FBD’s ‘Keeping You Safe’ child safety initiative is to make a return to this year’s Ploughing following last year’s success, the National Ploughing Association (NPA) has said.

The initiative will see white wristbands handed-out at all of the event entrances, allowing for a contact phone number to be written on the band in case the wearer wanders off in the crowd.

‘Keeping You Safe’ was launched by FBD’s Head of Farm and Business Christy Doherty and the NPA’s Managing Director Anna May McHugh.

The aim of the initiative is to keep all children safe at the event, with every child attending the ploughing getting a wristband, according to Doherty.

As one of the main sponsors of the National Ploughing Championships for over 25 years, we are delighted to continue our sponsorship of the National Ploughing Championship’s Child Safety Initiative.

“This initiative proved so successful last year that we will now be supporting the NPA with our added commitment to making sure our staff are there at main entrances to make sure each child entering the event is issued with one of these wristbands.

“FBD’s ongoing farm safety campaign regularly focuses on child safety and we are investing significantly in our efforts to raise awareness of hazards for children on the farm,” Doherty said.

Every year, this event grows in popularity and it is therefore hoped that our FBD Keeping you safe wristbands will serve as a reassurance to anyone bringing children to the event.

McHugh said that this initiative is ideal for anyone that is slightly vulnerable, not just children, who are attending the Ploughing over the three days.

Launching the FBD Keeping you Safe wristbands for Ploughing 2016 at Screggan, Tullamore 20-22 September. Christy Doherty, Head of Farm and Business FBD; Anna May McHugh, NPA managing director; NPA chairman PJ Lynam; Paul Lynam, Lynam Garden Furniture and Shamrocks footballers Ronan Connolly, David Gibbons and Daithí Guinan. Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ie no reproduction fee

Launching the FBD Keeping you Safe wristbands for Ploughing 2016 at Screggan, Tullamore 20-22 September. Christy Doherty, Head of Farm and Business FBD; Anna May McHugh, NPA managing director; NPA chairman PJ Lynam; Paul Lynam, Lynam Garden Furniture and Shamrocks footballers Ronan Connolly, David Gibbons and Daithí Guinan.
Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ie no reproduction fee

“Everyone can now rest assured that loved ones will be returned safely in case they get lost in the large crowds that attend the Championships, the 2015 event was attended by 281,000 visitors.”

The launch took place in Lynams Garden Centre in Tullamore very close to this year’s Ploughing site in Screggan, Co Offaly.

This years Poughing will take place from Tuesday, September 20 to Thursday, September 22. There will be an array of new exhibitors as well as hundreds of outstanding veteran companies showcasing their products and services.