Agridirect.ie discusses the upcoming Ploughing Championships, taking place at Ratheniska, Co. Laois, from the 20th to the 22nd of September 2022.
Excitement is Building
Despite the ongoing crises wracking the country, there is a palpable sense of excitement as the date for this year’s Ploughing Championships approaches. Perhaps this is down to the fact that 2022 is the first year since 2019 that Covid-19 is not at the heart of national discussion. Festival-type events such as the Ploughing Championships thrive when people feel a sense of liberation, so there is good reason to believe that this year’s championships will be a little bit special.
Ploughing Championships 2022: what can we expect?
Day 1
The schedule of events for this year’s championships in Ratheniska makes for interesting reading, and seems to offer something for everyone in the family. Aside from the main spectacle of the actual ploughing events running from 10.30am – 2.30pm each day, the first day of events (Tuesday 20th September) will offer up entertainment from the likes of John Molloy, The Duets and the Irish Prison Officers Pipe Band.
For those with an interest in the activities of the farmhouse kitchen, the first semi-final of the National Brown Bread Baking Contest will start at 9.30am, with the winners of the semi being announced at stand 397 at 2.30pm. This will be a stand worth attending for the smell alone!
There will also be a fashion show at stand 608, commencing at 1.30pm, for those with a penchant for style!
Day 2
Entertainment on day 2 will include a performance by the Young Country Queens and Derek Ryan. The Best Dressed Country Style Award promises to be a very entertaining event for all the family, while those with a bit of rhythm are sure to enjoy the Country Line Dancing Event kicking off at 4pm at Stand 608.
Day 3
Traditionally, day 3 is the big day in terms of events and this year’s schedule does not disappoint. The National Brown Bread Baking final will commence at 9.30am, and will surely be worth attending. It’s not everyday that you get to see the best bread-makers in the country doing battling it out, so be sure to attend this event and enjoy the delicious aromas. The winners of this event will be announced at 2.30pm.
Ploughing classes will run from 10.30am – 2.30pm and offer a great opportunity for novices and more experienced ploughmen to pick up a new trick or two. There are even some lessons in loy digging – a skill that is far too rare among Irish farmers nowadays. We could all do with a few tips on using this once ubiquitous and still very useful tool of the Irish smallholding.
The closing ceremonies kick off at 4pm at the bandstand and should not be missed!
Other stands and events of interest
Other stalls of interest running throughout the three days include classics such as the Vintage Display, Sheep Shearing Demonstrations and the Motor Show. We recommend checking out the Cutting Edge Agricultural Technologies event, which will be an eye-opener no doubt! For those looking to keep the kids entertained, there is the Funfair (thank God!).
There will be an emphasis on sustainability at this year’s events, heralding a new era for the ploughing championships. For those interested, we will have more on this on our platform during the week ahead.
Events kick off at 9am every morning, so make you that you get there early. And most importantly, be sure to enjoy the experience!
