The National Ploughing Championships return to Screggan, Co Offaly, from 16 to 18 September, drawing close to 300,000 visitors from every corner of the country.

Among the highlights is the Local Enterprise Village, where 30 small Irish businesses will showcase their talent, creativity and determination.

This year’s village will also feature an exciting first: a partnership with Google, which will be on site to share its expertise in digital skills and AI with business owners and budding entrepreneurs.

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Across the three days, Google will host free workshops and live demonstrations showing how digital and AI tools can make running a business easier and more efficient.

The sessions will explore everything from reaching new customers to streamlining day-to-day operations.

Visitors will also have the chance to chat directly with Google experts, ask questions about their own businesses and pick up practical tips they can put into action straight away.

For Google, the partnership is about more than just technology. It’s about supporting small businesses, particularly in rural areas where they play such an important role in local economies and communities.

“Small businesses are at the heart of our economy,” explains managing director of Google Ireland Cera Ward.

“Digital and AI tools can open up new opportunities – helping companies reach further, work smarter, and compete on a global stage.”

That sentiment is echoed by chair of the Local Enterprise Offices Kieran Comerford. For him, the Ploughing is the perfect place to connect entrepreneurs with fresh ideas and resources.

“It’s not only an opportunity for the 30 businesses in the village, but for any small business owner attending the Ploughing. They’ll be able to see what these digital tools can unlock – making them more competitive and productive.”

The Local Enterprise Offices themselves have a proud track record of helping Irish entrepreneurs find their feet and grow. Since their establishment, they’ve supported the creation of over 80,000 jobs through mentoring, training, financial support, and expert advice. The village is a way of bringing that support to life – introducing real businesses to thousands of visitors and letting them tell their stories directly.

And those stories are inspiring. In south Cork, Origin Xero is leading the way in climate action by funding verified carbon-offsetting projects with farmers and foresters.

In Limerick, EcoDry Canopy Clothes Lines has developed weatherproof outdoor drying systems that cut energy use while keeping laundry fresh year-round.

And in Meath, URBÓ Milk is producing protein-rich, lactose-free milk drinks on a family farm where cows roam freely thanks to a robotic grazing system.

From Kerry, Muckross Irish Gin is drawing on the wild beauty of Killarney to craft premium spirits that are already making waves at home and abroad.

And in Tipperary, Galtee Honey Farm is keeping Ireland’s native bees at the centre of their award-winning honey and beeswax products, combining tradition with sustainability.

These are just five of the 30 innovative businesses taking part, spanning food, drink, design, craft, wellness and technology. Together, they showcase the creativity and resilience of Ireland’s small business community.

This year’s Local Enterprise Village promises more than a showcase - it’s a celebration of what happens when tradition, community spirit and innovation come together.

Visitors to the Ploughing are warmly encouraged to drop by, meet the people behind the businesses and see firsthand the exciting future being built in rural Ireland.