The National Ploughing Championships will be returning to Ratheniska, Co Laois, this year, after being cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event is being run behind closed doors from 15 to 17 September.

The competitors who qualified for the 2020 championships have been carried through to this year’s event. The ploughing competitions will be run strictly behind closed doors, with only the competitors and one helper per competitor allowed on site, as well as limited media.

Assistant managing director of the National Ploughing Championships, Anna Marie McHugh has said planning is difficult for the event as they have yet to receive official guidelines from the HSE.

90th anniversary

This year the National Ploughing Association will celebrate its 90th anniversary with the National Ploughing Championships competitions bringing the focus back to its 1931 ploughing origins.

Emo Oil has been announed as the new official fuel and lubricants sponsor and will provide fuel for all of the 350 competitors who will be battling it out throughout the three days.

Anna May McHugh said: “I am delighted that Emo Oil have come on board this year as sponsorship partners. Emo Oil are a very well-known brand throughout Ireland and instantly recognisable throughout the rural community.”

“As an organisation, they have a great appreciation of the importance and impact events such as the National Ploughing Championships have on both the national economy and the rural community.”

Managing Director of DCC Oil Ireland, Andrew Graham said: “It’s fantastic to see the ploughing competitions back in action in 2021 for the 90th year anniversary, and we’re excited to be partnering as the new fuel and lubricants sponsor. We are proud to be a part of an event that brings the very best of Ireland’s agri sector together. “

“Emo Oil is a local Irish business that has been supporting farmers for over 40 years with quality agri fuels & lubricants – so partnering for the 90th running of the ploughing championships was something we didn’t want to miss."