Tullamore tunes into Taoiseach and McCarthy Cup

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern found himself in the middle of a plot when visited the National Ploughing Championships at Annaharvey yesterday — but it had nothing to do with politics.

After flying to the site in a helicopter, he was whisked to the headlands where the horse and vintage tractor competitors were following the furrows.

One of his first calls was to Plot 257, where he chatted with ploughmen, posed for photographs and patted a pair of six-year-old American Belgian mares, Lu and Kay, belonging to Gerry King from Dunleer, Co Louth.

After a walkabout in the crowded grounds, he held a press briefing in the media centre, where he urged farmers and others to maintain their vigilance for signs of bluetongue and foot and mouth.

He also met with IFA members headed by Pádraig Walshe and assured them that the Government will continue to take up the issue of Brazilian beef imports to Europe with the EU authorities.

Meanwhile, the loyalty of rural people was seen at its best during the championships. But it all resulted from a deluge of rain that caused the celebrated Tullamore Show to be called off at short notice last month.

Cancellation cost the organisers of that event, which incorporates the AIB national livestock show, €400,000. But the committee, headed by Tom Maher, decided to refund many exhibitors their booking and entry fees.

However, the vast majority returned the money as a gesture of solidarity and support for the show. Most of the sponsors of the one-day event also declined to accept the return of their financial contributions.

The National Ploughing Association also provided the show organisers with a stand free of charge at this week’s event in Annaharvey, Tullamore.

Show press officer Christy Maye was overwhelmed by the response of exhibitors, sponsors and the general public.

“The good will shown to us was unbelievable,” he said.

One of the highlights for many people at Annaharvey was the presence of the Liam McCarthy Cup on the Glanbia stand, where GAA president Nicky Brennan, an employee of the food group, met with many of the visitors.

Four farming-connected members of the Kilkenny senior hurling panel were honoured: Noel Hickey, James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick, whose father Ned is a Glanbia plc board member, John Tennyson and Eoin Reid.

A fifth player, Richie Mullally, was unable to attend due to the pressure of farm work. A presentation was also made to the Kilkenny kitman, Denis “Rackard” Cody.

Kieran O’Connor, Communications and Sponsorship Manager with Glanbia, sponsors of both the Kilkenny and Waterford hurling teams, said those honoured epitomise the links that exist between hurling and the GAA.

“We would have suppliers in every parish in Kilkenny and Waterford just as the GAA has a presence in every community,” he said.