, in association with the World Championships in 1996.
Minister Aylward remarked that nowadays the national ploughing championships are recognised as Ireland’s premier agricultural event, acting as a showcase for the farming sector and the wider agricultural industry.
“I would like to officially announce that the venue for the 2004 national ploughing championships is Nolan’s farm at Grangeford, Tullow, Co. Carlow and the Byrne’s farm at Friarstown, Tullow, Co Carlow. Thanks is due to Kevin and Margaret Nolan and their son Kevin, together with Larry and Kathleen Byrne, and their son George, who have agreed to host next years event,” the Minister stated.
“I am also pleased to announce that in September 2006, the World Ploughing Contest will be held here in Ireland in association with the National Ploughing Championships. It will be staged here in County Carlow on the farm of John and Larry Doyle of Bennekerry Lodge, Carlow,” he added.
“Staging the World Championships in 2006 is a huge administrative project for the National Ploughing Association, with up to 30 countries taking part from as far away as New Zealand, Australia, Africa, America, Canada and many European countries. However, I think you will agree with me that this is a tremendous opportunity for Ireland, and Carlow.
In conclusion, I would like to wish all involved well in their endeavours in all these events, from competitors, hosts, organisers and all the necessary logistical personnel required to ensure their successful running,” he stated.
“I would also like to compliment and wish every success to the National Ploughing Association with such a major programme of events,” Minister Aylward concluded.
The launch also coincided with a farewell night for two of the best known names in Irish competition who will compete in this year’s world championships to be held in Ontario on August 22-23.
The Irish team is comprised of Carlow man John Tracey, who will be ploughing for the seventh time, having been runner up no less than four times - in 1973, 1974, 1980 and 2002 along with Wexford man Willie John Kehoe.
The team manager and reserve ploughman is John Treacy’s son Eamon, who has himself taken part in the World event on two occasions and has a gold medal to his credit for his success in the grassland in 1999.
The team travelled to Canada this week where they will get in some critically important practice on Canadian soil.
To enhance their chances of success, the National Ploughing Association has also dispatched their equipment, both tractors and ploughs to the location.
