Booking for this year’s National Ploughing Championships are at an all-time high, National Ploughing Association managing director Anna May McHugh has said.

“We are delighted that so many have already committed to Ploughing because that is a real seal of approval for the event.

“It is the primary aim of the NPA to make the event better every year for visitors and exhibitors alike and early bookings give us much more time for the optimum site design and layout.”

Worldwide interest

McHugh said there is phenomenal worldwide interest, with exhibitors from Turkey, the US, UK, Germany, Belgium, New Zealand, France and the Netherlands to have a presence at Europe’s largest outdoor event.

“This year the core agricultural machinery companies, as always, will be the anchor exhibitors of the championships, showcasing hundreds of thousands of euros worth of the latest technology.

“The NPA is also at the planning stage of a few new initiatives in the machinery sector of the event which will add an interesting dimension together with a range of new exhibitors featuring in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly, from 19 to 21 September, creating a thrilling mix for visitors.”

Record crowds

With record crowds of 283,000 in attendance last year and the site in Screggan proving to be a phenomenal success, McHugh said another “great ploughing” should be on the way.

Arenas

Organisers have said that the livestock arena and food and lifestyle villages are almost fully booked, with the huge dome back again, featuring more than 100 exhibitors.

The motor arena will be significantly bigger following hugely positive feedback in this sector last year.

The dairy sector will be well catered for, with many new additions, which is particularly reflective of the times we are in and the huge surge in interest in this area.

The Innovation Arena is set to make a return, with ground-breaking technologies and cutting edge ideas.

Ploughing

In the ploughing stakes, a particularly strong programme has attracted entries from all around the country and Northern Ireland, bringing the number preparing to plough in Offaly over 300 for the three days.

There has been a substantial increase in this year’s novice class, bringing the total to over 20 entrants.

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