Countdown is on for this year's Ploughing

Up to 90% of the stand space is booked for this year’s National Ploughing Championships in Offaly.

Organisers say the early interest in the event to take place in Screggan, near Tullamore, from September 18 to September 20, indicates that another great ploughing event is on the way.
With 15 weeks to go until Europe’s largest outdoor event, preparations are now well underway.
NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said: “It is the primary aim of the National Ploughing Association to improve exhibitor and visitor experience to ensure the best possible ‘Ploughing’ for all. The Exhibition Team in NPA have confirmed that early bookings this year have surpassed previous records which highlights how beneficial it is for businesses, companies and organisations to attend ‘Europe’s largest outdoor event’.
“There is serious worldwide appeal with exhibitors, international buyers and visitors coming from countries such as Turkey, the USA, UK, Germany, India, Poland, Belgium, New Zealand, France, Saudi Arabia, Latvia and the Netherlands all attending.
With record crowds of 291,500 visitors and over 1,700 exhibitors last year and the site in Screggan proving to be a phenomenal success, signals would suggest another ‘great ploughing’ is on the way.”
There will be an array of new exhibitors as well as hundreds of outstanding veteran companies showcasing their products and services in dynamic ways. 
The dairy sector will be very well catered for with many new additions.  The very latest models in agricultural machinery will be on display, quality livestock, a Forestry Village, Motor Show, Food Fayre, Hunt Chase, Fashion Shows, Live Music & Dancing, Sheep Dog Trials, an extended Local Enterprise Village with over 80 exhibitors as well as National Baking Competitions, Craft Shows and many topical seminars. The popular Innovation Arena is set to make a very welcome return with ground breaking technologies and cutting edge ideas that will amaze.  With a total prize fund to the value of over €80,000 there are only a few weeks left to enter – please see www.innovationarena.ie.
In the ploughing stakes a particularly strong programme has attracted entries from all around the country and Northern Ireland bringing the number preparing to plough in Offaly over 300 for the three days.