'Fire in the belly', the cúpla focal, and roots in farming: Áras candidates have their say at the ploughing

President Michael D Higgins and Sabina Higgins with ploughman JJ Delaney, Cahirbaroule, Macroom, Co Cork, at the National Ploughing Championships. Picture: Dan Linehan

Presidential candidate Heather Humphreys insisted she "has a lot of fire in her belly" as the residential campaign kicked up a gear at the Ploughing Championships.

All three candidates currently on the ballot for next month's election — Ms Humphreys, Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin and independent Catherine Connolly — were in attendance at the championships, which kicked off in Screggan, Co Offaly on Tuesday.