Politicians plough into huge crowd at contest

IT was an occasion when the politicians left the plinth of parliament to plod the ploughing fields of Carlow on the second day of the national and world ploughing championships in Grangeford, Tullow, yesterday.

Party leaders Enda Kenny of Fine Gael, Pat Rabbitte of Labour and the Greens’ Trevor Sargent, pressed the flesh with the thousands of people thronging the 600-acre site in windy but generally dry conditions.

Rural Affairs Minister Eamon Ó Cuiv and Forestry Minister Mary Wallace had full lists of engagements.