Coveted titles at 'the new Croker' 

Rose Egan, Offaly, winner of the 2024 National Brown Bread Baking Competition at work during the final at last year's National Ploughing Championships at Ratheniska, Co Laois. Picture:  Dan Linehan

The ploughing championships have become ‘the new Croker’ for many individuals and groups seeking All-Ireland titles across a range of categories.

Winning national honours has always been the focus of competitors since Ned Jones, Wexford, won the first senior horse title in Athy, Co. Kildare, in 1931.

But the fixture has expanded to such an extend beyond ploughing classes, it is now the venue for various other national finals, just like Croke Park is for hurling, football and camogie.

The National Brown Bread Baking Competition, held in partnership with the National Ploughing Association (NPA) and the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) with Euronics as sponsors, has a long association with the ploughing championships.

Crowds will again flock to watch eight finalists showcase their baking skills live on stage over three days at Screggan.

Judges sampled over 130 loaves during recent weeks to select the contenders, who represents a blend of personal flair and deep-rooted Irish baking heritage.

This reflects the diversity and richness of brown bread recipes that have been passed down through families over the generations.

A €5,000 cash prize and a NEFF Slide and Hide oven awaits the overall winner. The three runners-up will each take home a €500 gift card, and the other contenders will be presented with a €250 gift card and hamper.

Three of the contenders for ultimate honours are from Dublin, Pauline Browne, Faith Ekonorue and Helen Walker, while Mayo has two, Maureen Igoe and Josephine Kelly. Áine Cotter, Cork, Tracey Mullin-Ryan, Galway, and Kathy Bolger, Wexford, complete the list.

The semi-finals will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday with the top four bakers going forward to the final on Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, public interest will be also high in the Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Arena, where the winners of three awards, hosted in partnership with the NPA, will be chosen.

The Start Up Innovator of the Year Award includes a €10,000 prize, as well as mentoring and supports.

Scaling and innovation are the focus of the Innovation Arena Award which is for established companies.

And the Green Impact Award is for a company whose innovation is focused on sustaining the development of food and farming for future generations.

Nine selected finalists will be also invited to participate in a pitching competition in front of a panel of judges and a live audience including potential buyers from abroad.

There will also be an opportunity for participants from the competition in recent years to apply for a spot in the popular ‘Agri-tech Hub’, which returns to the event this year.

Enterprise Ireland says agri-tech entrepreneurs are at the heart of its new strategy ‘Delivering for Ireland, Leading Globally’.

It is aimed at delivering direct and indirect job creation, unique and innovative solutions for challenges, and strengthening communities and regions.

Elsewhere, the Machine of the Year Award will also attract much attention. A hedge cutter with a pioneering mounting system won it last year.

It was designed by Padraig Teahan, from Scartaglen, Co Kerry, with technology designed to improve safety, efficiency, and stability for hedge cutters and other agricultural machinery.

This year’s Growvite Irish Aberdeen Angus Association finals will take place on Tuesday and there will also be a full programme of events in the breed society’s tent over the three days.

For many individuals and groups seeking All Ireland honours and recognition, it will be the climax of the competitive year.

But for five groups of students in the Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition, now in its 11th year at the championships, it will be the start of an exciting adventure.

Held in association with ABP and Kepak, the competition challenges students to rear five Irish Angus calves for beef production for two years.

It aims to promote the brand while communicating the care and attention required to produce quality beef for consumers.

Over the past few months, farming experts have been judging the next batch of potential entrants from a pool of 46 shortlisted schools. The chosen schools will be announced at Screggan.

On completion of the project, each of the finalists will receive the financial benefit involved in selling the animals to processors which amounts to an average €10,000 per group.

The overall winning students will also receive an additional €2,000 grant for their further education.