MAY 2020 – NPA CANCELs TRADE EXHIBITION 2020 BUT HOPE TO RUN 89TH NATIONAL PLOUGHING COMPETITIONS BEHIND CLOSED GATES DUE TO COVID-19.
 
The NPA had no choice but to cancel the National Ploughing Trade Exhibition due to take place in Ballintrane, Fenagh, Co Carlow from September 15th to 17th but still hope that there will be an opportunity to run the ploughing competitions behind closed gates due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
In 2019, the total attendance figure for the three-day event hit a record-breaking 297,000 visitors, the NPA revealed.
 
So, obviously this is very disappointing news for the hundreds of exhibitors that have already booked exhibition space and the visitors planning to attend.
 
With an annual economic impact reported to be in the region of 45 million euro, the loss of this event is massively significant to the Irish Economy. However the NPA are looking at the positive that 2021 will mark the 90th year of the NPA and Ireland will be hosting the World Ploughing Contest in tandem with the National on 15th-16th-17th -18th September – venue to be confirmed.
 
The National Ploughing Championships is the largest outdoor agricultural event in Europe, with 1,700 exhibitors, 300 competitors, and plenty of entertainment to keep the whole family busy.
 
History of The National Ploughing Championships:
The first Irish inter-county ploughing contest was held between County Wexford and County Kildare on 16 February 1931 in a 26-acre field at Coursetown in Athy in County Kildare. Since then, the National Ploughing Championships has expanded to over 800 acres with 1,700 exhibitors. It has been extended beyond ploughing, farming or machinery enthusiasts, to now featuring attractions such as a tented trade village, live entertainment, music & dancing, fashion shows, craft village, live cooking demonstrations, celebrity appearances, sheep dog trials, pony games & welly throwing.
 
The Founding Fathers:
The original mission statement for the National Ploughing Association, the body organising the championships, was set out as: “To bring the message of good ploughing to all parts of the country and to provide a pleasant and friendly place to meet and do business”.
 
We are all looking forward to the 2021 event and 90th year of the NPA and Ireland hosting the World Ploughing Contest in tandem with the National on 15th-16th-17th -18th September – venue to be confirmed.
 
Visit the official website here: https://www.npa.ie/