Irishmen plough ahead for World Championship
Eamon Tracey, a 35-year-old farmer from Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, and 27-year-old contract engineer Seán Keating, New Ross, Co Wexford, will carry the hopes of the nation against contenders from 27 other countries for the Golden Plough award.
Both men have already practised on the shores of Lough Foyle for the challenging event, which will be preceded today by the 61st Northern Ireland ploughing championship.
Eamon is a former under-21 national champion, four-time under-28 champion, and supreme national champion in both 2000 and 2003, while Seán is three-time under-28 champion.
Hopes are high that the team will bring the prestigious title south of the Border and give the National Ploughing Association (NPA) a big boost as it prepares to host the 2006 championship in Carlow.
Managing the team for the world title bid at Ballykelly is Pat Brandon, Ballylinan, Co Laois, while the Irish judge will be Pat McKeown, Dromiskin, Dundalk, Co Louth.
A total of 55 competitors will take part in the event, which is being hosted by the Northern Ireland Ploughing Association for the fourth time in the competition's 51-year history.
The contest will beheld on the Barr family farm, an arable unit where barley, wheat and peas are grown and there are also 30 hectares of forestry.
It will accommodate the entire event, including the official practice ground, 160 trade stands, 40 craft exhibits and car parking.
NPA managing director Anna May McHugh will attend the contest as the Republic's representative on the board of the World Ploughing Organisation, which was founded in 1952 by agricultural leaders from several nations.
The driving principle was to encourage good land stewardship through improved ploughing techniques.
The vehicle chosen to achieve this vision was a world ploughing contest, held in a different member country every year.
It was geared towards fostering cooperative enterprise in producing food for an increasing world population and in encouraging fellowship and understanding among the people of all nations.
NIPA chairman William King said ploughing is recognised as one of the last great skills in the agri-world today.
"We have provided a superb 250-acre site, which has been specially prepared since 1999, to enable the competitors to showcase their abilities to the fullest," he said.
Meanwhile, preparations for this year's National Ploughing Championships in Tullow, Co Carlow, (September 28-30) are well under way, and it is understood there is already a big demand for accommodation in the south Leinster region.
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