Former ploughing champion (33) dies in Co Wexford farm accident

A former national ploughing champion has died following a farm accident in Co Wexford.

The man, who has been named as father-of-three Martin Kehoe jnr (33), was working at a grain store at the family farm in Foulksmills, New Ross, on Tuesday when he was overcome with fumes, gardaí said.

Emergency services were called and medical assistance was administered at the scene, but he was pronounced dead at approximately 12.30pm.

His body was removed to University Hospital Waterford for postmortem examination.

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Mr Kehoe had won national ploughing titles, as has his brother Willie John who has represented Ireland at world championships on a number of occasions.

Their father, Martin Kehoe snr is managing director of the family business Kehoe Farming Ltd and has been the World Ploughing Champion three times.

Members of Mr Kehoe’s family were on site at the National Ploughing Championships when news of the young man’s death filtered through.

“On behalf of the NPA [National Ploughing Association] we have sent our deepest sympathies to the Kehoe family who are so well known and considered ploughing royalty. It’s a very dark day for the whole association,” said championships spokeswoman Anna Marie McHugh.

“For this tragic death to happen on the day of our opening, is just unimaginable and our hearts go out to Martin jnr’s wife Kerrie and their three young children.”

Mr Kehoe’s father, Martin snr and brother were on site in Tullamore when they learned of the tragic accident.

“Martin snr was coaching an under-21 competitor and his other son was here with the family business. Martin jnr was due to join the rest of the family later in the week,” she added.

“It’s a huge family tragedy and for the wider farming community.”

A minute’s silence will be observed on Wednesday at the championships.

New Ross Rugby club also extended its sympathy in a tweet:

“The Club extends its condolences to the Kehoe family, several of whom have played with us, on the tragic death of Martin Jnr.”

Last week a man in his 20s died after an accident at a mushroom plant outside Emyvale, Co Monaghan.

Twenty lives were lost on Irish farms last year. One of the victims was a child.