CONFIRMED: Ploughing Championships coming to Kildare next year

The National Ploughing Championships will move from Co Offaly to Co Kildare next year, with the 2027 event set to take place at Boherkill Farm in Rathangan.

This news was previously reported by the Leinster Leader almost a year ago.

The three-day event is set to bring tens of millions of euro - possibly up to €100m - into the local economies of Rathangan and surrounding areas of Kildare town, Monasterevin, Newbridge, Naas and Edenderry.

The biggest beneficiaries will be hotels and accommodation providers, pubs and restaurants, petrol stations, shops, taxi operators and other tourism and hospitality businesses.

The county also hosted the championships in 1931, as well as 1955 and in 2011.

It's hoped the festival will also benefit many local service providers and the business community at large.

The official confirmation about the 2027 event was made from the Grandstand as the 95th National Ploughing Championships drew to a close in Screggan, Tullamore, following three days of events.

A total of 75,000 visitors attended the final day, bringing overall attendance across the three days to 243,000. The figure represents an increase of around 18,000 visitors compared with last year.

Speaking following the announcement, Senator Fiona O’Loughlin said: “This is a huge opportunity for Kildare and particularly for Rathangan to showcase everything our area has to offer.

“We have a huge farming community and a strong agricultural tradition here in Kildare. To now have the opportunity to welcome people from across the country and beyond for one of Ireland’s largest events is hugely exciting.

“Hosting the National Ploughing Championships will provide a significant economic boost to Rathangan and the surrounding area, bringing thousands of visitors to Kildare and providing an opportunity for local businesses and communities to benefit.“It will also put Rathangan and Kildare firmly in the spotlight and give us the chance to showcase our county on a national stage.”

Local Fianna Fáil Councillor for Rathangan, Brian O’Loughlin, also welcomed the announcement.

“Very few towns or counties get the opportunity to host an event of this scale. It is a huge vote of confidence in Rathangan and a testament to our local farming community, the County Council and everyone who has worked to make this possible.

“This is an opportunity not only to host a fantastic National Ploughing Championships next year, but to build on its success and demonstrate that Rathangan and the wider area are capable of hosting other major events in the years ahead."

Screggan has hosted the National Ploughing Championships for the past five years.

The final day got underway with European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen taking to the plough before visiting stands and meeting exhibitors and representatives from agricultural organisations.

There was plenty of activity across the ploughing fields, with the Senior Conventional and Kverneland Reversible Test Matches, horse ploughing, vintage classes and the Vintage Six Nations Competition among the highlights.

The National Brown Bread Baking Competition also reached its conclusion, with Cara Wall from Dublin, aged 15, crowned Junior National Brown Bread Baking Champion. Olivia Nash, also from Dublin, took the Senior title following a competitive final.

Visitors to Screggan were also treated to fashion shows, cooking and machinery demonstrations, livestock displays and live entertainment throughout the final day.

NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said organisers were delighted with how the three days had gone and praised the atmosphere across the site.

She thanked everyone involved in making the event a success, particularly the 243,000 people who attended, and wished visitors a safe journey home.

The National Ploughing Championships, regarded as Europe's largest outdoor event, will now head for Rathangan in September 2027.