The recession does not appear to have affected the National Ploughing Championships, with trade inquiries for this year’s event exceeding all previous years.
The three-day event gets under way on Tuesday, September 25th, at Heathpark, New Ross, Co Wexford.
The main event will be on the land of the O’Dwyer family, with part of the exhibition stretching to the neighbouring Kehoe family farm. Hundreds of acres of parking will be provided by local landowners.
President Michael D Higgins will officially open the event at noon.
More than 1,200 exhibitors will take stands. Anna Marie McHugh of the National Ploughing Association said 190,000 people attended last year’s championships in Athy, Co Kildare, making it the largest show of its kind in Europe.
A UCD study carried out at the event found that visitors spent more than €36 million during the three days.
It may be a ploughing competition but according to organisers machinery is still the main attraction. It will also include livestock exhibitions, sheep shearing, sheep dog trials and craft demonstrations.
The event will see a record number of food-related exhibitors and demonstrations.
