Meet the exhibitors at the National Ploughing Championships
More than 1,700 individual exhibitors will engage with the c.300,000 visitors attending this year's National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly, taking place from September 15 to 17, 2026. Picture: Dan Linehan
More than 1,700 individual exhibitors will engage with the c.300,000 visitors attending this year's National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly, taking place from September 15 to 17, 2026.
Here is a small selection of those 1,700 exhibitors, just some of the hugely varied exhibition spaces awaiting this year's visitors.
Joining An Garda Síochána will change your life, and the lives of others. From the moment you join, it will be a mix of challenges, rewards, new skills and new friends.
Your personal impact on people and the community will give you a sense of achievement like nothing else. Being a Garda is a tough job. But it’s a job worth doing.
Modern policing entails much more than crime fighting. Reducing the fear of crime and working in partnership with communities are the keys to making a positive difference and improving quality of life for all citizens. As a member of An Garda Síochána, you will operate on the front line, supporting victims and witnesses, providing reassurance and instilling confidence. You will also be in a position to make a proactive contribution to your area, building relationships and trust within the community.
Your training will provide you with all the tools you need to carry out the necessary functions and tasks expected for policing an increasingly diverse society. Policing is intrinsically rewarding but you also receive a competitive salary with attractive allowances. To reach trainee stage however you must go through a rigorous selection procedure, designed to test whether you have the qualities necessary to become a successful member of An Garda Síochána.
After training the career presents opportunities to work in a wide variety of fields including Community Policing, Traffic Control and Regulation, Public Order, Detective Duties, investigating Organised Crime, Fraud and Drugs Offences.
An Garda Síochána is committed to creating a police service that is fully representative of all Ireland’s diverse communities. An equal opportunities employer, it actively encourages applications from members of all segments of Irish society.
Finbarr O’Neill Ltd is proud of its connection to the farming community built up over almost half a century.
“We have always had a close connection to the farming community from drainage stone to farm roadways right through our many years in business,” Finbarr explains. “We have significant experience in the area of roadways as our red sandstone product is very durable when laid out and rolled, and ideal for the movement of animals across it.”
Most of the company’s business is within Munster — particularly in the Cork, Limerick and Waterford areas.
“Teagasc took it in Moorepark in Fermoy, as well its Agri Colleges in Clonakilty and Pallaskenry in Limerick. “We call it ‘the red carpet for livestock’ and we are very happy to promote it with the slogan: Don’t take our word for it, our customers are the best testament to its suitability.”
Not alone does the product enhance the overall health and efficiency of the farm animals — it also gets a firm thumbs up from farmers themselves.
“We will often have farmers tell us the product is not only good for their animals, but removes the prospect of being bounced around in a tractor over rough ground. Hip and knee joints are a common occurrence with people in the farming community, so well-constructed roads ensure a high degree of better health and safety for farmers themselves,” Finbarr explains.
As Europe’s Premium Plum Slate provider, supplying Irish Stone since 1975, Finbarr O’Neill Ltd is a family-run company located in Ballincollig, Co Cork. Supplying Irish Stone, Readymix, Natural Stone Aggregates, Construction Materials, Quarry Materials and Precast Products, only the finest sandstone plum slate and decorative stone is manufactured and distributed.
A family business founded by Finbarr and Mary O’Neill in 1975, it supplies Irish stone to meet the demands of the growing construction and farming markets in Cork City and county.
The company has expanded significantly since then and is now managed by the next generation John, Francis, Finbarr O’Neill Junior and Lucy.
“I have two brothers and a sister in the company our parents started all those years ago,” Finbarr explains of the family bonds that are now less than two years from achieving a remarkable half century in business.
The company supplies a comprehensive range of Readymix Concrete, Mortars, Blocks, Sand, Gravels, Building Stone, Quarry Products, Decorative Stone and Precast products. The Head Office is in Ballincollig, Co Cork, with quarries located at: Clashanure, Ovens, opposite the Lee Valley Golf Club; Lyrevarrig, Glenville; Meeshal, Dripsey; and Rathcanning, Mogeely.
Looking to the future, Finbarr lists the huge amount of building currently underway in Cork, both domestically and commercially.
Farmers facing tightening forage supplies due to the drought would benefit from using a maize silage additive to safeguard as much dry matter as possible.
That’s according to Volac’s technical business manager, Amanda Clements, who says the fact maize is a costly crop to grow and there’s only one chance to get it right, also raises the pressure to maximise its value.
“Maize is a crucial component to many diets, but it is prone to dry matter and energy losses — both during storage and at feed-out — due to the action of undesirable microorganisms that feed on it. It’s also naturally quite a dirty crop, harbouring yeasts and moulds in dying leaves and rotting tassels for example,” she explains.
“The lack of rain also increases that risk as the crop hasn’t had a good wash and there could be even higher levels of bacteria and moulds. Left unchecked, they can interfere with preservation.”
It is also likely that crops will be drier because of the heat, which means they will be harder to consolidate in the clamp, raising the risk of heating and nutrient losses.
“You need fermentation to drive a rapid drop in pH and preserve crop nutrition, but the fermentation process needs moisture, which might be lacking,” Ms Clements explains.
That’s where a heterofermentative additive, like Ecocool can help farmers take control of that process, she says. Ecocool has been found to reduce fermentation dry matter losses by as much as 27%, making it invaluable in safeguarding every tonne.
It provides a tailored dose of L. plantarum MTD/1, which produces lactic acid to drive efficient fermentation and a rapid drop in pH to help stop the proliferation of undesirable bacteria. A second beneficial bacterial strain, L. buchneri PJB/1 also produces acetic acid to help knock most yeasts and moulds on the head or make it a difficult environment for them to thrive, helping to prevent heating at feed-out.
General management both in the field and in the clamp can also help minimise the number of undesirable microorganisms that get in the clamp and inhibit the growth of any that do. This includes leaving 15cm of stubble, focusing on consolidation and prioritising sealing.
Cork Farm Machinery Ltd, Carrigrohane Road, Cork was founded by Frank Crowley in 1967, together with the help and support of his family and staff. The company has become one of the leading retailers of agricultural machinery in the South of Ireland and has grown substantially over the years.
After Frank retired in 2004 his daughter Rosarie took over the day to day running of the family business. Throughout his retirement, he continued to take a keen interest in the business. Sadly, Frank passed away in January 2019. KUHN Center Ireland Ltd.and Cork Machines Ltd. are sister companies of Cork Farm Machinery Ltd. and are located on the same forecourt. KUHN Center Ireland Ltd. is the sole importer of KUHN agricultural machinery into Ireland, and Cork Machines Ltd. is the sole importer of RAUCH fertiliser spreaders.
Both the KUHN and RAUCH products are retailed throughout Ireland via the company's nationwide dealer network. The success of the company can be attributed to the strong franchises Massey Ferguson, KUHN, RAUCH and Redrock which allow Cork Farm Machinery Ltd to provide a full range of agricultural machinery to its customers, both farmers and contractors. With over 28 highly skilled staff, the company prides itself on the knowledge and service it provides.
"Many of our staff have been with the company for over twenty years, and the knowledge and experience they possess is extensive and invaluable. By offering a high-quality, professional service and excellent products, Cork Farm Machinery Ltd prides itself on fulfilling the needs of its customers and maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship with them," the company states.
"Cork Farm Machinery have a fully stocked parts store and many more merchandise for our customers. Be it a Massey Ferguson fuel filters to Redrock splash plates our store will either have the part or can order for delivery. Our busy store currently has seven staff all with specific duties to ensure smooth running of the store.
“We appreciate your continued support and look forward to building new relationships with future customers. I welcome all feedback and comments you may have”, says Rosarie Crowley, managing director of Cork Farm Machinery.
For more information on the exhibitors and stands at the National Ploughing Championships, see: www.npa.ie/exhibitorsmenu
