Longford ploughing experience: ‘I’d encourage any young person to give ploughing a chance’

Paddy White
LPA Youth Officer

I began my ploughing experience two years ago, in Bunlahy at the Longford novice match on the lands of the Belton family.

It was a great privilege to have the use of Tommy Monaghan’s tractor and plough and be under the guidance of himself and his son Sean.

I really enjoyed my first time ploughing. The icing on the cake was hearing I came in 1st place.

I was thankful to receive the McCormack Cup and got a place in the National Ploughing Championships later that year.

That September I headed to the National Ploughing after some training from Anthony Reynolds.

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I got the loan of Bernard Jordan’s plough and I was very grateful to him for allowing me to use his prized plough.

It was an experience of a lifetime ploughing for the first time in Ratheniska.

I encourage any young person enthusiastic about agriculture to give ploughing a chance.

Come to the County Longford Ploughing Championships in Ballymahon on Sunday and ask any of the team about the novice ploughing in Taghshinny on Friday, April 3 at 12 noon.

Remember; ladies are welcome too and someone at the Novice Ploughing will win a chance to plough at the National Ploughing Championships in September.

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