Ireland's National Ploughing Championships

It all began with two men and a plough. Today, the National Ploughing Championships (NPC) is one of the biggest outdoor events in the world. It is on in Ireland every September. This year it is in Screggan in Tullamore, County Offaly, from September 19th to 21st.

competitive spirit

In 1931, two men from two different counties in Ireland participated in what is considered the country’s first national ploughing competition. The two men were Denis Allen from County Wexford and JJ Bergin from County Kildare. They then helped to establish the National Ploughing Association, which organises the NPC every year.

Today, more than 320 people compete in the ploughing championships. But the NPC is a lot more than a ploughing competition: it is an enormous agricultural event, with activities and attractions for people of all ages and interests. Last year, more than 280,000 people went to the NPC to participate in various competitions, see special demonstrations and generally have a good time.

throw a boot

The NPC is of particular interest to people who work in the agricultural industry. It has about 1,700 exhibitors, who travel from all over the world to demonstrate sophisticated agricultural machinery and technology.

You can also see people using machinery, both antiquated and modern, to do things like ploughing and sheep shearing. The NPC also has some fun competitions. Many people like to participate in its annual ‘welly throwing’, by throwing a Wellington boot as far as possible. And there are always prizes for the most appropriately dressed woman and man at the event. Last year, the NPC had the country’s first tractor football championship, in which people in tractors tried to manoeuvre a football that was more than two metres high.

food and drink

One of the oldest and most popular events at the NPC is the National Brown Bread Baking Competition: it began in 1958. There’s also a food fair, where you can find the best of traditional Irish food and beverages, including fish and chips, handmade chocolates and delicious liqueurs.
The NPC is from 9am to 6pm each day.