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06 Sept 2025
06 Sept 2025
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Ploughing announced for Ratheniska, Co.Laois in the Midlands Park Hotel. Pic: Alf Harvey
Laois is set to host Europe’s largest outdoor event for the third year running with confirmation that the National Ploughing Championships is set to return in 2024.
The National Ploughing Association said the well-liked Ratheniska site near Portlaoise was confirmed as an excellent location for next year’s event at the National Ploughing Championships prize-giving ceremony attended by over 500 in Portlaoise.
NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said the Association was delighted to be holding the Ploughing Championships in in Laois again next year on September 17, 18, 19.
"Feedback from landowners, the local community and the wider public has been very positive and all were enthusiastic to see a return to Co. Laois.
“It worked well as a location this year despite the inclement weather conditions. The site has proved popular for several reasons including its location in the middle of Ireland,” she said.
David Carter and his family own the land which hosts the site while many neighbouring farmers provide and parking to the Association.
The 2024 edition will mark the sixth occasion that the Carters have hosted the event and the tenth time the O'Moore County has hosted the ploughing.
A 70-year gap was bridged in 2013 when the Ploughing was held in Laois on the Carter land in September 2013. The event was first held in Laois in 1943 at Lamerton in Ratheniska hosted the event in 1943. Ratheniska was the venue again in 2014 and 2015. It returned to Ratheniska in 2022 when Laois hosted the World and National Ploughing Championships.
The Championships were also held in Ballacolla, Co. Laois in 1995, 2000 and 2002.
Laois County County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Pashchal McEvoy with Anna May McHugh announcing the Ploughing 2024. Picture: Alf Harvey.
Ms May McHugh also congratulated all of the winners who were awarded at today’s Prize-Giving Banquet. Irish Ploughing has never been so well represented on the global stage and is the envy of other nations with the historic back to back wins of the Republic of Ireland team at the recent World Ploughing Contest in Latvia with both Eamonn Tracey from Carlow & Wexford’s John Whelan being crowned Supreme World Ploughing Champions in their respective classes.
In addition, the NPA there was a magnificent result at the European Ploughing Championships with Jer Coakley from Cork winning first place gold and Dan Donnelly from Wexford securing the Reserve European Ploughing Champion position.
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