Ploughing Championships: Calls for bishop to be made a saint after prayers for fine weather answered
Molly Tunnicliffek, Julie Daly, and Charlotte Marnane all dressed up on the second day at the 2025 National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Co Offaly. Pictures: Dan Linehan
Festival goers were delighted the rain held off for day two of the annual National Ploughing Championships, as thousands descended on Co Offaly for a second day.
Despite the bad weather forecast for the week, the crowds eventually plucked up the courage to remove their raincoats and hats and tuck them in their bags, as Bishop Tom Deenihan's blessing on the opening day of the event seemed to work wonders.
The Meath bishop had asked the crowds to “pray for good weather and that everyone enjoys the days ahead here in Screggan".
And it seems those prayers paid off for the most part of the day, with grey clouds only gathering overhead at about 5pm.
Seamus McInerney from Athlone but living in Berlin said: “I think the bishop deserves to be considered for sainthood, I think he performed a miracle yesterday when he got the crowd to pray for good weather."
The festival, spread out over 800 acres on farmland outside in Tullamore, saw 78,500 people in attendance on the first day — with similar numbers expected each day until Thursday.
More than 1,400 exhibitors are at this year’s event, making it the biggest outdoor gathering in Europe.
Cooking demonstrations were back in full swing on Wednesday, while make-up demonstrations at the TikTok live studio attracted dozens to the exhibition centres.
Loy digging and welly throwing competitions, as well as lamb shearing and the bread baking semi-finals were also a big draw for the public.
The event has something for all the family and also featured football and hurley stalls as well as jewellery making and vintage tractors.
One of the major talking points on Wednesday was the issue of rural safety plans and trespassers.
Irish Farmers’ Association's president Alice Doyle said trespassing was an increasing issue among rural people, particularly farmers. She said intimidating videos had been put on social media.
"We also have property damage done as a result of them coming in on private property.”
Another primary concern for farmers is dogs attacks on animals.
“Anybody who has ever been a victim of a dog attack on their animals, it’s traumatic to the individual, to the farmers themselves. I don’t know if anyone here has ever seen it, but if you have, it’s visually in your mind for a very, very long time, and for your family.
“It’s not only that, but then there’s the financial cost.”
Ms Doyle also described how animals are left “traumatised”, and the shock of such an attack can cause animals to “abort” at a later stage due to the fear they carry.
Farmer John Cullen from Kerry told the the issue was “out of control”.
“You will never get over it if you saw it for yourself and all it takes is one dog on the loose. I blame the owners but that's no good when animals are left dead."
Stephen Carton from Scotland said his sheep had been attacked in the past and it required “more policing”.
“I have brought donkeys onto my land to help stop it. A dog won't be long running when a donkey comes after it, one kick and they're in trouble, it is something I would urge people to look at. There are plenty of abandoned donkeys in sanctuaries that you could put to good use, and they love it out in the fields and the farmers love them. It’s a win-win.”
The event will close on Thursday, with major ploughing winners being announced on the day.
