County Longford Ploughing Championships
to feature on SKY TV this week

SKY TV channel 191 will dedicate an entire show to last week’s County Longford Ploughing Championships - which were held in Edgeworthstown - on Thursday, April 18 at 9pm.

A repeat will also be aired on the following Sunday, April 21 at 7pm and again on Monday at 6pm.

And with country legends Declan Nerney and Nathan Carter battling it out in the celebrity challenge on the day - it was most certainly a case of the plough and the stars at the 79th Championships which were held on the Reynolds family farm at Barne.

The Longford Ploughing Championships have long been at the heart of the Midlands spring calendar and this year’s event was filmed by Irish TV, who produce a weekly programme called ‘Out & About in Ireland’ for SKY TV. “We were delighted to facilitate the Irish Tv film crew and I know that all the exhibitors, competitors and visitors will enjoy the programme this week on SKY TV,” said Cynthia Geelan, Chairwoman County Longford Ploughing Association. “It is so important that we showcase all that is good and positive about the agricultural sector, and this international TV exposure is certainly a very positive step forward for us.

Two notable appearances at the championships were the arrivals of Longford native country star Declan Nerney and country sensation Nathan Carter. The two singers performed for the crowd and also rolled up their sleeves in the ploughing fields to show that they are not all showbiz. “I am thrilled that Nathan could take time out of his busy schedule to meet his fans in Longford,” Mr Nerney added. “Personally, I’m a proud Longford man and occasions like this are very important to show that the fabric of rural life in Ireland is strong and vibrant, and I’m delighted that my county Longford will be getting international TV exposure too.”