Make your way to Ballymahon for a huge celebration of 90 years of Longford Ploughing

Record crowds are expected to attend the Longford Ploughing Championships and Family Fun Day again this year which is expected to be bigger and better than ever to coincide with the 90th year of the popular event.

Michael and Claire Delaney will host the popular event after the huge success of last year with O’Haire’s Concert Coaches as the sponsor for 2026.

The association's chair Barry White said another fantastic family fun day awaits, along the banks of the Royal Canal, with live music from lively headline band Ruaile Buaile, dancing competitions, trade exhibition and machinery show.

Barry said an estimated 2,800 people attended the event last year and they are hopeful of attracting a similarly large crowd.

He stated that competitions and events will commence at 12 midday, and National Ploughing Association (NPA) chairperson PJ Lynam will be in attendance.

"We have a lot of people from around the country who do come because it's the biggest ploughing next to the All Ireland and last year we doubled the crowd from the year before."

Barry praised the ingenuity of the late Berney Jordan for helping to boost the crowds last year.

Also read: Remembering Longford ploughman Berney Jordan who loved sharing his craft with youngsters

"That was actually down to Berney Jordan, God rest him, that passed away. It was his suggestion to have a shuttle bus from the town last year and that's how Anthony O’Haire became involved.

"We gave him a shout and he sponsored it and he started off with one bus and a half an hour later he had four buses running in and out of the field."

Barry said the ploughers will be able to enter all of the usual ploughing competition categories such as vintage and reversible, loy and the Queen of the Plough to name a few.

"There are four sets of horses coming up and there are the usual 50 or 60 or 70 ploughing competitors.

"We have Finian Farrelly from Raharney, outside Mullingar coming and Eoin Lynch from Cork is coming up as well.”

Barry said the weather is expected to dry up as the week progresses and he is very confident the land will be in good condition.

"I'll tell you, if it gets a couple of dry days it will be fine.

"It spilled rain a couple of days before the ploughing last year, people were towed into the field on the Sunday morning on the day of the ploughing and they drove out that evening, that will tell you how quick it dried."

Barry said they are not a money making organisation and there will also be a charitable element again this year.

Also read: 'New partnership': IFA to sponsor 40th anniversary Longford novice ploughing workshop

"All the proceeds after expenses from The Queen of the Plough dance this year are going towards this new playground that is being built in Ballymahon.

"We gave it to Lough Ree and Longford Sub-Aqua last year, it was Lus na Gréine Family Resource Centre the year before when it was in Granard and the year before that we collected over €8,000 for  St Christopher's.

"As I said we are doing it for the playground this year and there will be a night in the Rustic Inn on April 25 and there will be music by Ruaile Buaile.”

Ploughing chairperson Barry White said there will be fantastic entertainment in Ballymahon on Sunday with lively headline band Ruaile Buaile and  local band Creeva and musician Darren McCabe, from Mullingar and Dave Orohoe, from Leitrim Cross will also perform  before the main act.

There will also be dance lessons and jive competitions with A&C Country Jive, celebrity ploughing, Grassmen and the Tyre Warrior. 

Irish influencer and woodworker Eoin Reardon will also be there on the day showcasing his craft.

Johnston Farm Machinery in Longford are sponsoring an off road vehicle for the day.

“They are sponsoring that so they can give it to the safety officers for the day so they can go along and keep an eye on things," he added.

Barry said they are thankful to Anthony and Josephine O'Haire and the team at  O'Haire Buses for sponsoring the event.

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Asked about the 90th anniversary of the Longford Ploughing Championships, Barry said they want to host a bigger and better show and they will remember all of the influential people who have passed on.

"They put an old clip up on the Facebook page of all the people that have passed on over the last few years that were heavily involved like Berney Jordan was the latest one there from Ballymahon, Pat McCormack, Tom Reynolds, Eamon Egan, Paddy Finnegan, Ian Stewart, Bertie Mills, Eugene McGerr and John Harte, there was a good few of them. 

"We will be remembering all of them on the day."

Barry said Harriet Stewart will be doing the catering and they sponsor the tea and coffee and sandwiches.

"The ploughman's dinner then is being provided for all of the competitors by the Rustic Inn and they serve dinner on the field on the day."

Also read: South Longford family honoured to host second successive Longford Ploughing Championships