President's deep personal ties to Ploughing

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina in 2018 with “The Plough and the Stars”, a new contribution to public art recognising their involvement in the Ploughing Championships, while commemorating the 1913 Lockout of Dublin workers. 

The great grá that Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins has for the National Ploughing Championships is deep-rooted and personal.

He grew up in Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co Clare, spent his formative years living on a small farm and was aware from an early age of both the challenges and joys of life in rural Ireland.