One person was arrested at last week’s National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, an Garda Síochána has confirmed.

A Garda spokesperson told the Irish Farmers Journal this arose from one of four reported public order incidents, while no incidents of assault were reported.

A quantity of suspected cannabis was seized from a youth at the event.

ADVERTISEMENT

“One juvenile was searched and found in possession of a quantity of suspected cannabis - subject to analysis,” the spokesperson said.

Gardaí had an extensive policing plan in place for Ploughing, which included points where a number of patrons surrendered alcohol before entering the event, they added.

Drinking

Assistant director of the National Ploughing Association (NPA) Anna Marie McHugh addressed an RTÉ Liveline listener’s concern around underage drinking at the Ploughing on the radio show last week.

She said the Ploughing is not a festival that it is the National Ploughing Championships alongside an agricultural and rural exhibition.

A bar is part of the event because traditionally a lot of business was done there, she stated.

“We do not in any way tolerate underage drinking. We have very strict rules in place, but I will say yesterday [Wednesday 17 September] there was an inflation [in underage drinking that] we have not seen in a number of years.

“We did see probably back pre-Covid around 2010/2011 it was creeping up. Since then, we have put huge measures in place. For example, buses are monitored coming in. The Gardaí confiscated a huge amount of alcohol on kids’ buses coming into the event,” he said.

The Ploughing director acknowledged there was a problem with underage drinking on day two of the Ploughing and prior to the event’s last day, emergency meetings were held with all the bars.

Young Ploughing punters, however, also came in for praise from McHugh. She said anti-social behaviour is the exception not the norm.

“The 90% of the youngsters here are just fantastic and they’re having fun, having the gallery going around to stands and meeting people. There’s always a small element, we’re on the job,” she added.