The 90th annual event under the Longford Ploughing banner! The ploughing is back

There is a lot of excitement and anticipation ahead of the Longford Ploughing Championships, according to the association's chair Barry White.

Another fantastic family fun day awaits, along the banks of the Royal Canal, with live music from headline band Ruaile Buaile, dancing competitions, trade exhibition and machinery show.

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The popular annual event will be held for a second consecutive year at the The Delaney family in Drinan, Ballymahon on Sunday, March 22.

Barry said they are delighted to have it there again because it is well-located and close to the town.

"Even though it's in beside the canal it was absolutely no issue, there was good car parking and Anthony O'Hehir ran the bus.

"Berney Jordan, God bless him, it was his idea to get Anthony O'Hehir last year to get a bus and within an hour he had four of them running."

Barry said the recent launch night at Skelly's Ballymahon on Thursday, February 26 went very positively.

"It went grand, it was greatly supported by the local community and there were a few councillors in and the sponsors were in, the main sponsor being Anthony and Josephine O'Hehir of O'Hehir Bus Hire and last year's sponsors were in as well.

"Finnegan's were in and there was a good feed put up by Pat and Patrice Byrnes."

Barry said there was a good crowd and the event was well supported by the local community ahead of the big day on Sunday, March 22.

"There is a lot of people around Ballymahon who didn't realise how successful or how big of an event it was and they missed out.

"So they're jumping on board and every year we run the Queen of the Plough presentation night and last year all the funds after expenses went to Longford Sub-Aqua and Lough Ree Sub-Aqua and this year it's going to the Ballymahon playground that is proposed.

"So, they will be on board then to sell tickets and help us out in a huge way and we will get the support of the greater community as well for what it is.

The Longford Ploughing Association has a history of supporting local community. The association partnered with Lus na Gréine Family Resource Centre in Granard for mental health support in 2024 through a share of the profits from the Queen of the Plough Dance.

The 2023 Longford Ploughing Championships raised €8,250 for St Christopher's Services in Longford.

This year’s big celebration of ploughing and culture is the 90th annual event under the Longford Ploughing banner.
Barry said there will be several attractions and events planned to mark the notable milestone.

"Yes, there will be, Eleanor Farrelly Oakdale Farm, she is a Tiktoker, she's coming with a celebrity plough and she is from Raharney there outside Mullingar.

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"And the Tyre Warrior is coming again there to do some sort of a demonstration.

"We have Ruaile Buaile playing on the field on the day, and we have them organised for the Queen of the Plough dance as well.

"And there's a jiving competition there as well."