Exhibition celebrates ‘Ploughing’ heritage

A new exhibition by the Irish Agricultural Museum based at Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford — in partnership with the National Ploughing Association — celebrates the great heritage of the championships.

In preparing the exhibition, museum staff delved deep into the NPA’s archives and uncovered some rarely seen material.

The curator of the Irish Agricultural Museum, Matt Wheeler, said the exhibition will chronicle each decade from the 1930s onwards using original photographs and memorabilia.

“I’m sure it will bring back many memories for anyone who has attended the show over the years,” Mr Wheeler said.

Also on display is the horse plough used by Edward ‘Ned’ Jones in winning the very first championships of 1931.

The David Brown Cropmaster tractor and Star plough used by Willie Kehoe in winning the senior championships in 1955 are also on display.

Both of those men and the other farmers they competed against are part of the proud heritage of the ploughing championships.

Indeed, the Heritage Minister Jimmy Deenihan could well have all of them in mind when he described “The Ploughing” as an event that embodies everything that is wonderful about the rural way of life in Ireland.