Podcasts about National Ploughing Championships

It's Day 3 and the final day of the National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore, and for Live 95, Seamus Hennessey is there.Image via Getty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Wrafters join Oliver for live music and a chat at the National Ploughing Championships. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Line dancing teacher, Declan Flanagan joins Brenda Donohue on the main stage to teach us a line dance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carina Rosengrave, the International Young Woman Farm Ambassador of 2026 and Pat O Toole from the Farmers Journal join Oliver to chat all things farming. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oliver is joined at the Ploughing Championships by Cleviston Haynes, Barbados Ambassador to Ireland; Élan Mottley Harris from Barbados Tourism; Stephen Caulfield from Movember and Content Creator, Sammy Heaney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He's the writer sports stars to turn to. Author of 'The Lost Sportswriter – A Life Up Close with Irish Sporting Greatness' joins Oliver live in at the National Ploughing Championships. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oliver is joined at the National Ploughing Championships by uilleann pipe player Becky Ní Éallaithe and one of the country's best sean-nós dancers, Muireann Ní Shé.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oliver is joined at the National Ploughing Championships by farmer and Fittest Family co-creator, Davy Fitzgerald.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Stephen Carey is joined by Jack Kingston and John Brennan to discuss the latest on farm news. Jack discusses closing dates for fertiliser and slurry application, John looks forward to the National Ploughing Championships next week, and Stephen gives an update on tillage crops.The Sod Pod;  https://ie.timacagro.com/podcast-the-sod-pod/

Ahead of performing at the National Ploughing Championships next week, Musical Storyteller Aindrias de Staic joins Oliver in studio to take us ‘round the Banner and beyond. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Young Stock Podcast this week, Sarah McIntosh and Daire Cregg discuss CAO points, going to college and offer advice to students navigating their next steps. They are joined by this week's guest, Leo Walsh who is preparing to compete in the two-furrow (two-fur) novice class at this year's National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Co Offaly on 15-17 September.Leo discusses how he deals with the pressures of competing, where his ploughing knowledge came from and the final preparations that are currently underway.As well as the Ploughing, Leo is getting ready to start college this September. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will lower VAT really mean cheaper coffees? Nicky O'Callaghan of SiP Coffee Garden explains why the answer isn't as straightforward as it seems, and what the latest VAT changes mean for cafés and hospitality businesses. Regina Bushell joins Ronan to discuss Grovelands Childcare's latest expansion in Athlone, creating more childcare places, new jobs and confidence in the Midlands economy. Bernie Everard explains why local food producers should seize the opportunity to showcase their products at this year's National Ploughing Championships. And Ger Hyland, President of the Road Haulage Association, unpacks the Government's extension of temporary fuel excise reductions and what it means for transport businesses, costs and the wider economy.

Tirlán's head of grains joins us on this week's Tillage Podcast. John Kealy caught up with the Irish Farmers Journal at this year's National Ploughing Championships on markets, the tillage crisis and Tirlán's plans for the future. The Tillage Podcast is supported by Bayer crops Science. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's podcast we go through the figures on crop profits, tillage incomes and what's bringing about the best return with Dr Fiona Thorne of Teagasc. We also talk about a new Irish ration on the market. This week's show was recorded live at the National Ploughing Championships. The Tillage Podcast is supported by Bayer crops Science. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Fleming is chair of the Kerry branch of the Irish Farmers’ Association. He says it’s been over 40 years since this county hosted the National Ploughing Championships which this year brought crowds of over 225,000 to Tullamore.

On this week's episode, sporting legends Tommy Durnin, Lizzie Murphy, Stephen Coen and Daire Cregg join Sarah McIntosh live from the Ploughing in Tullamore to talk all things sport and farming.We have a special Young Stock Podcast this week as we record live at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Co. Offaly. Sarah McIntosh is joined by four sporting legends who have a strong tie to agriculture and the land. Louth footballer Tommy Durnin, who also owns a suckler farm, discusses the recent success of the team winning the Leinster Senior Football Championship for the first time in 68 years. Along with this he gives some advice to young players.Irish Hockey goalkeeper Lizzie Murphy, who studied agriculture in UCD, is now working as a tax associate for PwC Ireland. She discusses what it was like travelling to the Tokyo Olympics during COVID-19 and the importance of encouraging women in sport.Stephen Coen, the general manager of Senus and a senior footballer for Mayo, also joins us to discuss dealing with disappointment and encouraging the next generation of players into the squad.Finally, the newest edition to the Irish Farmers Journal dairy team, Daire Cregg, who is also playing on the Roscommon football team joins us to discuss the opportunities for Irish athletes abroad and his own experience studying agriculture in UCD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bobby was out & about at the 2025 National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, County Offaly, to get a sense of the state of the farming sector in Ireland and what the future holds.

A new national survey conducted by Interactions Research, on behalf of Engineers Ireland, has revealed that, despite strong public support for science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) careers, women remain far less likely to be encouraged to pursue them. Based on a nationally representative sample of over 1,000 adults, the research found that more than one in five people in Ireland (22%) currently work in STEM roles. Yet men are almost twice as likely to be employed in a STEM role, with 28% of men employed in STEM roles but just 16% of women working in this field. Only 32% of female respondents recalled ever being urged to consider a STEM career, compared to 43% of men. The results come as Engineers Ireland attends this year's National Ploughing Championships, where it is raising awareness of engineering, and its diverse opportunities, as a career choice. Public support for engineering remains strong with seven in ten respondents saying they would encourage someone to consider a STEM career. Among those currently working in engineering, family and teachers were cited as the most influential sources of advice, underlining the importance of early guidance in shaping career choices. Damien Owens, Director General of Engineers Ireland said, "This research shows the gender gap starts before college applications, it starts with who gets early guidance and support. Ireland urgently needs more engineers to deliver on housing, energy and other forms of key infrastructure, yet the signals that steer young people towards these careers are not reaching everyone equally. Women remain underrepresented not only in early guidance but in the profession itself. "Engineers Ireland is focused on changing perceptions and broadening pathways. That means visible role models, stronger guidance in schools and multiple entry routes so girls and young women can see themselves in engineering and stay in the profession. But a collective societal effort is needed to make engineering visible, accessible and attractive to every young person." That call for action is echoed in the survey findings. Almost two-thirds of respondents (63%) agreed that promoting STEM training is essential to support Ireland's economy in the current global context. More than four in five (81%) believe the Government should do more to promote STEM careers, a figure that rises to 90% among those already working in the sector. Respondents also set out significant worries about key areas of infrastructure and their ability to negatively affect quality of life in Ireland and its economic prospects, with 79% stating they are concerned about the future impact of housing shortages, 69% are concerned about energy infrastructure shortfalls, and 67% are concerned about the impact of climate change and drought. When asked about the infrastructural challenges Ireland should prioritise over the next decade, housing infrastructure ranked highest with 81% of respondents viewing it as a priority, followed closely by energy (79%), transport (74%), and water infrastructure (74%).

eir evo has announced its successful award of the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) Satellite Connectivity Tender. The announcement was made at the National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore, where key stakeholders gathered to mark a major milestone in Ireland's digital infrastructure strategy. Under the seven-year contract, eir evo will deliver satellite connectivity to an initial 21 sites, with the potential to scale to 300 locations. The initiative is designed to enhance the resilience of public services in remote and island communities, particularly in response to significant climate-related disruptions such as Storm Éowyn. Deployment will begin with island locations, including Inishturk, where the OGCIO and healthcare teams are already engaged in rollout planning. The satellite network will serve as a critical backup to terrestrial telecoms, supporting emergency services, healthcare continuity and local hubs in areas where traditional infrastructure is vulnerable or unavailable. As part of the agreement, eir evo has partnered with Eutelsat to deliver satellite services to the Irish Government. The OGCIO contract ensures that eir evo is the channel for delivering Eutelsat satellite services to Government entities in Ireland. Eutelsat's European footprint and advanced satellite capabilities bring technological excellence to the partnership, positioning Ireland at the forefront of resilient digital infrastructure in Europe. Susan Brady, Managing Director of eir evo, commented: "Storm Éowyn was a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by our remote communities. At eir evo, we believe connectivity is not just about access, it's about resilience, continuity and safety. Securing the OGCIO Satellite Connectivity partnership is a proud moment for us. It reflects our commitment to building infrastructure that can withstand the challenges of climate change and support critical public services when they're needed most." Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers, welcomed the announcement, saying: "I think it is particularly appropriate that we are making this announcement here at the National Ploughing Championships, which of course is not just a celebration of rural life and culture in Ireland but also an opportunity to explore the latest innovations that are already transforming the industry and will continue to support the future of agriculture. "Initiatives such as the high-speed network and satellite services and the new data centre in Backweston will help us transform our public services by ensuring they have the modern infrastructure they need to work securely and reliably, no matter where people live or what challenges arise. "The new National Low Latency Platform is a secure, high-speed network connecting government bodies across Ireland and is now fully operational. Funded through the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the network stretches from Westport to Waterford, and Cork to Dundalk, helping public services work faster and more reliably." Minister of State with special responsibility for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment, Emer Higgins, also attended the launch of the new technology and said: "These projects are about building strong foundations for Ireland's future. Our emergency services do a fantastic job in circumstances that can be very challenging. I am delighted to announce the delivery of the new high speed, secure communications network which will ensure emergency teams can stay connected in the most remote areas, helping people stay safe especially during bad weather or emergencies." Cyril Dujardin, President of the Connectivity Business Unit at Eutelsat, said: "Together with our partner eir evo, we are strengthening Ireland's communications backbone with the resilience of our OneWeb constellation. This capability ensures that emergency services, healthcare providers and community hubs ...

This week, Farm Tech Talk is live from the National Ploughing Championships, covering milk price, the beef outlook, schemes, and tillage and sheep updates. Eoin Lowry (BOI) shares farming projections, while Padraig Fleming (GNI) talks biomethane Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance.In this special live edition of The Farming Week, from the Agriland stand in Screggan, Co Offaly, we look back on three action-packed days at the National Ploughing Championships 2025. 

Ramona was shocked by the amount of underage drinking she saw at the National Ploughing Championships this week. Adam Turkington of Belfast Culture Night. Teacher Emer has been working on a history project with her students in Kilkenny. Eimear is a secondary school teacher and moving to Australia this weekend.

As expected, this week's National Ploughing Championships provided a perfect pitch for hopefuls Connolly, Gavin and Humphreys to field questions and showcase potential presidential prowess. However, this year the event has been held on disputed land, as the family of late farmer Joe Grogan continue their legal battle with his widow over the future of the estate. Host: Kevin Doyle Guests: Catherine Fegan and Tabitha Monahan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plough On Podcast: Mary Lou, Micheál and a seven-time world ploughing winnerDescription: Tune in to the final episode of the Plough On Podcast for 2025 as we report from the final day of the National Ploughing Championships. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tillage podcast: ploughing chats, tillage crisis and €60m fundingDescription: On this week's Tillage Podcast we chatted to Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon after the IFA's Tillage Crisis meeting on Friday night in Co Kildare. We then got the opinion of the farm organisations following that meeting. Kieran McEvoy of the Irish Farmers' Association and Clive Carter of the Irish Grain Growers Group joined us on the Irish Farmers Journal's stand at the National Ploughing Championships. The Tillage Podcast is supported by Bayer Crop Science. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the final day of the National Ploughing Championships, where 300,000 people have attended the event. There's plenty to see, but what are some of the strangest and most unique?Andrea is joined by Henry McKean, who is live at the Ploughing, to share what he's seen!

Join us for a round-up of day two at the National Ploughing Championships where the team was out and about chatting to the Tánaiste, ministers, brown bread makers and the public.The rain held off for day two of the National Ploughing Championships and there was plenty of action across the Ploughihing site in Screggan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

jQuery(document).ready(function(){ cab.clickify(); }); Original Podcast with clickable words https://tinyurl.com/ymdr2wny Contact: irishlingos@gmail.com The Ploughing Competition begins in Co. Offaly. Tús leis an gComórtas Treabhdóireachta i gCo Uíbh Fhailí. The National Ploughing Championships began today in Scraggan in Co Offaly, the largest open-air gathering in Europe which is expected to be attended by 300,000 people over the next three days. Cuireadh tús inniu leis an gComórtas Náisiúnta Treabhdóireachta sa Screagán i gCo Uíbh Fhailí, an tóstal faoin aer is mó san Eoraip a meastar go bhfreastalóidh 300,000 duine air as seo go ceann trí lá. The event was officially opened by the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, the last time he will hold that position as he is due to step down from office this year. Is é Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins a chuir tús oifigiúil leis an ócáid, an uair dheiridh a bheas an cúram sin air agus é le n-éirí as oifig i mbliana. Competitions, exhibitions, selling, buying, aerating and baccarat will take place at the major fair in the midlands that farmers flock to every year. Comórtais, taispeántais, díol, ceannach, aeraíocht agus bachram a bheas ar siúl ag an móraonach i lár tíre a mbíonn feirmeoirí ag triall air ina dtáinte gach uile bhliain. In addition to the fun, there will also be the seriousness and the future of the agricultural sector to be sifted by farmers and their representatives in light of the latest international trade agreements, in particular the Mercosur agreement. Chomh maith leis an súgradh, beidh an dáiríre ann freisin agus a bhfuil i ndán don earnáil talmhaíochta le criathrú ag feirmeoirí agus a n- ionadaithe i bhfianaise na socruithe trádála idirnáisiúnta is deireanaí, go háirithe comhaontú Mercosur. Farmers believe that this agreement could be very damaging to the beef and poultry sector in Ireland. Creideann feirmeoirí go bhféadfadh an comhaontú sin an-dochar a dhéanamh don earnáil mairteola agus éineola in Éirinn. Farmers are also concerned that their specific arrangement regarding the amount of nitrates they apply to their land will soon be ended. Tá imní ar fheirmeoirí freisin go gcuirfear deireadh go luath leis an socrú faoi leith atá acu maidir leis an méid níotráití a chuireann siad ar a gcuid talaimh. The European Union is asking them to apply less nitrates to the land in the future for environmental reasons, but the farmers claim that the proposed reduction is not necessary given the high water quality in this country. Tá an tAontas Eorpach ag iarraidh orthu níos lú níotráití a chur ar an talamh feasta de ghrá an chomhshaoil, ach maíonn na feirmeoirí nach bhfuil gá leis an laghdú atá molta agus caighdeán an uisce sa tír seo chomh hard anois. In addition to President Higgins, the people who are seeking to replace him will also be attending the fair in Scregán at various times this week. Chomh maith leis an Uachtarán Higgins, na daoine atá ag iarraidh teacht ina áit, tabharfaidh siad féin sciuird ar an aonach sa Screagán ag tráthanna éagsúla an tseachtain seo. RTÉ News and Current Affairs Nuacht agus Cúrsaí Reatha RTÉ

Aengus Cox, Agriculture Correspondent, reports from the first day of this year's National Ploughing Championships.

The 2025 National Ploughing Championships got underway in Screggan, Co. Offaly on Tuesday with up to 300,000 people expected to attend over the coming days.Macra has called for “immediate action” to tackle the drop in numbers of young farmers in Ireland, with just 4% now under the age of 35.Catriona Morrissey, News Editor at the Irish Farmers Journal, and Sean Kelly from Macra spoke to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play' button on this page to hear the conversation.

Europe's largest outdoor event, the National Ploughing Championships, begins today in Tullamore. The event is expected to attract a crowd of 300,000 to the site in Offaly. So, what can we expect over the coming days? We spoke to Anna-Marie McHugh, Assistant Managing Director of the National Ploughing Championships,

Tuesday, September 16, 2025Join Amy Forde on day one of the National Ploughing Championships. We had boots on the ground and you will hear from presidential candidates, Catherine Connolly, Heather Humphreys and Jim Gavin.Michael D Higgins officially opened the event.You will also hear from the Taoiseach who made an appearance at the Irish Farmers Journal stand.There's plenty of fun and ploughing throughout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Top tips for Ploughing 2025 Tune in to hear everything you need to know about the biggest week in the Irish farming calendar - the 2025 National Ploughing Championships.Welcome to this special bite-sized edition of the Irish Farmers Journal podcast ahead of Ploughing 2025.All roads lead to Screggan, Co Offaly, this week and this podcast will get you ready for the three days of this year's National Ploughing Championships.From how to get there to what's on the Irish Farmers Journal stand, we have you covered with this show.We also have top tips and Ploughing memories from the wider team.Don't forget that our special Plough On podcast returns this year and will be available every evening on your way home from the event. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you want to find a confirmed presidential candidate, head to the National Ploughing Championships in Co Offaly. In attendance are the three confirmed candidates: Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys, Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin, and Independent Catherine Connolly. RTÉ Political Correspondent Paul Cunningham joined us to examine the candidates' strategies.

Anna Marie McHugh is just back from the World Ploughing Championships in Prague and straight into planning our own National Ploughing Championships.

With over 180,000 followers on social media, Dave and Michael Kennedy have created an online fitness company, The Lifestyle Blueprint. The brothers who grew up on a small dairy farm and pub are now helping people living in rural areas make lifestyle changes by focusing on their health and fitness. With a keen interest in agriculture, they can relate to the challenges facing farmers in terms of finding the time to exercise and not prioritising themselves. Along with this, the brothers talk about dealing with grief as they tragically lost their sister, Sarah, in a car accident in January 2010, and more recently, their mother, Mary, at the end of 2024. Strong Body, Strong MindAll roads lead to Tullamore next week, as the National Ploughing Championships take place from 16- 18 September. Across the three days, the Kennedy Brothers will be part of the Irish Farmers Journal ‘Strong Body, Strong Mind' campaign. Each day, they will be demonstrating simple exercises that farmers can do at home without gym equipment. Along with this, they will be taking part in health panels discussing the importance of healthy eating and looking after your mind with Irish Country Living editor, Ciara Leahy. To get in touch with your opinions and feedback on the podcast, you can email youngstock@farmersjournal.ie or leave a WhatsApp voice note at 0868366465. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An inquest doesn't typically hear questions about the consummation of a relationship or the validity of a marriage certificate, and it's not usual for there to be so many lawyers in a coroner's court. But when there's a farm, valued at €5.5 million at stake, and the circumstances around the death are somewhat confused, it's perhaps to be expected.The three-day inquest into the death of wealthy farmer Joe Grogan (75) at his home on April 15th, 2023 heard questions that a coroner's court is not there to answer. Its job is to establish cause of death.Grogan had been married the previous day, to his long-time friend and sometime carer Lisa Flaherty. A clear cause of death could not be established because he had been embalmed within hours.His 220-acre farm at Screggan, near Tullamore is well-known having hosted the National Ploughing Championships for two years and is set to do so again this year. As his widow, Flaherty stands to inherit his estate.Members of Grogan's family questioned the validity of the marriage – they said they were unaware it had taken place – and there were heated scenes in the court.Ultimately the coroner Raymond Mahon ruled that the newly-wed farmer probably died of an infection associated with his stage-four cancer, his immune system being compromised because of chemotherapy and significant weight loss. He said the evidence did not support a finding of unlawful killing as had been suggested and he rejected calls by Grogan's extended family to refer the circumstances of the death to the Garda.Irish Times reporter Colm Keena was in court to hear the verdict and explains the background.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carlo Acutis was just 15 when he died in 2006. British-born and living in Milan, the teenager became a devout Catholic and used his computer skills to develop a website detailing miracles. Just a few days after he launched his website, he fell ill and died.By 2013 he was on the way to sainthood having been named a “Servant of God”; in that same year a woman in Brazil claimed that praying to Acutis helped heal her son's pancreatic illness. In 2020 Pope Francis authenticated the miracle and Acutis was beatified. Then, in 2024, a second miracle was recognised.The Pope approved Acutis' canonisation in July, with an official ceremony set for 2025.Already relics of the “saint dressed in jeans, sneakers and a sweatshirt” are touring the world with a lock of his hair being stolen at this year's National Ploughing Championships in Co Laois.Former Irish Times religious correspondent Patsy McGarry explains the path to sainthood and what the teenager's elevation means.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three girls from Mayo have launched a mobile app called HerdSync that provides a simple means to digitise farm records. The enterprise came about from a personal farming experience while participating in afterschool programming with the girls-in-STEM charity Teen-Turn. Teenagers Katie Jennings (15) and Mary Lillibeth Curry-Glynn (16) from Knock and Aoibheann Mangan (18) from Hollymount developed the app HerdSync to record animal and land data from farms as well as to track day-to-day tasks and chores. The idea for the business came to Katie while she was helping her father with cattle on the farm. When they were trying to record the animal tag numbers, the notebook fell and got wet and dirty. Katie decided there had to be a better way to record the details. The app's first iteration won Katie first place in the junior category at Technovation Ireland's Regional Pitch event. From there she entered into Teen-Turn's Incubator-to-Accelerator activities in 2023 to expand the team and build a business. HerdSync is now part of Teen-Turn's Innovators programme, backed by BNY in 2024. Innovators support Teen-Turn student enterprises as they graduate to building and/or scaling their businesses. "BNY are proud supporters of Teen-Turn Innovators, which supports young women in the startup of their own companies to become employers themselves and contribute to resilient economic systems that better their communities," Paul Kilcullen, CEO of BNY Fund Services Ireland and Country Head. The girls are currently trialling their app with early adopters but will make it widely available in early 2025. Recently distinguished for Achievement in Innovation from Enterprise Ireland during the Innovation Arena Finals at the National Ploughing Championships, HerdSync is already in daily use on farms in Connacht. Katie explains, "The idea is to empower farmers with informed herd management-to bring data science technology to them-, but without it being time-consuming or complicated, it's as easy as 'Digitise. Simplify. Amplify'!" Teen-Turn, an Irish charity, addresses, in addition to gender equality in the workplace, economic inclusion for girls from areas where higher education is uncommon by providing hands-on practical experience and mentorship in STEM and entrepreneurship through extracurricular learning opportunities. Teen-Turn Co-Founder, Joanne Dolan, praised the girls' work. "What Katie, Mary Lillibeth and Aoibheann have produced distinguishes itself from the current market in that it offers an easy-to-use, no frills farm management solution that maintains records in a tidy and centralised way."

Cady Coleman splashes down on Irish Stew to help us explore“The Final Frontier” through the pages of her new book, Sharing Space: An Astronaut's Guide to Mission, Wonder, and Making Change.Part memoir, part chronicle of the astronaut's life, part manifesto for the power of mission, Sharing Space explores the significance of collaboration, diversity, and making the most of your missions in bringing people together to meet common goals. Through candid reflections and storytelling, “Astro Cady” tells tales that will inspire anyone, especially women and young people, to contribute to positive global change.Our episode launches in Ireland under the giant planet Earth rotating at the end of the Trinity College Library Long Room and later touches down in Ireland at its earthiest at the National Ploughing Championships.Join us on a trip from Ireland to the stars with the astronaut who played Paddy Moloney's tin whistle and Matt Molloy's flute while floating high above the Global Irish Nation in Space.Links:WebsiteSharing Space Book Site  Social MediaTwitter/XFacebookInstagramLinkedInSeamus Plug: Cady Coleman public speakingPrevious Irish Stew episode: Irish American Astronaut & MusicianEpisode Details: Season 6, Episode 19

A new hedge-cutting device, created by Kerry company RT Sales Ltd, won the coveted Machine of the Year Award at last week’s National Ploughing Championships. Jerry spoke to Johnny Reidy who developed the device with his son-in-law Pádraig Teahan.

Yesterday, Colm Dineen from Causeway won the 3-Furrow Conventional-Plough Senior Class at the National Ploughing Championships.

Anna-Marie McHugh, Assistant Managing Director of the National Ploughing Championships, is predicting record crowds for the showpiece event over the next three days at Ratheniska and we hear from some people who have made the journey to Co. Laois for day one.

Francie Gorman, President of the Irish Farmers Association discusses the challenges of rising costs, reduced incomes and cash flow problems hitting hard pressed farmers.

Kate Varley speaks to farmers and Amy Forde from the Farmers Journal ahead of the Ploughing Championship.

The 2024 National Ploughing Championships starts today, and from its humble beginnings in 1931, it has expanded and grown year on year. The first National Ploughing Championships used a small field of 26 acres, and today's National Ploughing Championships uses over 700 acres of land. The National Championships is now no longer just for ploughing or machinery enthusiasts, the modern event now features something for just about every member of the community. These include a Tented Trade Village, a Food Fair, Craft Village, Livestock, Forestry, Education, Lifestyle, Motor Show, Financial Services, Bio Energy and Agri Service. Along with this, there are many entertainment and special events taking place and lots of exhibitors too. One of the exhibitors is Engineers Ireland, and I recently spoke to Engineers Ireland Director General, Damien Owens about their stand and what we can expect to see. Damien spoke about his background, some of the tech Engineers Ireland will be showcasing, AI, and more. More about Engineers Ireland: Engineers Ireland is the voice of the engineering profession in Ireland. Their 25,000+ members make up a community of creative professionals delivering sustainable solutions for society. They have been representing the engineering profession since 1835, making Engineers Ireland one of the oldest and largest professional bodies in Ireland. Their members come from every discipline of engineering, and range from students to fellows of the profession. 

Well, today marks the start of the National Ploughing Championships. It will run until Thursday and over 200,000 people will make their way to Laois for the fun! There's plenty going on - ploughing, cookery, crafts, sheep shearing and even a search of a new boyband! Hit play now to hear the full episode.

The Clare County Chair of the ICMSA insists the agricultural sector needs to re-examined in the upcoming budget, to secure the future of the sector. It follows the publication of a survey carried out by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association and Agriland ahead of the National Ploughing Championships today, which found that eight in ten farmers believe a 'green agenda' is negatively impacting farmers' livelihoods. The Green Party has defended its policies, however, claiming there's no disconnect between the party and rural Ireland, and that it's continuing to deliver for farmers. Chair of the Clare branch of the ICMSA, Martin McMahon, has been telling Clare FM's Darragh O'Grady that farmers having to continuously take out loans is evidence that they're struggling financially.

Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather & Anna Marie McHugh from the National Ploughing Association join Ray to look ahead to a beautifully sunny week for the 2024 National Ploughing Championships.

Sinéad Mellett is a woman of many talents. The Clare native is a vet and veterinary herbalist. However, Sinéad is adding some strings to her bow; she is preparing to launch her family-run business at this year's National Ploughing Championships, while she will also be launching her new book. Photo (c): www.naturalvetco.com