McAleese: Event is a showcase of rural spirit

A SHOWCASE of the spirit and genius of rural Ireland was how President Mary McAleese described the National Ploughing Championships in Athy, Co Kildare yesterday.

Attending the event for the last time as president, she said it is not just a case of great ploughing skills, or farming craft or advanced machinery.

“Farmers know that we cannot reap if we do not sow and we cannot sow if we do not plough. So, rather than curse the times, they prepare the ground for the future harvest and do their best to make it the best harvest they can,” she said.