The 2023 National Ploughing Championships concluded in September, after three days of ploughing, exhibitions and muck, with a total attendance of 200,550. Despite a wet lead-up and start, the event had a positive and upbeat atmosphere throughout.
NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh expressed her satisfaction with the successful event, highlighting the diverse attractions that catered to every family member, from livestock and machinery exhibits to fashion, competitions, and sports stars. The Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, commended the staff, gardai, volunteers, and the attending members of the public for making the event so successful.
The highly anticipated National Brown Bread Baking Competition was attended by several hundred people eager to learn who made the cut, and who rose to perfection. Loretta McGuire from Mayo emerged as the first-place winner, to her absolute delight.
In the ploughing competitions, Eamonn Tracey from Carlow clinched the top spot in the Conventional class, while Jer Coakley from West Cork secured victory in the Reversible Ploughing competition. The event’s success was marked by the presence of visitors and exhibitors who thoroughly enjoyed the three days of festivities, creating a wonderful atmosphere throughout right up to the setting sun at the end of the final day. Despite the weather’s best efforts to spoil the turn of the sod, all competitions were hotly contested and went off without a hitch. Below is a full list of the winners.
With nearing 30 categories all winners and classes can be viewed here with some of the winners in the photo below:
