Longford sees a super day at County Ploughing Championships

Thousands of people descended on Drinan, Ballymahon for the Longford Ploughing Championships last Sunday with bumper crowds enjoying a hugely successful day.

The association's chair Barry White estimated that between 3,500 and 4,000 men, women and children attended with a variety of events and attractions for all the family

He said the ploughing championships hosted by Michael Delaney and his family, set along a popular scenic walking trail by the banks of the Royal Canal, was an ideal location.

"It was absolutely colossal, it was huge, there was double the crowd of last year," he said.

Also Read: Longford motorist fined €1,000 and banned from driving for three years

"We had in excess of 70 people ploughing with tractor ploughing, loy digging and horse ploughing."

Barry stated the feedback from attendees has been wonderful with many people praising the large amount of attractions and activities.

The chair described how the main sponsors James and Tracey Finnegan of P&J Finnegan Car Sales played a prominent role.

Their father Paddy, a married father of two who passed away in 2021, was a dedicated and well-known ploughman who was highly regarded.

"The main sponsor James and Tracey Finnegan, Tracey was ploughing with her father's tractor and then we had 'Sammy' out of the 'Lucky Day Competitions’ and she was doing celebrity ploughing and we had Conor out of Grassmen.

Also Read: ‘It's a Dose’: Longford students making the task of livestock dosing much safer and easier

"They were the two celebrities and she was a great hit altogether.

"We did a video last Saturday week, myself and herself and Kyle Hall and Farmer Phil and she did a wonderful job and that brought the younger crowd to it, without a doubt," she added.

Barry said if an organisation is working well and the preparation is right, as was the case, it makes things far easier.

"We have a great crew behind us from a little job to a big job and the only time you wouldn't see them is this morning.

Also Read: PICTURES | What a super day in Ballymahon! Longford ploughing match is a huge triumph

"The older generation were out there, every single one of them drawing the pension, along with myself and a couple of others doing the tidy up.

"Everything is back in place now," he added.

Barry said the preparation commenced as soon as Michael Delaney and his family agreed to host the event.

Also Read: Site identification the big thing for getting a headquarters for Longford Civil Defence

He also stated that because P&J Finnegan Car Sales were so close with only one field from their premises to the ploughing site and the connection with their late father Paddy they were the ideal sponsor.

"They came on board and if Jimmy Delaney or Paddy Finnegan were alive they would be two very proud men based on what their kids are after doing," he added.