Colm O'Regan: From cow-tipping to fashion shows — I've seen it all at the Ploughing

Colm O'Regan wanders around fascinated by the 2025 National Ploughing Championships in Screggan

Eoin Hand in action in the senior horse class on the second day of the Ploughing. Picture: Dan Linehan

In many space and fantasy movies there is a bit where the heroes go to some sort of exotic planet or country. Called something like Al-Khazakhtar.

They land in a bazaar with cliched Middle Eastern music, lads with turbans, someone leading a thing that looks like a camel. Snake charmers, shrouded women giving you side-eye.