Plan a Staycation

For those looking for a good travel deal in the Kingdom, the GoKerry stand has plenty to offer families looking for adventure on home shores. From the Gap of Dunloe to a tour of the Ring of Kerry, the GoKerry team will be on hand to help with planning your trip as well as offering discounts and competitions. The Wild Atlantic Way is proving to be a popular tourist route trailing from the north to the south of the island. For a shorter, and just as beautiful, trip check out the Great Western Greenway stall. The 42km rail route in Co Mayo that runs along Clew Bay from Westport to Achill Island is ideal for keen cyclists. This stand will be offering advice, promotions and helping explorers plan their ideal staycation in the west.

Rí na Mara

It’s not all about trade and cattle at the Ploughing. For those interested in all things beauty, the Rí na Mara is the place to be. If you’re not yet familiar with the brand, which uses organic Irish seaweed in its skincare products, now is your chance. It has recently launched a new organic product range called Irish Organics Natural Cosmetics which is excellent for sensitive skin. There will plenty of special offers and beautiful hampers available.

All-Ireland welly throwing

Forget the ice bucket challenge – we love the welly throwing challenge. This is one of our favourite events at the Ploughing every year. The competition raises much-needed funds for local charities and amenities and participants have a lot of fun taking part. You get three throws in exchange for a small donation, and depending on the success of your throw, you could be in with a chance of being crowned this year’s all-Ireland welly throwing champion. The competition will be run by Park Ratheniska Ladies GAA Club from 12pm to 4pm daily, with the proceeds going to the Laois Youth Cáfe in Portlaoise.

Clonakilty Black Pudding

Clonakilty black pudding was first made in the 1800s and the secret recipe remains the same to this day. Sure why would they change it? It’s quite delicious. Clonakilty will have special offers on at the Ploughing, where visitors can get a great deal on white and black pudding along with rashers and sausages in a cooler bag. The company will also be handing out free samples of cooked pudding, sausages and rashers for visitors to taste. Show us the way! A competition will be run over the three days, with a very special prize up for grabs, pop by the Clonakilty stand to find out more.

Easybake Ireland

Easybake Ireland will be exhibiting at this year’s show, so good news for all those keen bakers and foodies out there! Easybake is a range of non-stick Teflon cooking sheets, cake tin liners, oven liners, toasting bags, oven chip baskets and other easy-baking solutions. Easybake products are known for their great quality and their stand will feature a host of great offers on all products for visitors. All cost less than €5. They are also running a special show deal – customers who spend €20 get a free item of their choice. Pop along to see displays and demonstrations of Easybake’s newly formed Teflon non-stick grill liner, which stops grills from smoking, and their new George Foreman teflon liner.

Agri Aware

Located to the right of the FBD stand, Agri Aware is offering visitors an a-maze-ing farm safety experience. The farm safety maze will test Ploughing visitors’ knowledge of farm safety. You can only get through the maze by answering some farm safety questions. It’s a great idea that is supported by FBD, ESB Networks and the IFA as part of Agri Aware’s Farm and Countryside Safety Initiative 2014. The maze will be open to the public throughout the three days of the event and is bound to attract both students and adults alike. Why not pop down and see if you can be the fastest person through the maze? A number of celebrities will participate in the maze time challenge throughout the three days. To find it, look out for the FBD blimp on the main thoroughfare.

Irish Skin Foundation

If you have a skin condition that is bothering you, the Irish Skin Foundation will provide free one-to-one consultations with special dermatological nurses at the Ploughing.

The foundation works with conditions such as melanoma, psoriasis, eczema and acne, and will be on hand to give advice and answer any questions.

Nurses will be doing full skin checks. This stand is located in the health and wellness tent.

Kearneys line-out for dairy council

Rugby internationals Rob and Dave Kearney will be with the National Dairy Council (NDC) on day one of the Ploughing. They will judge the NDC’s wellie line-out, where visitors to the stand with unique, colourful or characterful wellies can elect to join in the competition. On Thursday, GAA players will be supporting the NDC’s work in promoting the positive role that milk may play in sports nutrition.

The NDC will have a focus on the ladies for day two of the Ploughing, with nutrition, fitness and health under the spotlight.

Chef Phelim Byrne also returns, with four free cookery demonstrations daily. Visitors to the NDC Dome can also take part in the Cheesy Smiles photo booth competitions and test out football skills in a penalty shootout zone.