The National Ploughing Championships 2016 will take place in Tullamore Co. Offaly.
After three years at the Ratheniska site in Co. Laois, the National Ploughing Association will be moving the event to Co. Offaly. The 2016 venue is Screggan, Tullamore and it will take place on September 20-22.
Numbers attending the three-day event hit an all-time record high this year with just over 127,000 passing through the gates of the Championships in Ratheniska on Wednesday alone this year.
This is an increase of 49,500 on the first day – Tuesday- bringing the total attendance so far this week to 204,500.
Speaking about the record crowds, NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said she expected large crowds again given the positive reports and great feedback received.
“However, I don’t think anyone would have predicted today’s attendance figure. The feedback from exhibitors so far is that business is extremely vibrant and those I spoke with said sales are already well ahead of their 3-day target figures.”
This year’s event enjoyed mainly good weather with just occasional showers over the three days – which failed to dampen the mood of the thousands who attended.
This year’s Ploughing was officially opened by the President Michael D Higgins and celebrities at the show included Henry Shefflin, Alan Quinlan, Pat Spillane and politicians from all the main parties including the Taoiseach Enda Kenny.