PLOUGHING: Latest pictures as Laois ready to welcome 300,000
Laois is holding its breath for the hundreds of thousands of people set to drive into the county this week to the National and World Ploughing Championships.
An estimated 100,000 to 150,000 visitors are expected each of the three days, from Tuesday to Thursday, September 20 to 22. The event will include 200 delegates and competitors for the World Ploughing Championships, adding to the scale of the already huge agricultural event.
The event will be formally opened by President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, with plenty more well known faces to spot all week.
World Ploughing Organization General Secretary is Anna Marie McHugh from Ballyadams, Laois.
“It is a massive honour for Ireland to welcome international delegations and their supporters from 27 countries all around the globe. The very best plough men and women in the world will be battling it out to be crowned World Champion,” she said.
NPA Managing Director for the past 50 years is Anna May McHugh.
Exhibitors, global buyers and visitors will come from all over Ireland as well as from far flung countries such as France, the USA, UK, Uganda, Germany, India, Poland, Ghana, Belgium, New Zealand, France, Saudi Arabia, Lativa and the Netherlands.
There will be millions of euro worth of agricultural and plant machinery on display, along with livestock, businesses, artisan foods, craft beers, celebrity chefs, cookery competitions and much more.