Laois gives it some welly for ploughing championships

‘Dublin for the football, Clare for the hurling, and Laois for the ploughing’ was the catchy slogan used by some people in the early days of Sept 1995.

All three predictions came true when Dublin and Clare respectively won the All-Ireland football and hurling titles and the national ploughing championships were a big success at Ballacolla, Co Laois.

Now, 18 years later, the slogan could be set for a revival, with the Dubs and the Bannermen again poised for a date with sporting destiny in Croke Park, and the O’Moore County about to host the ploughing.

But this time Cork hurling and the Mayo footballers are confident they, and not their great GAA rivals, will make history by respectively taking the Liam McCarthy and Sam Maguire cups.

Indeed, the only part of those 1995 predictions certain to be repeated this month is that Laois will once more host the ploughing championships — at Rathenisky, near Stradbally, on Sept 24 to and 26.

Anna May McHugh, managing director of the National Ploughing Association, is again in charge of the huge logistical effort required to stage the event.

She was present on site yesterday when agriculture and food minister Simon Coveney launched the full programme.

The 82th ploughing championships will be formally opened by President Michael D. Higgins.

Work has already started on laying out the site, which is being provided by host farmers David and Clive Carter, with neighbours providing extra land. A total of 700 acres is being used for the event, which will bring about 300 ploughing competitors. Gardaí have drawn up a major traffic plan to ensure the estimated 190,00 visitors will come and go with minimum disruption.