P&J Finnegan Car Sales announced as main sponsor for Longford ploughing championships

Longford Ploughing Championships 2025 is on Sunday, March 23 at Drinan, Ballymahon, kindly hosted by the Delaney family. 

The site is on the outskirts of Ballymahon, near a popular scenic walking trail along the banks of the Royal Canal.

P&J Finnegan Car Sales are the main sponsor for this year's ploughing championships. The committee is delighted to team up with a family-run car sales & repair garage founded over 30 years ago by Paddy Finnegan, a dedicated ploughman who took part in many ploughing matches including the National Ploughing Championships. Following Paddy’s passing in 2021, the garage is now proudly run by his children James and Tracey.

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The very first County Longford Ploughing match was hosted by Mr John Roche, Ballymahon on Tuesday, March 12, 1933. What started as a simple horse ploughing competition has now grown into an exciting festival of cultivation, music and family entertainment. 

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Ploughing chairperson Barry White has confirmed the lively band “4Degrees West”, will play in Drinan all afternoon and local musicians will get a chance to perform also.

Plans are well advanced for the ploughing exhibition and anyone wishing to book a trade stand can contact any committee member or send a message via facebook/longford ploughing. With level free draining soil, the Delaney family farm is excellent for competition ploughing and is sure to attract competitors and spectators from many other counties.  

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Meanwhile the date is set for the crowning of “the Queen of the Plough”.  Simon Casey and his band, has been secured for the “Queen of the Plough” presentation dance, on Saturday,  April 19, in The Rustic Inn.

This is the first ploughing match in the Ballymahon area in over a decade as Ita, David and Des Mulvihill last hosted the event in 2011 and 2012. Everyone is welcome to participate in any way to help recreate that atmosphere once again and to promote our community with enthusiasm.


Novice Ploughing
Longford Ploughing will hold a ploughing workshop on Saturday, March 8, kindly hosted by John Mills on his land at Taghshinny.

Participants should bring their own tractor and plough or contact a ploughing team member to arrange a plough in advance. Booking is essential so contact John Maye on  087 784 8206 to secure a place.

The best novice performer will qualify to plough for Longford at the National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore next September.

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