1,300 agri-food and machinery firms expected at ploughing showcase

More than 1,300 agri-food and machinery companies will be showing their wares to 190,000 visitors to the National Ploughing Championships in Heathpark, New Ross, Co Wexford, next week.

Visitors to the largest outdoor showcase of its kind in Europe can watch out for the South East Enterprise Village, featuring 63 companies from the region.

Exhibiting companies bring together everything from app design technology to GAA gear, along with a wealth of food, drink, gifts and clothing.

Formed with the backing of city and county enterprise boards in the south-east, the village will showcase companies from Kilkenny, Carlow, Waterford City and County, South Tipperary and Wexford.

The organisers hope to welcome 40,000 guests to the village from Tuesday to Thursday next week.

Tom Banville, chief executive of Wexford County Enterprise Board said: “The South East Enterprise Village is a key opportunity to highlight the quality and diversity of companies, based in the south-east, that operate in the SME sector.

“The south-east region is a great place to do business and the National Ploughing Championships, being held in Wexford this year, is the ideal platform to showcase this. With predicted sales of over €1.5m during the three days, the potential for growth and jobs is high and the companies involved are looking forward to the challenge.”

Village exhibitors will include companies such as Wexford Home Preserves, IAS Labs (a specialist in optimising crop yields), alternative energy firm Casey Technology, novelty headboards manufacturer SleepyHedz, and bacon products company Jack & Keith Molloy Bros, and Wheellockit, whose unique lock secures a vehicle such a quadbike to the ground, ensuring it can’t be driven or towed away.