National Ploughing Championships

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#National Ploughing Championships

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Denis Lehane at the National Ploughing championships where he met his new robot friend.</p>

farming

Denis Lehane: Buying a Robot at the ploughing

These new machines can do the work of 40 men!

<p> 17-year-old Aaleasha Sweeney from Co Sligo competing in the Under-40 horse category with her grandfather Colman Cogan. While the competition is still at the heart of the National Ploughing Championships, Anna May McHugh's vision was always for a bigger event. Picture: Larry Cummins</p>

S spotlight

Anna May McHugh on how the National Ploughing Championships grew into a €14m rural showcase

<p>Séad Ní Mhaoilmhia leading the horses on the all-female team from Cork West, ploughing in the special horse class on Day Three of the National Ploughing Championships 2026 at Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly. Pictures: Larry Cummins</p>

news

Farmers raise their concerns with EU agricultural commissioner as fun and games continue at final day of Ploughing

'The cake is not getting bigger': EU commissioner warns on farm funding

politics

'The cake is not getting bigger': EU commissioner warns on farm funding

‘I felt Irish’: Palestinian ambassador praises Irish culture during visit to the Ploughing Championships

farming

‘I felt Irish’: Palestinian ambassador praises Irish culture during visit to the Ploughing Championships

Farming protest

comment-analysis

Trespassing hunters who front for criminals eyeing up equipment a major concern for farmers

Farm View: Bringing science down to earth at the Ploughing

Farm View: Bringing science down to earth at the Ploughing

The Ploughing is a place where research escapes the lab and becomes tangible

Wed, 16 Sep, 2026

National Ploughing Championships 2026

Man arrested after alleged assault attempt on Taoiseach at Ploughing Championships

A man was arrested and later charged following the incident at the National Ploughing Championships in County Offaly

Wed, 16 Sep, 2026

The Ploughing lifts the gloom for farmers as thousands throng championships

The Ploughing lifts the gloom for farmers as thousands throng championships

Increasingly becoming more of a social rather than a business event, young families and throngs of teens wandered between stalls, trying games and collecting freebies

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

National Ploughing Championships 2026

Home heating oil prices could be cut after Budget, Taoiseach indicates

Micheál Martin said the Government is examining measures to ease pressure on households facing high energy costs this winter

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

Crowds descend on Offaly for opening day of National Ploughing Championships

Crowds descend on Offaly for opening day of National Ploughing Championships

The latest updates, news and highlights from Screggan, Tullamore as the three-day event gets under way

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

Ten must-haves and must-dos for National Ploughing Championships

Ten must-haves and must-dos for National Ploughing Championships

You must see the ploughing competitions themselves. Like going to Paris and not viewing the Eiffel Tower, it's very close to a sin

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

Large crowds make pilgrimage to Offaly as National Ploughing Championships get underway

Large crowds make pilgrimage to Offaly as National Ploughing Championships get underway

The 95th National Ploughing Championships will see over 350 competitors compete for titles across various disciplines on 180 acres of land

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

Creative entrepreneurs covering broadest spectrum of business

Creative entrepreneurs covering broadest spectrum of business

The Local Enterprise Village sure to be a daily hive of activity at the National Ploughing Championships

Mon, 14 Sep, 2026

The power of agricultural innovation on show at ploughing

The power of agricultural innovation on show at ploughing

Trailblazers of agri innovation gathered in Enterprise Ireland's Innovation Arena at National Ploughing Championships

Mon, 14 Sep, 2026

Ploughing, it's just too good for busy people to miss it

Ploughing, it's just too good for busy people to miss it

“We’ve had horse-ploughing champions at the Ploughing for as long as it’s been going," says busy farmer Patrick Quinn

Sun, 13 Sep, 2026

Meet the new generation of farmers adapting to an evolving world: 'It’s a very different way of farming'

Meet the new generation of farmers adapting to an evolving world: 'It’s a very different way of farming'

From direct-to-consumer beef to TikTok careers, young farmers are finding innovative ways to keep family farms viable

Sat, 12 Sep, 2026

GAA jerseys to add a rainbow of colour at this year's Ploughing

GAA jerseys to add a rainbow of colour at this year's Ploughing

This year, Mayo’s green and red colours are expected to dominate the trackways, marking the county’s first Sam Maguire Cup win in 75 years

Sat, 12 Sep, 2026

Whelans all set to keep family's Ploughing legacy alive

Whelans all set to keep family's Ploughing legacy alive

“We take up 15 items every year,” says Suzanne of Whelan Plant Sales. "We have a marquee, a seating area, you know, tea and coffee"

Fri, 11 Sep, 2026

National Ploughing Championships 2026: Routes, parking and getting back to your car

National Ploughing Championships 2026: Routes, parking and getting back to your car

National Ploughing Championships 2026 at Screggan, Co Offaly: Routes, parking and a path back to your car

Thu, 10 Sep, 2026

Meet the exhibitors at the National Ploughing Championships

Meet the exhibitors at the National Ploughing Championships

More than 1,700 exhibitors will engage with the c.300,000 visitors at this year's National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly, September 15 to 17, 2026

Thu, 10 Sep, 2026

Sheer scale of Ploughing has to be seen to be believed

Sheer scale of Ploughing has to be seen to be believed

Ray Ryan looks back over the decades to show how the National Ploughing Championships has evolved to what it is today

Thu, 10 Sep, 2026

Celebrity ploughing, set to be the next big thing?

Celebrity ploughing, set to be the next big thing?

Celebrities are baking, cooking, dancing on ice swinging off branches in a jungle. Surely next up is ploughing, writes Denis Lehane

Wed, 09 Sep, 2026

Ploughing: A celebration of Irish agri-food and community life

Ploughing: A celebration of Irish agri-food and community life

Ray Ryan looks forward to the National Ploughing Championships, celebrating 6,000 years since Ireland’s first farmers used wooden ploughs to till the soil

Tue, 08 Sep, 2026

For sports fans, all roads lead to Screggan

For sports fans, all roads lead to Screggan

National Ploughing Championships attracts leading ploughmen and women from the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales

Tue, 08 Sep, 2026

National Ploughing Championships dates changed in 2027 to avoid Ryder Cup clash

National Ploughing Championships dates changed in 2027 to avoid Ryder Cup clash

Organisers have adjusted the farming event’s schedule to avoid overlapping with the Ryder Cup tournament in Limerick

Fri, 08 May, 2026

Ploughing Championships return to Tullamore as 2026 dates confirmed

Ploughing Championships return to Tullamore as 2026 dates confirmed

The 2026 event returns to Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly, where it will take place from September 15-17

Wed, 08 Oct, 2025

Exhibition / new tractors lined up next to each other in a row

Lighten up: Auld Lehane's top 10 budget proposals to help struggling farmers

With Budget 2026 closing in faster than the plastic being stretched over a freshly-made silage pit, Denis Lehane has a shortlist of measures to encourage farmers to stick with the job

Sun, 05 Oct, 2025

Colm O'Regan: From cow-tipping to fashion shows — I've seen it all at the Ploughing

Colm O'Regan: From cow-tipping to fashion shows — I've seen it all at the Ploughing

Colm O'Regan wanders around fascinated by the 2025 National Ploughing Championships in Screggan

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

Tiktok star Fiona Bergin helps to champion farm safety at the Ploughing

Tiktok star Fiona Bergin helps to champion farm safety at the Ploughing

Popular 'FarmTok' influencer Fiona Bergin was at the National Ploughing Championships to promote farm safety with Agri Aware and TikTok

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

'God looked after us and gave us a good week': Ploughing ends with country music in the rain

'God looked after us and gave us a good week': Ploughing ends with country music in the rain

People travelled from all over the world to take part in bake-offs, sheep shearing, and wellie throwing competitions, while also checking out the latest machinery in farming

Thu, 18 Sep, 2025

Taoiseach and Jim Gavin distance themselves from Michael D Higgins' Israel comments

Taoiseach and Jim Gavin distance themselves from Michael D Higgins' Israel comments

The president had called for Israel to be excluded from the United Nations

Thu, 18 Sep, 2025

Co. Monaghan crash

Sinn Féin ‘probably wasn’t vocal enough’ on migration, says TD

Matt Carthy says there has been confusion about the party’s position on migration, due to political opponents having 'misconstrued' its policies

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Jim Gavin takes a leaf out of Micheál Martin's book at the Ploughing

Jim Gavin takes a leaf out of Micheál Martin's book at the Ploughing

When it comes to meeting people and canvassing for support, the Ploughing is hard to beat, especially in an election year

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Ploughing Championships: Calls for bishop to be made a saint after prayers for fine weather answered

Ploughing Championships: Calls for bishop to be made a saint after prayers for fine weather answered

Festival-goers were delighted the rain held off for day two of the ploughing

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Watch: Jerry from Kerry bought a camper van and surfboard

Watch: Jerry from Kerry bought a camper van and surfboard

Jerry from Kerry spills the beans at the National Ploughing Championships, from camper van life to catching waves in Banna. Jerry says surfing’s like riding a bike… once you get back on, you never forget!

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Political leaders must listen to people's views on immigration, says Jim Gavin

Political leaders must listen to people's views on immigration, says Jim Gavin

The Fianna Fáil presidential candidate urges 'fair' and 'robust' process

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Ploughing survey to shape farm safety and farmer health plans

Ploughing survey to shape farm safety and farmer health plans

Survey at National Ploughing Championships will seek farmers' view on farm safety, health and wellbeing

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Martin Heydon not looking for 'a pat on the back' on his TB plan

Martin Heydon not looking for 'a pat on the back' on his TB plan

No one is questioning the science behind the agriculture minister's action plan, but farming organisations are still not entirely convinced

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Young Irish farmers: An endangered species

Young Irish farmers: An endangered species

Only 4.3% of Irish farmers are below the age of 35, and current trends are seeing a further decline

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

National Ploughing Championships 2025

‘Huge issue’ of trespassing and dog attacks discussed at Ploughing Championships

Trespassing and dog attacks on livestock have become a “significant issue”, a farming organisation has said at the Ploughing Championships in Co Offaly.

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Watch: Moss Trant from Tralee speaks about horse ploughing

Watch: Moss Trant from Tralee speaks about horse ploughing

Moss Trant from Tralee speaks about his percheron horses at the National Ploughing Championship at Scraggan, Co. Offaly

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Livestock leading cause of farm injury claims, new report shows

Livestock leading cause of farm injury claims, new report shows

Animal-related injuries accounted for almost a fifth of all claims to the Injuries Resolution Board— with cattle most commonly cited in claim applications, followed by horses, dogs and sheep

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Watch: Jerry from Kerry weighing up a presidential run

Watch: Jerry from Kerry weighing up a presidential run

At the National Ploughing Championships Jerry from Kerry said he would make “a good President of Ireland.” “I’d be as good as the rest of them, if not better,” Jerry said, as the countdown to the presidential election begins.

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Large crowds for day one of National Ploughing Championships

Large crowds for day one of National Ploughing Championships

The three-day festival opened with a huge turnout, making it one of the biggest outdoor gatherings in Europe.

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

New digital platform launched for Department of Agriculture

New digital platform launched for Department of Agriculture

MyAgFood.ie will replace agfood.ie as the new online platform for farmers to receive important updates from the department and apply for schemes in one place

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

'Fire in the belly', the cúpla focal, and roots in farming: Áras candidates have their say at the ploughing

'Fire in the belly', the cúpla focal, and roots in farming: Áras candidates have their say at the ploughing

The three candidates currently on the ballot for next month's election — Fine Gael'sHeather Humphreys, Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin and independent Catherine Connolly — set out their stall at the Ploughing Championships

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

National Ploughing Championships 2025

Tánaiste says small businesses to benefit as Budget room for worker tax cuts narrows

Simon Harris says Budget 2026 will focus on small business, carers, and childcare, warning workers of limited tax cuts

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

Watch: Percy Podger with his Schwarzkopf Ram at the National Ploughing Championships

Watch: Percy Podger with his Schwarzkopf Ram at the National Ploughing Championships

Percy Podger talks about his Schwarzkopf ram at the National Ploughing Championships 2025, Screggan, Co. Offaly.

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

Watch: A muddy start to the Ploughing Championships

Watch: A muddy start to the Ploughing Championships

It’s a bit wet underfoot, but miles of steel tracks have been laid across the tented village to help visitors get around at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Co Offaly. The forecast predicts a dry but cloudy day for Tuesday.

Mon, 15 Sep, 2025