Plough event worth €36m

Almost €10m is spent on trade purchases at the National Ploughing Championships, generating an economic impact of €36m, according to a UCD study carried out at the 2011 event.

Some 80% of attendees are not local, and they spent just shy of €36.5m between them over the three days. Last year, this spending resulted in a tax take of over €6.6m for the Exchequer.

Unveiled at the AGM of the National Ploughing Association (NPA), the UCD survey also found that personal shopping accounted for over €7m. Trade purchases were in excess of €9.6m.