Thousands flock to ploughing championships
Heavy rain and strong winds failed to deter tens of thousands of people from attending the 75th National and the 2006 World Ploughing Championships in Tullow, Co Carlow.
Several miles of steel trackway were laid down on the site to ease the pedestrian traffic after forecasters predicted rain ahead of the four-day event.
Over a hundred farmers angered at the closure of the sugar beet factory in Carlow heckled Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan as she launched the event.
The crowd carried placards saying ’Go Back to Donegal’, ’Mary Coughlan bad for Agriculture’, and ’Coughlan’s legacy – no beet, no ploughing, no slurry, no dung, no tillage farmers’ as they shouted throughout her speech.
Met Eireann’s grim predictions of very windy conditions today with gusts of up to 120km/h and widespread rain failed to stop people attending.
The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) used the event to call for the introduction of an EU food label which would assure consumers the food they purchase is produced to high standards.
Padraig Walshe, the IFA President, said EU farmers and food processors comply with stringent controls and high standards. He said consumers should be provided with a recognised European label which would be easily distinguished as a symbol of excellence.
The largest agricultural event of its kind in Europe, which costs around €2m to stage across 700 acres of prime farmland, will inject more than €30m into the local economy.
Four hundred acres were designated for the 327 competitors, with many ploughing an acre each day in the event.
The number of people visiting the event is expected to be up on the 150,000 people recorded last year.
Many travelled from Britain, the Continent and farther afield to support the 28 international teams taking part in the world championships.
Amid the 800 exhibition stands some of the busiest tents proved to be the ones giving away free ponchos to ward off the downpour.
The National Ploughing Association also said the event is a strong chance for the health sector to reach farmers with respiratory screening, cholesterol checks, and information on breast and prostate awareness available.
Anna Marie McHugh from the National Ploughing Association confirmed a major emphasis at the event with many exhibitions taking place would be on alternative energy crops and forestry.
The political parties have also taken stands as it is the largest gathering of the farming community before next year’s General Election. All of the party leaders are expected to attend, with Tánaiste Michael McDowell due to set foot on the farmland on Friday, an hour before the arrival of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte will also attend on Thursday.
President Mary McAleese will officially open the World Ploughing Championships on Thursday afternoon.
One of the exhibitors, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) held a Farm Safety Demonstration as it launched its code of practice for preventing injuries and deaths from agricultural accidents as the ploughing got underway.
Minister of State Tony Killeen said he had asked the authority to arrange to send copies of the Code of Practice under the new Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 to every farmer in the country.
“By bringing these safety matters to the attention of all farmers I am confident that lives will be saved on farms,” he said.
Of the 73 workplace fatalities last year, 18 occurred in the agriculture, and of the 41 lives lost this year, 16 have been in the farming sector.
Some of the displays at the event include the ’JCB Dancing Diggers’ which will see the machines weighing over 80 tonnes perform synchronised movements.
Gardaí said they were confident the traffic plan, similar to the one put in place when the event was held at the same venue two years ago, would run smoothly.
