Gildernew cuts a furrow for DARD at National and European Ploughing Championships

Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA has extended an invitation across the agricultural sector for all to visit the DARD exhibition at the National and European Ploughing Championships in Athy, Co Kildare.

The National and European Ploughing Championships will take place at Athy, County Kildare from Tuesday 21 to Thursday 23 September 2010. DARD’s exhibition at this year’s event will once again include a dedicated pavilion to showcase diversified businesses recently established by local farm families.

Announcing plans for the DARD stand, the Minister said: “This year’s National and European Ploughing Championships, which returns to Athy, will be the fourth consecutive year that my Department will have taken part. The Ploughing Championships are always at the peak of the Irish farming calendar, and present agricultural and rural businesses with a unique opportunity to put their wares on show to a very large audience.

“In the current economic climate, everyone is after that extra edge in the marketplace. The National and European Ploughing Championships is a unique event which has the potential to help improve diversifying farmers’ and rural business prospects. This year the Department will be facilitating a number of local rural enterprises by hosting a dedicated pavilion and an AFBI exhibition. The pavilion will showcase exhibits featuring a range of agri-services, agricultural machinery, bio-energy, rural tourism and specialist services for the livestock and equine sectors.

“A warm welcome on the DARD stand will be awaiting anyone attending the Ploughing Championships. I am always very keen to promote our products and hope our stand at this national event will help secure new opportunities for the rural business participants.”

One of the largest agricultural exhibitions in Europe and the marketplace for Irish agriculture, visitors to this year’s Ploughing Championships can look forward to a very impressive display of the latest innovations in agricultural machinery, agri-services, bio-energy, forestry, livestock and all related industries. Last year over 1,000 exhibitors featured at the championships which attracted crowds in excess of 180,000.

Discussing local competitors’ prospects in the championships, the Minister said: “In particular I want to wish all our local ploughmen the best of luck at this year’s event in Athy and I am confident that they can perform well in this prestigious competition.”

Notes to editors:

1. The 79th National Ploughing Championships will take place at Athy, County Kildare from Tuesday 21 Thursday to 23 September 2010.
2. All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, tel: 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.