THE NEW confidence in the agricultural sector will be evident at the National Ploughing Championships in Athy, Co Kildare, next week where there has been a huge rise in the machinery section.
“There has been an enormous demand for space for machinery on the site and as you know machinery sales are a barometer of the wellbeing of the sector,” said Anna Marie McHugh, the public relations officer for the ploughing association.
“We are expecting a record attendance here, but we have been astonished at the demand for machinery space.”
She confirmed Taoiseach Enda Kenny would be attending on Thursday, while other Ministers would also attend. “The Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, has indicated he will be here on at least two of the days, and the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, will also be here.”
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin will also attend the event, which is expected to attract 180,000 people over the three days from Tuesday.
The championships will be formally opened by President Mary McAleese on Tuesday, her last time to do so as President.
The event will be a major hustings for those who wish to replace her in the park, and all presidential candidates in the field – Michael D Higgins, Gay Mitchell, Mary Davis and Seán Gallagher – have signalled their intention to be at the championships. Ms Davis will have a stand.
Ms McHugh said the preparations on the 700-acre site near Athy were almost complete.
“The Army has been on the canal all morning constructing the pedestrian bridge which allows access from that side of the town to the site, and it is expected to be complete by the weekend.”
A traffic plan which will cover an area 30 miles around the site has been prepared by the Garda. Traffic will be funnelled into regional car parks – 400 acres have been set aside for cars.
Ms McHugh said another growth area in the championships this year would be in the livestock on display, where some 800 sheep and cattle would be on show.
“This area has continued to grow in recent years but has got a bit of a boost this year because things are going well in the beef and sheepmeat sector.”
In all, there will be 80 acres of trade and exhibition space on the site, where more than 1,100 exhibitors will be displaying their goods and services.
Ms McHugh also noted that poor weather was expected.
Details of the Garda traffic plan can be obtained on the National Ploughing Association website at npa.ie or on the Garda website at garda.ie