The history of National Ploughing Championship npa.ie

September 18th, 2009 | Tags:

Ploughing as a sport between neighbors has probably gone on for hundreds of years but it was in 1931 that the ultimate challenge was put to Kildare man JJ Bergen, Athy, by his long time friend Dennis Allen, Gory, County Wexford when they argued which County had the best ploughmen. The first national plowing contest was held in Mr. WK JHosie’s field, Coarsetown, Athy, where a perpetual cup was donated by the Estate Management and Supply Association Ltd., “to be competed for annually in the contest for the senior individual Ploughing champion of Ireland” npa.ie

The first inter-county Ploughing match took place on Monday the 16th of February in Athy in 1931 with 40 entries and the National Plowing Association was born. Dennis Allen must have been pleased when the Wexford Plowman won the title and Edward Jones took the senior individual title. The land is now owned by Jim and Iris Fox and the same field will be part of the overall area used for the 2009 national plowing championship nearly 80 years on.
Ireland was the first in the world to organize matches on a national level and in an amazing short space of time the idea had crossed the seas and in time culminated into the world plowing contest. The first national plowing championship held that year cost 9 pounds three shillings and five pence.
In 1955, the national plowing championship returned to Athy to celebrate its silver jubilee on the 11th and 12th of February which saw President Shawn T. Kelly attend. This year marked a couple of big changes for the national plowing Association with the event extending to two days and the appointment of the first woman secretary in the national plowing Association, Anna Mae Matthew. 21 counties completed company said this year and the trade stands total 15.
County Wicklow was victorious this year with John Halpin winning the senior horse and carries John Murphy winning the Junior horse. Wexford featured again with William Kee Ho taking the senior tractor plow and Anna May Dunnigan from Kerry taking the queen of the plow.
The next visit to as high was in October 1985 to the green farm in which the picturesque village of Kilkea. After a 30 year absence president Henry was a guest of the NBA on this Association with plenty of entertainment being provided by Kildare Comhalthas Ceolteori, the Army and Artane bands.
The number of counties competing was 30 would trade stands increasing dramatically to 259 from the last visit to apply 30 years ago and machinery demonstrations were beginning to look familiar sights at the national plowing competition.
A new idea emerged this year and it was the erection of a shopping arcade in the form of a huge shed. This was divided up into 12 foot square units and house insurance companies drapery stores and craft businesses. Now, nearly 80 years on from the first match the 78th national plowing championship returns home to Athy. This year in excess of 950 exhibitors would take up residence in the 70 acre trade arena, again a far cry from the 259 exhibitors in 1985.
All tired and plowing final competitions will be baffled for amongst the top Plowman and women in the country and visitors will come from all over the country to experience rural life at one of the largest rural gatherings in Europe.

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