National Ploughing Championships

Almost a quarter of a million people attended the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska this year. Visitors enjoyed an assortment of attractions and events and some late summer sunshine.

The Northen and Western Regional Assembly team and our Colleagues were in the European Union Marquee, which this year featured remote controlled tractors to race, a new wormery, some cool merchandise and most important of all a chance to find out all about the European Union, including how EU funds are helping enhance Irish regions.

The ploughing championships are one of the occasions where we meet and engage with the public, discuss and take feedback on how EU funding and in particular the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is used to help the Northen and Western Regional Assembly achieve our regional development goals.

The event also was an opportunity for the public and the NWRA team to liaise with elected representatives including Government Ministers, Members of the European Parliament and European Commissioner, Mairead McGuinness.

In addition to the engagement in the European Union Marquee, the ploughing was an opportunity to meet some of our EU co funded project partners who were exhibiting at the championships including SEAI, SFI and Enterprise Ireland.