Midlands woman takes over as Ploughing public address announcer

KILBEGGAN woman Rosemary Scally is the new 'voice of the Ploughing' today (Tuesday, September 19) having taken over as public address announcer from her late colleague Carrie Acheson.

As the daughter of a National Ploughing Association (NPA) director, the late Paul Dunican, she went to work in the NPA headquarters at the Rockwell championships in 1977 and has worked at every championship since.

NPA headquarters then was a six-berth caravan and Rosemary has witnessed it grow into a village of offices where she worked as a results scrutineer.

This year's National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois could attract up to 300,000 visitors over its three days with 1,700 exhibitors showcasing all aspects of agri-business, machinery livestock, food fair, craft village, technology and education.

Along with this, there are talks by experts, celebrity cookery demonstrations, brown bread baking championship, fashion shows, sheep dog trials, lamb shearing, craft demonstrations, all day music and live broadcasts while the ploughers compete in the various championships.

IN PICTURES: Out and about at the Ploughing as thousands brave wind and rain

Rosemary will be updating all present over the public address on what's happening where and when.

Rosemary is a sister of well known Tullamore retailer, Gemma Dunican, proprietor of the Kit Your Kitchen store in the Bridge Centre.

PICTURES: Rain doesn't dampen spirits as people enjoy Day 1 of Ploughing 2023