Person: Anna May McHugh

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Ploughman Tommy McCarthy, Abbeydorney, Co Kerry, with his children, Timmy, Lauren, and Katelyn at the intermediate two-furrow reversible class plot at the National Ploughing Championships at Ratheniska, Co Laois. Picture: Dan Linehan</p>

farming

Visitors bask in glorious sunshine on day one of the 2024 Ploughing Championships

People used to splashing through muddy puddles in wellies and raincoats during the festival are enjoying the Indian summer in Ratheniska, Co Laois

<p> Ann Barry and Kate Cornally enjoy a break at the National Ploughing Championships. Picture: Dan Linehan</p>

news

Pull of the ploughing attracts almost 277,000 in three days

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar tries his hand at the Championship last year.

news

Covid-19 leaves brows furrowed as National Ploughing Championship cancelled

news

Ice-cream stalls and 13-year-old sheep shearing commentator star on day two of the Ploughing

farming

Bakers are all set to rise to the annual brown bread challenge

farming

Miriam O’Callaghan hands bovine passports to Angus beef competition finalists

Double success for Agri-Spread at Ploughing Championships

There was double success for Agri-Spread International at this week’s National Ploughing Championships.

Thu, 20 Sep, 2018

Ali lands body blow to championships as late decision to cancel angers many

Ali, the boxer, said he “floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee”.

Thu, 20 Sep, 2018

Farm Focus with FBD: It happened at the Ploughing... 20 years of tales from the trenches

From Rathcoole, Co Cork, in 1968, to Screggan, Co Offaly, Ray Ryan has seen it all and enjoyed it

Thu, 13 Sep, 2018

Six scholarships and 25 cattle for lucky students at Ploughing

If you weren’t soaked to the skin on Wednesday at Screggan, you weren’t at the Ploughing Championships, writes Denis Lehane.

Fri, 29 Sep, 2017

City slicker Leo Varadkar manages to put his foot in it at the Ploughing

Leo Varadkar took his first bold step onto the pristine furrow — time stopped, breaths were held, and ploughing matriarch Anna May McHugh put her hands to her face in shock.

Fri, 22 Sep, 2017

Denis Lehane: Ploughing week, we are rock stars

What an amazing week this is. Not only do we have the Ploughing Championships to enjoy, but my birthday is coming hard and fast after the event.

Thu, 21 Sep, 2017

Champion ploughman dies in farm accident

A top ploughman died in a farm accident in Wexford yesterday as some of his family were at the National Ploughing Championships in Offaly.

Wed, 20 Sep, 2017

Ploughing Championships: Europe's largest pop-up town

Europe’s largest pop-up town was a blaze of bright lights last night as the tillage fields of Offaly awaited today’s start of the 86th National Ploughing Championships.

Tue, 19 Sep, 2017

Sneak peak at what to expect for Ploughing Championship

Europe's largest pop up town was a blaze of bright lights last night as the tillage fields of Offaly awaited today’s start of the 86th national ploughing championships.

Mon, 18 Sep, 2017

Ugandan farmers on fact-finding mission to National Ploughing Championships

Farmers from Uganda will be at the National Ploughing Championships as part of a fact-finding mission.

Mon, 18 Sep, 2017

Sight tests urged by ploughing queen Anna May McHugh

Queen of the Ploughing, Anna May McHugh, is backing a National Council for the Blind (NCBI) campaign to get over-50s tested for age-related macular degeneration, the most common cause of sight loss in older people.

Fri, 15 Sep, 2017

This week’s Late Late Show will host a plough off

And yes, from the most expensive lamb featuring as a guest last week, they have already reached peak Irishness.

Thu, 07 Sep, 2017

Bakers get in gear for top competition

The National Brown Bread Baking competition in conjunction with Aldi and the ICA has once again sparked great interest throughout the country as hundreds of bakers from every county have entered breads of a seriously high quality, all wanting to be named as Ireland’s ‘Best Brown Bread Baker’ at this year’s Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

Thu, 27 Jul, 2017

Conference aims to encourage teamwork among rural communities

Teamwork can bring rural people together to develop solutions to the issues facing their communities, say the hosts of the ‘Building Rural Community — Lessons from Sport’ conference at Mary Immaculate College, St Patrick’s Campus, Thurles, on March 29.

Tue, 14 Mar, 2017

#Ploughing16: Rain or hail, attendees plough on regardless

Lashing rain led to the Brolly Brigade swinging into action at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan yesterday.

Thu, 22 Sep, 2016

VIDEO: Gardaí put plan in place for ploughing championship

Follow the signs and leave the sat nav at home, that’s the advice to the thousands heading to the national ploughing championships.

Mon, 19 Sep, 2016

National ploughing championships takes a global look

The 85th national ploughing championships in Screggan in Tullamore, Co Offaly, in two months time are going global.

Wed, 27 Jul, 2016

What to watch on TV this week

Brilliant TV to check out this week.

Sat, 16 Jan, 2016

National Ploughing Association helps foster sustainable farming ethos in Uganda

The National Ploughing Association, founded almost 85 years ago to help develop farming in Ireland, which was then in the doldrums, is now helping a co-op in Uganda to use new knowledge to develop its land.

Mon, 11 Jan, 2016

Ugandan farmers learn sustainability lessons funded by the National Ploughing Association

Ugandan farmers Julius Itiakorit and Solomon Ajak have gained vital insights on sustainable farming in studies funded by the National Ploughing Association.

Tue, 22 Dec, 2015

Record-breaking 281,000 enjoyed last Ratheniska Ploughing

85th National Ploughing Championships in 2016 will take place at Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

Thu, 01 Oct, 2015

VIDEO: Secret to ploughing and hurling success? Buckets of stamina and focused approach

THE spirit behind Kilkenny’s famous All-Ireland hurling victories and the vision of those who organise the National Ploughing Championships came together in Ratheniska yesterday.

Fri, 25 Sep, 2015

Rural Ireland - Legacy of fear over acts of thuggery

THE French government could hardly have chosen a more appropriate day to honour the legendary force of nature behind the National Ploughing Championships, its managing director Anna May McHugh.

Thu, 24 Sep, 2015

Ploughing Championships 2015: Crouch, bind, set: Politicians line out for championships scrum

THERE were almost as many scrums at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska yesterday as there were during a game at the Rugby World Cup.

Thu, 24 Sep, 2015

Ratheniska ready for Ploughing fans

The 800-acre site for the three-day national ploughing championships, which begin at Ratheniska, Co Laois, tomorrow is ready to host Europe’s largest outdoor agricultural event.

Mon, 21 Sep, 2015

ICA news: Brown bread competition gets a lift from national bakers

Hundreds have entered the national brow- bread baking competition run by Aldi and the ICA. 

Thu, 06 Aug, 2015

Preparations for National Ploughing Championships underway in Ratheniska

Site works have started for next month’s National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois.

Wed, 05 Aug, 2015

Search begins for People of the Year

The annual search for individuals and groups who have heartened and inspired the nation is under way, as nominations open for the 2015 People of the Year Awards.

Tue, 21 Jul, 2015

Demand for Ploughing exhibitor space

Demand for exhibition space at September’s National Ploughing Championships, in Ratheniska, Co Laois, has surged.

Fri, 10 Jul, 2015

Ugandan farmers aid

The National Ploughing Association is helping two farmers from Mbale Co-op in Uganda to pursue a course in sustainable agriculture and rural development at Baraka College in Kenya. 

Fri, 26 Jun, 2015

ICA news: Put your brown bread to the ultimate national taste test

It’s time to take out those brown bread recipes again. The National Ploughing Association (NPA) has just announced this year’s national brown bread baking competition.

Thu, 30 Apr, 2015

Anna May at 80th in Timoleague

National Ploughing Association Managing Director Anna May McHugh was a welcome guest at last Sunday’s Timoleague ploughing match in west Cork.

Thu, 12 Feb, 2015

Another record-breaking year at Ploughing Championships

The Ploughing Championships for 2014 have come and gone, setting yet another record, with attendance of more than 124,000 on Wednesday.

Thu, 02 Oct, 2014

Farming special - Day 4: Kingdom declares ambitions to host Ploughing event again

With the Sam Maguire Cup back in Kerry, the focus of some people in The Kingdom is on bringing the National Ploughing Championships to the county in the near future.

Fri, 26 Sep, 2014

Ploughing Championships end with new record attendance

The National Ploughing Championships have come to an end - after smashing its previous record for attendance.

Thu, 25 Sep, 2014

Farming special - Day 2: 82,000 attend the first day of Ploughing

An estimated 82,000 people attended the opening day of the national ploughing championships at Ratheniska, Co Laois, yesterday.

Wed, 24 Sep, 2014

National Ploughing on the horizon

With just under two weeks to go to the staging of one of Europe’s largest outdoor events, preparations at the site in Ratheniska, Co Laois, are well under way for the National Ploughing Championships.

Thu, 11 Sep, 2014

World Ploughing competition medal winners receive big welcome home

The Republic of Ireland’s gold and bronze World Ploughing Contest medal winners returned home from Bordeaux last night to a big welcome.

Tue, 09 Sep, 2014

Honouring women at top of their fields

Representatives of some of the world’s biggest corporations and institutions are among Ireland’s most powerful women, according to an awards ceremony organised by the Women’s Executive Network.

Fri, 20 Jun, 2014